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Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Encyclopedia
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 Lake Como
resort of Bellagio
in Italy
, Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of its most notable features is an 8 acres (3.2 ha) lake between the building and the Strip, which houses the Fountains of Bellagio, a large dancing water fountain
synchronized to music.
Inside Bellagio, Dale Chihuly
's Fiori di Como, composed of over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers, covers 2000 sq ft (185.8 m²) of the lobby ceiling. Bellagio is home to Cirque du Soleil
's aquatic production "O
".
The main (original) tower of the Bellagio, with 3,015 rooms, has 36 floors and a height of 508 ft (151 m). The Spa Tower, which stands to the south of the main tower, had 33 floors, a height of 392 ft (119 m), and contains 935 rooms.
and built by his company, Mirage Resorts
, Inc. following the purchase and demolition of the legendary Dunes
hotel and casino in 1993. Bellagio was designed by DeRuyter Butler and Atlandia Design. Bellagio had an original construction cost of US$
1.6 billion.
The Bellagio opened October 15, 1998, just before 11 p.m. in a ceremony that was reported to cost US$88 million. The VIPs invited to the grand opening were expected to donate to The Foundation Fighting Blindness
US$1,000 a person or US$3,500 a couple, which entitled them to an overnight stay at Bellagio's suite rooms.
Opening night's entertainment began with Steve Wynn
giving a 40-minute welcome speech followed by the opening of the Cirque du Soleil
production "O
." Performing in Bellagio lounges that night were New York cabaret and recording artist Michael Feinstein, George Bugatti and John Pizarrelli. When it opened, it was the most expensive hotel ever built.
In 2000 it became an MGM Mirage property when Mirage Resorts merged with MGM Grand Inc.
to create MGM Mirage. In 2010 the company was renamed MGM Resorts International in a move to go worldwide with its brands.
The Bellagio employs approximately 10,000 people. In the fall of 2006, the casino floor was remodeled and new uniforms were issued, changing the original color scheme to a more elegant type.
On December 15, 2010, a helmet-wearing gunman robbed the casino of $1.5 million in chips.. In August, 2011 he was convicted to a prison term of 9-27 years.
The Bellagio has won the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award (the highest level of the AAA Diamond Ratings System for restaurants and lodgings) 11 times.
The Bellagio's main tower is currently undergoing a $70 million upgrade. By December 2011, all of the main tower's 2,500 rooms will be remodeled.
s, including the high stakes Big Game
located in "Bobby's Room", named after Bobby Baldwin
.
Bellagio has also partnered with the World Poker Tour
to host several of their tournaments.
The Fountains of Bellagio is a vast, choreographed water feature with performances set to light and music. (See musical fountain
.) The performances take place in front of the Bellagio hotel and are visible from numerous vantage points on the Strip, both from the street and neighboring structures. The show takes place every 30 minutes in the afternoons and early evenings, and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight. Before a water show starts, the nozzles break the water surface and the lights illuminating the hotel tower turn to a purple hue (usually), or red-white-and-blue for certain music. Shows may be cancelled without warning because of wind, although shows usually run with less power in face of wind. A single show may be skipped to avoid interference with a planned event.
The fountain display is choreographed to various pieces of music, including songs by Andrea Bocelli
, Frank Sinatra
, and Gene Kelly
.
The fountains are set in a 9 acres (3.6 ha) manmade lake. Contrary to urban myth, the lake is not filled with treated greywater
from the hotel. The lake is actually serviced by a freshwater well that was drilled decades prior to irrigate a golf course that previously existed on the site. The fountains actually use less water than irrigating the golf course did. They incorporate a network of pipes with more than 1,200 nozzles that make it possible to stage fountain displays coordinated with more than 4,500 lights. It is estimated that the fountains cost $40 million to build. The fountains were created by WET
, a design firm specializing in inventive fountains and architectural water features.
Four types of nozzles are used for the various effects:
Songs featured:
The hotel also contains a Conservatory
and Botanical Gardens
. In total, there are five seasonal themes that the Conservatory undergoes: Chinese New Year, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
From January to mid-March, the Conservatory celebrates the Chinese New Year with a display dominated by flowers bromeliads and Orchids, as well as the animal of that particular year that the Chinese zodiac
celebrates. The theme then changes over to the Spring display, which lasts until May, and usually features a butterfly house as well as many varieties of tropical flowers. During Memorial Day
weekend, the Bellagio then switches over to its All-American Summer display, featuring a large recreation of the Liberty Bell
, as well as several American flags throughout the Conservatory. The Summer display is usually very patriotic featuring a lot of red, white, and blue, and is dominated by hydrangeas. From late September until Thanksgiving
weekend, the Conservatory then puts on it Fall display featuring several varieties of chrysanthemum
and several large pumpkins throughout the display. Finally, the Conservatory then switches over to its winter holiday display after Thanksgiving, which is dominated by its large centerpiece Christmas Tree and several varieties of poinsettia
. Whatever the season, colorful displays are decorated with many real fragrant flowers, and fountains may also be present. The Conservatory is located next to the lobby of the hotel and is open to the public.
