Finally Good News for City Center

Just last week I was lamenting on the latest issue to go wrong with City Center, but finally MGM was thrown a bone from the hospitality world. Two hotels, The Mandarin Oriental and the Aria Resort & Casino, were bestowed the industry's highest honors: AAA's Five Diamond Award. This accomplishment is an incredible coup for MGM considering both properties have been opened less than a year and the Five Diamond Award accounts for less than .27% of all properties rated worldwide. Cheers and Congratulations for a job well done!

City Center Las Vegas Continues to be Plagued by Problems

According to MGM Grand's third quarter financial filing report, the Harmon Hotel in City Center will likely never open. The last building to be opened in the massive project, the property was originally designed to be a boutique non gaming facility in the heart of City Center. Unfortunately, in 2008 MGM Grand was ordered by inspectors to reduce the size and scope of the project due to structural and construction problems. MGM Grand went ahead with construction plans to open the hotel as a 400 room property, but after recording a $279 million fine due to the problems it now seems to be a far-fetched idea the hotel will even see a customer before 2012. Discussions have now centered on if the current building can even continue to be utilized or if it will benefit MGM Grand to consider demolishing and starting over....an idea that many believe MGM's financial woes can't handle.