Harbus

Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: News

Not all was bleak on the Strip, though, as MGM-Mirage expressed great optimism that their 17 million square foot mixed-use CityCenter complex occupying 76 acres of the Strip between Bellagio and Monte Carlo-also MGM-Mirage properties-would open on-time and mostly sold. Though its original $4 billion cost estimate has recently been pushed by escalating construction costs, minor design changes, and recent financing issues, the company is pushing ahead to open the development by year-end 2009 as other mega-developments of similar size and scope have fallen by the wayside. "We haven't sold quite as many [condo and condo-hotel units] as we wanted to at this point," said an executive in Strategy and Development at CityCenter, "but things are still progressing nicely and generally on track."

And at Southwest Airlines' operating base in McCarran Airport, station manager Randy Shaw and customer service manager Michael Carr (of A&E's reality show "Airline" fame) said it was business as usual as they spoke to the trek about Southwest's impeccable record of growth and profitability, and their legendary 25-minute aircraft turnarounds.

The same could not be said, however, of the second-ever performance of illusionist Criss Angel's "Believe" show at The Luxor, which attending treksters uniformly agreed was a disappointment that did not come close to matching the captivating stunts viewable on Angel's cable television show "Criss Angel: Mindfreak."

"I would like to reiterate that the Hospitality & Travel Industry Club will not offer refunds for lousy, un-reviewed Cirque shows," said Josh Belkin on the flight back to Boston.

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