, but was then moved to its larger current location along the pool promenade eight months after Bellagio opened to better accommodate larger crowds.
Currently, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is hosting a landscape exhibit titled, A Sense of Place: Landscapes from Monet to Hockney.
It features over 30 different landscape works ranging from the mid-1800s to present day, culled from the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
, and the private collection of MGM Resorts International. The current exhibit will be on display until January 2012 and features works by Claude Monet
, Alfred Sisley
, Alex Katz
, Helen Frankenthaler
, Roy Lichtenstein
, and Vik Muniz
, among several other artists.
Past exhibits at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art include:
Five Diamond award in 2011 for the year 2012, making it the first hotel on the Las Vegas Strip
and one of a select few in the world
to reach this milestone. It is the only hotel in the world
to house two Five Diamond award winning restaurants under the same roof. Because of its distinctions, it has a reputation as one of the finest hotels worldwide and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World
.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
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 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...
in the Paradise
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
area of unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World
The Leading Hotels of the World
The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is a hospitality consortium owned by Hotel Representative, A.G. It represents over 430 hotels and resorts worldwide. Headquartered in New York City, the consortium maintains offices in 24 cities world wide....
. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes
Dunes (hotel and casino)
The Dunes Hotel was a Paradise, Nevada, hotel and casino that operated from May 23, 1955 to January 26, 1993, and was the tenth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The Bellagio now stands on the former grounds.-History:...
hotel and casino.
Inspired by the Lake Como
Lake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
resort of Bellagio
Bellagio
Bellagio is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located on Lake Como. It has long been famous for its setting at the intersection of the three branches of the Y-shaped lake, which is also known as Lario....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of its most notable features is an 8 acres (3.2 ha) lake between the building and the Strip, which houses the Fountains of Bellagio, a large dancing water fountain
Musical fountain
A musical fountain is a type of animated fountain for entertainment purposes that creates an aesthetic design . This is achieved by employing the effects of timed sound waves and timed light against water particles...
synchronized to music.
Inside Bellagio, Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur.-Biography:Chihuly graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington. He enrolled at the College of the Puget Sound in 1959...
's Fiori di Como, composed of over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers, covers 2000 sq ft (185.8 m²) of the lobby ceiling. Bellagio is home to 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...
's aquatic production "O
O (Cirque du Soleil)
O is a water-themed stage production by Cirque du Soleil, a Canadian circus and entertainment company. The show has been in permanent residence at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, since October 1998...
".
The main (original) tower of the Bellagio, with 3,015 rooms, has 36 floors and a height of 508 ft (151 m). The Spa Tower, which stands to the south of the main tower, had 33 floors, a height of 392 ft (119 m), and contains 935 rooms.
History
Bellagio was conceived by Steve WynnSteve Wynn (developer)
Stephen Alan "Steve" Wynn is an American business magnate who played a pivotal role in the 1990s resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip...
and built by his company, Mirage Resorts
Mirage Resorts
Mirage Resorts was an American corporation that owned and operated hotel-casinos. It was created in 1989, having previously been called Golden Nugget Companies...
, Inc. following the purchase and demolition of the legendary Dunes
Dunes (hotel and casino)
The Dunes Hotel was a Paradise, Nevada, hotel and casino that operated from May 23, 1955 to January 26, 1993, and was the tenth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The Bellagio now stands on the former grounds.-History:...
hotel and casino in 1993. Bellagio was designed by DeRuyter Butler and Atlandia Design. Bellagio had an original construction cost of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.6 billion.
The Bellagio opened October 15, 1998, just before 11 p.m. in a ceremony that was reported to cost US$88 million. The VIPs invited to the grand opening were expected to donate to The Foundation Fighting Blindness
Foundation Fighting Blindness
The mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to fund research that will lead to preventions, treatments, and cures for retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and Stargardt disease. These diseases affect more than 10 million...
US$1,000 a person or US$3,500 a couple, which entitled them to an overnight stay at Bellagio's suite rooms.
Opening night's entertainment began with Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn (developer)
Stephen Alan "Steve" Wynn is an American business magnate who played a pivotal role in the 1990s resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip...
giving a 40-minute welcome speech followed by the opening of the 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...
production "O
O (Cirque du Soleil)
O is a water-themed stage production by Cirque du Soleil, a Canadian circus and entertainment company. The show has been in permanent residence at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, since October 1998...
." Performing in Bellagio lounges that night were New York cabaret and recording artist Michael Feinstein, George Bugatti and John Pizarrelli. When it opened, it was the most expensive hotel ever built.
