ARIA Resort & Casino
Encyclopedia
Aria Resort & Casino is a luxury resort
and casino
located within the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip
. Aria consists of two curved glass and steel highrise towers adjoined at the center. It opened on December 16, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development. At 4000000 sq ft (371,612.2 m²) and 600 ft (182.9 m) in height, it is the largest and tallest structure at CityCenter.
The resort's 61 and 51-story towers contain a AAA
five diamond hotel with 4,004 guest rooms and suites, 16 restaurants, 10 bars and nightclubs, and a casino
with 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) of gaming space. It also has a 215000 sq ft (19,974.2 m²) pool area with 50 cabanas, an 80000 sq ft (7,432.2 m²) salon and spa
, a 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²) convention center and a 1,800-seat theater which currently hosts Viva Elvis
by Cirque du Soleil
.
Among the most notable aspects of Aria is its incorporation of technology in the exterior and interior design of the hotel, specifically for the reduction of energy consumption. It is the largest hotel in the world to have earned LEED
Gold certification. On account of its smart rooms which automatically adjust curtains, turn off unused lights and electronics, and regulate the temperature when a guest enters or leaves a room, Aria was described in Popular Mechanics
as possibly "the most technologically advanced hotel ever built".
(now MGM Resorts International) as part of the broader CityCenter development project, which was announced on November 10, 2004. The Architectural design of Aria was conducted by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
, and construction began in early 2006 on a plot of land located between the Bellagio
and Monte Carlo
. This site was previously occupied by the former Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
, retail stores and a large parking lot - all of which were excavated beginning in April 2006. Following excavation, Aria's foundation was poured in June 2006. Vertical progression commenced in September 2007, at which point construction workers built upwards at a rate of one floor every seven days until reaching the final height of 61 floors.
Amid ongoing construction in 2007, Infinity World Development, a subsidiary of Dubai World
, invested about $2.7 billion to acquire a 50-percent stake in the CityCenter project. From this point on, Aria was jointly owned by MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development; though the structure of the joint venture
maintained that MGM Resorts International would be solely in charge of Aria's operations and management. The economic downturn and its ripple effects - including litigation - threatened to halt construction of Aria at one point in early 2009; however an additional funding arrangement was made allowing construction to continue on schedule. The resort opened on December 16, 2009, in the same month as several other CityCenter properties such as The Crystals
, an attached retail shopping complex.
tower
s, measuring 61 stories tall. At the base of the connected high-rise towers is a casino
and a three-story lobby that incorporates natural materials including foliage, flowers, glass, wood, and stone. Aria's design is described as not adhering to an overarching theme, in contrast to themed resorts prevalent on the Las Vegas Strip
. It was named Aria due to its placement as the central feature of CityCenter, as arias are focal points in operas.
Artwork is incorporated throughout the lobby and interior of the building. The main entrance contains a lighted water feature called "Lumia" which syncs water bursts to music. Maya Lin
, designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
in Washington, D.C., created an 87 ft (26.5 m) reclaimed silver sculpture of the Colorado River
called Silver River which is suspended behind Aria's hotel registration desk. A result of its design, Aria is the largest hotel in the world to have received LEED Gold certification.
. At the time of its opening in 2009, Aria was the 9th-largest hotel in the world as measured by the total number of rooms.
All rooms have a touch-screen automation system which automatically adjusts curtains, turns off unused lights and electronics, and regulates the temperature when a guest enters or leaves the room. Room dimensions begin at 520 sq ft (48.3 m²). The standard suites range in size from 1050 square foot. The two top floors of the hotel consist of a separately designated room category entitled Sky Villas, which range from 2000 square foot in size.