In 2000 it became an MGM Mirage property when Mirage Resorts merged with MGM Grand Inc.
MGM Grand Inc.
MGM Grand Inc. was formed by Kirk Kerkorian as a casino owner and operator.- History :On October 1, 1998 the company opened a temporary casino in Johannesburg, South Africa. It announced a plan to acquire Primadonna Resorts, Inc. on November 9, 1999...
to create MGM Mirage. In 2010 the company was renamed MGM Resorts International in a move to go worldwide with its brands.
The Bellagio employs approximately 10,000 people. In the fall of 2006, the casino floor was remodeled and new uniforms were issued, changing the original color scheme to a more elegant type.
On December 15, 2010, a helmet-wearing gunman robbed the casino of $1.5 million in chips.. In August, 2011 he was convicted to a prison term of 9-27 years.
The Bellagio has won the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award (the highest level of the AAA Diamond Ratings System for restaurants and lodgings) 11 times.
The Bellagio's main tower is currently undergoing a $70 million upgrade. By December 2011, all of the main tower's 2,500 rooms will be remodeled.
Power outage incident
On July 15, 2009. The Hotel and part of the casino lost power due to electrical work. The hotel remained that way for two days. All guests were taken to a different location as it was too hot to be in the hotel.Film history
- The fountains are shown briefly in one scene of the movie Rush Hour 2Rush Hour 2Rush Hour 2 is a 2001 martial arts action comedy film. This is the second installment in the Rush Hour film series. A sequel to the 1998 film Rush Hour, the film stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker who respectively reprise their roles as Inspector Lee and Los Angeles police detective James Carter...
. - Bellagio and its fountains are featured in the 2007 film Lucky YouLucky You (film)Lucky You is a 2007 drama directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, and Robert Duvall. The film was shot on location in Las Vegas...
and the 2008 film 21. - Bellagio was featured prominently in the remakeRemakeA remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of Ocean's ElevenOcean's Eleven (2001 film)Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American comedy-crime caper and remake of the 1960 Rat Pack caper film of the same name. The 2001 film was directed by Steven Soderbergh and features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy García, and Julia Roberts. The film was...
. The curved staircase that Tess Ocean (played by Julia RobertsJulia RobertsJulia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. She became a Hollywood star after headlining the romantic comedy Pretty Woman , which grossed $464 million worldwide...
) descended was removed during a 2006 remodel to accommodate the entrance pathway from a newly built hotel tower, called The Spa Tower. New shops and restaurants fill the space. The fictitious vault for the three casinos that were robbed (MGM GrandMGM Grand Las VegasThe MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...
, MirageThe MirageThe Mirage is a 3,044 room hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The Mirage is connected by a free tram to Treasure Island. The marquee in front of the Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world.-History:The Mirage was built by...
, and Bellagio) owned by Terry Benedict (played by Andy GarcíaAndy GarcíaAndrés Arturo García Menéndez , professionally known as Andy García, is a Cuban American actor. He became known in the late 1980s and 1990s, having appeared in several successful Hollywood films, including The Godfather: Part III, The Untouchables, Internal Affairs and When a Man Loves a Woman...
) was located beneath the Bellagio in 200 ft of solid earth. - In the 2007 film Ocean's ThirteenOcean's ThirteenOcean's Thirteen is a 2007 crime comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring an ensemble cast. It is the third and final film in the Soderbergh series following the 2004 sequel Ocean's Twelve and the 2001 film Ocean's Eleven, which itself was a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film Ocean's 11...
, Daniel Ocean (played by George ClooneyGeorge ClooneyGeorge Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
) is talking about The Dunes HotelDunes (hotel and casino)The Dunes Hotel was a Paradise, Nevada, hotel and casino that operated from May 23, 1955 to January 26, 1993, and was the tenth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The Bellagio now stands on the former grounds.-History:...
(which was situated on the same place before the Bellagio was built) while he is standing in front of the Fountains of Bellagio together with Rusty Ryan (played by Brad PittBrad PittWilliam Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
). - In the 2008 film What Happens in VegasWhat Happens in VegasWhat Happens in Vegas is a 2008 American romantic comedy film from 20th Century Fox starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher. The title is based on the marketing catchphrase, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."-Plot:...
, the limo in which Cameron DiazCameron DiazCameron Michelle Diaz is an American actress and former model. She became famous during the 1990s with roles in the movies The Mask, My Best Friend's Wedding, and There's Something About Mary. Other high-profile credits include the two Charlie's Angels films, voicing the character Princess Fiona...