, poker
, table game
s, and a race and sports book
. The gaming machines are controlled and monitored by a 3000 sq ft (278.7 m²) data center and are changed to play the most popular games based on real-time data collected about the performance of each machine. Exterior windows are present along the edges of the casino floor and skylights are part of the ceiling in the high-limit gaming area, differing from traditional casino design which historically omits natural light. Lemongrass, the first Thai restaurant to be opened on the Las Vegas Strip, is one of multiple restaurants located within the casino area.
includes four ballrooms (three with fully functioning theatrical stages), 38 meeting rooms and a three-story 400 ft (121.9 m) long window overlooking the pool. As of 2009, the window was the largest glass-curtain wall of its type ever constructed in a public building. An additional 900000 sq ft (83,612.7 m²) is allocated for back-of-house areas, offices, and a subterranean parking garage.
, exclusive of the Liquid Pool area. The cabanas are structural steel covered with tensile fabric. The Breeze Cafe and Pool Bar are sweeping canopies created by layering stucco on top of unusual curved steel skeletons. A separate outdoor pool area called LIQUID Pool Lounge was opened in March 2010.
restaurant in the lobby named after its chef, was noted as one of Esquire Magazine's "20 Best New Restaurants in 2010". Sage, described as a contemporary American restaurant, is also located in the lobby area. Among the other restaurants led by celebrity chef
s are BARMASA, a modern Japanese restaurant by Masa Takayama
; a steakhouse run by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
and Michael Mina
's seafood restaurant, American Fish.
An 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) salon and spa covers two floors of Aria, and a coed balcony attached to the spa overlooks an outdoor infinity-edge pool.
Cirque du Soleil, CKX, Inc.
and its subsidiary Elvis Presley Enterprises
created a permanent show at Aria celebrating Elvis' music entitled Viva Elvis by Cirque du Soleil. The show premiered on February 17, 2010 and consists of music, singers, dancers, acrobats and multimedia components that pay tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll
. Aria contains multiple bars, lounges and nightclubs, including the Elvis Presley
-influenced Gold Boutique Nightclub and Lounge—the theme of which is based on Elvis' former Graceland
home.
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
and casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
located within the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. Aria consists of two curved glass and steel highrise towers adjoined at the center. It opened on December 16, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development. At 4000000 sq ft (371,612.2 m²) and 600 ft (182.9 m) in height, it is the largest and tallest structure at CityCenter.
The resort's 61 and 51-story towers contain a AAA
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
five diamond hotel with 4,004 guest rooms and suites, 16 restaurants, 10 bars and nightclubs, and a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
with 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) of gaming space. It also has a 215000 sq ft (19,974.2 m²) pool area with 50 cabanas, an 80000 sq ft (7,432.2 m²) salon and spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
, a 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²) convention center and a 1,800-seat theater which currently hosts Viva Elvis
Viva Elvis
Viva Elvis is the seventh resident Cirque du Soleil show on the Las Vegas Strip. It resides at the Aria Resort & Casino and premiered on February 19, 2010...
by Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
.
Among the most notable aspects of Aria is its incorporation of technology in the exterior and interior design of the hotel, specifically for the reduction of energy consumption. It is the largest hotel in the world to have earned LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
Gold certification. On account of its smart rooms which automatically adjust curtains, turn off unused lights and electronics, and regulate the temperature when a guest enters or leaves a room, Aria was described in Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
as possibly "the most technologically advanced hotel ever built".
History
Aria was conceived by MGM MirageMGM Mirage
Not to be confused with the Las Vegas, Nevada based casino/resort operator Resorts International Holdings.MGM Resorts International is a Paradise, Nevada based corporation that brands itself as a global hospitality company. It is the second largest gaming company in the world by revenue - about...
(now MGM Resorts International) as part of the broader CityCenter development project, which was announced on November 10, 2004. The Architectural design of Aria was conducted by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
, and construction began in early 2006 on a plot of land located between the Bellagio
Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
and Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo Resort and Casino
The Monte Carlo Resort and Casino is a megaresort hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA. The hotel is 32 stories, featuring a casino floor with over 2,200 slot and video poker machines and 95 table games. It is operated by MGM Resorts International...
. This site was previously occupied by the former Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
The Boardwalk Hotel and Casino was a Coney Island style hotel located on the Las Vegas Strip. It was owned and operated by MGM Mirage. It was part of the Holiday Inn hotel chain but left after being acquired by Mirage Resorts...
, retail stores and a large parking lot - all of which were excavated beginning in April 2006. Following excavation, Aria's foundation was poured in June 2006. Vertical progression commenced in September 2007, at which point construction workers built upwards at a rate of one floor every seven days until reaching the final height of 61 floors.
Amid ongoing construction in 2007, Infinity World Development, a subsidiary of Dubai World
Dubai World
Dubai World is an investment company that manages and supervises a portfolio of businesses and projects for the Dubai government across a wide range of industry segments and projects that promote Dubai as a hub for commerce and trading. It is the emirate's flag bearer in global investments and has...
, invested about $2.7 billion to acquire a 50-percent stake in the CityCenter project. From this point on, Aria was jointly owned by MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development; though the structure of the joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
maintained that MGM Resorts International would be solely in charge of Aria's operations and management. The economic downturn and its ripple effects - including litigation - threatened to halt construction of Aria at one point in early 2009; however an additional funding arrangement was made allowing construction to continue on schedule. The resort opened on December 16, 2009, in the same month as several other CityCenter properties such as The Crystals
The Crystals (Las Vegas)
The Crystals, also known as Crystals at CityCenter and Crystals Retail District, is CityCenter's retail and entertainment district that features fashionable clubs, gourmet restaurants, retailers, galleries, incidental offices and support areas...
, an attached retail shopping complex.
Design
The completed structure comprises two curvilinear glassGlass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
s, measuring 61 stories tall. At the base of the connected high-rise towers is a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and a three-story lobby that incorporates natural materials including foliage, flowers, glass, wood, and stone. Aria's design is described as not adhering to an overarching theme, in contrast to themed resorts prevalent on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. It was named Aria due to its placement as the central feature of CityCenter, as arias are focal points in operas.
Artwork is incorporated throughout the lobby and interior of the building. The main entrance contains a lighted water feature called "Lumia" which syncs water bursts to music. Maya Lin
Maya Lin
Maya Ying Lin is an American artist who is known for her work in sculpture and landscape art. She is the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Personal life:...
, designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for during the War.Its...
in Washington, D.C., created an 87 ft (26.5 m) reclaimed silver sculpture of the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
called Silver River which is suspended behind Aria's hotel registration desk. A result of its design, Aria is the largest hotel in the world to have received LEED Gold certification.
Hotel
Aria contains 4,004 hotel rooms within its 4000000 sq ft (371,612.2 m²). The suites make up 568 of the rooms, and a portion are referred to as Sky Suites. Sky Suites are categorized separately since they are accessed via a private entrance and elevator, and include transportation between the hotel and airport in limousines fueled by compressed natural gasCompressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
. At the time of its opening in 2009, Aria was the 9th-largest hotel in the world as measured by the total number of rooms.
All rooms have a touch-screen automation system which automatically adjusts curtains, turns off unused lights and electronics, and regulates the temperature when a guest enters or leaves the room. Room dimensions begin at 520 sq ft (48.3 m²). The standard suites range in size from 1050 square foot. The two top floors of the hotel consist of a separately designated room category entitled Sky Villas, which range from 2000 square foot in size.
Casino
The only casino within the CityCenter complex is located at Aria. Its 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) of gaming space includes slotsSlot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
, poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
, table game
Table game
In casinos, the term table game is used to distinguish games such as blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat that are played on a table and operated by one or more live dealers like a croupier or poker dealer, as opposed to a games played on a mechanical device like a video slot machine...
s, and a race and sports book
Sportsbook
In the United States a sportsbook or a race and sports book is a place where a gambler can wager on various sports competitions, including golf, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, horse racing, boxing, and mixed martial arts. The method of betting varies with the sport and the type of...
. The gaming machines are controlled and monitored by a 3000 sq ft (278.7 m²) data center and are changed to play the most popular games based on real-time data collected about the performance of each machine. Exterior windows are present along the edges of the casino floor and skylights are part of the ceiling in the high-limit gaming area, differing from traditional casino design which historically omits natural light. Lemongrass, the first Thai restaurant to be opened on the Las Vegas Strip, is one of multiple restaurants located within the casino area.
Convention center
A three-story 300,000 convention centerConvention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
includes four ballrooms (three with fully functioning theatrical stages), 38 meeting rooms and a three-story 400 ft (121.9 m) long window overlooking the pool. As of 2009, the window was the largest glass-curtain wall of its type ever constructed in a public building. An additional 900000 sq ft (83,612.7 m²) is allocated for back-of-house areas, offices, and a subterranean parking garage.
Aria Pool Deck
Located at the base of the Aria Casino is the 17,000 square-meter Pool Deck containing one large pool surrounded by tropical landscaping and multiple smaller pools. The general Pool Deck has a security kiosk and retail shop at the entrance as well as the Breeze Cafe, Pool Bar, and 34 cabanas. The Pool Deck structures were designed by Graft's Los Angelesoffice with structural engineering provided by Geiger EngineersGeiger Engineers
Geiger Engineers is a structural engineering consulting firm located northwest of New York City. Founded in 1988 by the late David H. Geiger , the company has worked on large projects throughout the world...
, exclusive of the Liquid Pool area. The cabanas are structural steel covered with tensile fabric. The Breeze Cafe and Pool Bar are sweeping canopies created by layering stucco on top of unusual curved steel skeletons. A separate outdoor pool area called LIQUID Pool Lounge was opened in March 2010.
Attractions
There are 16 restaurants as well as 10 bars and clubs within Aria, covering a total of about 250000 sq ft (23,225.8 m²). Julian Serrano, a tapasTapas
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm ....
restaurant in the lobby named after its chef, was noted as one of Esquire Magazine's "20 Best New Restaurants in 2010". Sage, described as a contemporary American restaurant, is also located in the lobby area. Among the other restaurants led by celebrity chef
Celebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
s are BARMASA, a modern Japanese restaurant by Masa Takayama
Masa Takayama
is the chef and owner of Masa, a three-Michelin-starred Japanese and sushi restaurant in New York City. He is also owner of Bar Masa, with a location adjacent to his New York restaurant as well as a location in the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Early years:Born in Kuroiso, a small...
; a steakhouse run by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a French chef. He was born in Alsace, France, in 1956 and now resides in the United States of America. Vongerichten commands restaurants in culinary capitals Las Vegas, London, Paris and Shanghai, as well as New York's Jean Georges restaurant...
and Michael Mina
Michael Mina
Michael Mina is an award-winning American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas, Nevada, and partners with Andre Agassi in Mina Group, a restaurant management company that owns 16 restaurants in...
's seafood restaurant, American Fish.
An 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) salon and spa covers two floors of Aria, and a coed balcony attached to the spa overlooks an outdoor infinity-edge pool.
Cirque du Soleil, CKX, Inc.
CKX, Inc.
CKX, Inc. is a company founded on February 7, 2005 that owns and develops entertainment content and intellectual property.-Background:The "C" and "K" stand for "Content is King", representing the focus of the company's business strategy to acquire established content, and then to improve, enhance...
and its subsidiary Elvis Presley Enterprises
Elvis Presley Enterprises
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. is a corporate entity created by "The Elvis Presley Trust" to conduct business and manage its assets, including Graceland...
created a permanent show at Aria celebrating Elvis' music entitled Viva Elvis by Cirque du Soleil. The show premiered on February 17, 2010 and consists of music, singers, dancers, acrobats and multimedia components that pay tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. Aria contains multiple bars, lounges and nightclubs, including the Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
-influenced Gold Boutique Nightclub and Lounge—the theme of which is based on Elvis' former Graceland
Graceland
Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles from Downtown and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as...
home.