, Ashton KutcherAshton KutcherChristopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
, Rob Cordry and Lake BellLake Bell-Early life:Bell was born in New York City, the daughter of Robin Bell, owner of the design firm Robin Bell Design, Inc. in New York, and Harvey Siegel. Her father is Jewish and her mother is Protestant, and Bell has stated that she was raised in a "comically dysfunctional family".Bell attended The...
stops in front of the fountains and Diaz and Bell exit. This scene is notable for Bellagio signs that appear on the lamp posts in front of the fountain which are not actually present in real life. - In the 2008 animated film Bolt, the hotel together with its fountains is shown while the song Barking at the moon is playing (Bolt and Mittens stand in front of the fountains during a water show at night with fireworks).
- In the 2009 film 20122012 (film)2012 is a 2009 American disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich. It stars John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson. It was produced by Emmerich's production company, Centropolis Entertainment and was distributed by Columbia Pictures...
, Bellagio, along with the rest of The StripLas Vegas StripThe 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...
, was destroyed while the dome of the hotel is nearly crashed into by the giant plane similar to the Antonov An-225Antonov An-225The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft, designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. It is the world's heaviest aircraft. The design, built in order to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan...
. - In the 2009 film The HangoverThe Hangover (film)The Hangover is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha and Jeffrey Tambor...
, the Bellagio fountains are featured in the opening scenes. Towards the end of the film, Doug (played by Justin BarthaJustin BarthaJustin Lee Bartha is an American actor, known for his co-starring role as Riley Poole in the National Treasure films and as Doug Billings in The Hangover and The Hangover Part II.-Early life:...
) finds Bellagio chips in his pocket after being found. - In the 2010 Hindi film Anjaana AnjaaniAnjaana AnjaaniAnjaana Anjaani is a Hindi Romantic film directed by Siddharth Anand, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Zayed Khan. The film is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Pvt. Ltd banner. The film's music has been composed by Vishal-Shekhar, who have...
Poker room
Many professional poker players prefer to play at the Bellagio poker room, calling it their home base (or more commonly "The Office") due to the high table limitTable limit
The table limit is the minimum and maximum bet that a gambler can make at a gaming table. It is a form of yield management in that the limits can be changed to optimize the profit from a gaming table. Gaming tables have a limited resource to sell, the seats used by the players.- Minimum table...
s, including the high stakes Big Game
Big Game (poker)
The Big Game refers to a famous high-stakes poker ring game played in "Bobby's Room", a cardroom named after Bobby Baldwin, at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The table features no-limit and pot-limit games with wagers up to $100,000 per hand...
located in "Bobby's Room", named after Bobby Baldwin
Bobby Baldwin
Bobby Baldwin is a professional poker player, off-road racer and casino executive. As a poker player, Baldwin is best known as the 1978 world champion, becoming the youngest main event champion at that time....
.
Bellagio has also partnered with the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
to host several of their tournaments.
Fountains of Bellagio
Musical fountain
A musical fountain is a type of animated fountain for entertainment purposes that creates an aesthetic design . This is achieved by employing the effects of timed sound waves and timed light against water particles...
.) The performances take place in front of the Bellagio hotel and are visible from numerous vantage points on the Strip, both from the street and neighboring structures. The show takes place every 30 minutes in the afternoons and early evenings, and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight. Before a water show starts, the nozzles break the water surface and the lights illuminating the hotel tower turn to a purple hue (usually), or red-white-and-blue for certain music. Shows may be cancelled without warning because of wind, although shows usually run with less power in face of wind. A single show may be skipped to avoid interference with a planned event.
The fountain display is choreographed to various pieces of music, including songs by Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, and Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
.
The fountains are set in a 9 acres (3.6 ha) manmade lake. Contrary to urban myth, the lake is not filled with treated greywater
Greywater
Greywater is wastewater generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing, which can be recycled on-site for uses such as landscape irrigation and constructed wetlands...
from the hotel. The lake is actually serviced by a freshwater well that was drilled decades prior to irrigate a golf course that previously existed on the site. The fountains actually use less water than irrigating the golf course did. They incorporate a network of pipes with more than 1,200 nozzles that make it possible to stage fountain displays coordinated with more than 4,500 lights. It is estimated that the fountains cost $40 million to build. The fountains were created by WET
WET (WET Design)
WET , also known as WET Design, is a water feature design firm based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 1983 by former Disney Imagineers Mark Fuller, Melanie Simon, and Alan Robinson...
, a design firm specializing in inventive fountains and architectural water features.
Four types of nozzles are used for the various effects:
- Oarsmen - jets with a full range of spherical motion
- Shooters - shoot water upwards
- Super Shooters - send a water blast as high as 240 ft (73.2 m) in the air.
- Extreme Shooters - send a water blast as high as 460 ft (140.2 m) (added in 2005)
Songs featured:
- "One" (from A Chorus LineA Chorus LineA Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
) by the Original Broadway Cast - "Hoe-Down" by London Symphony Orchestra
- "Simple Gifts" (from Appalachian SpringAppalachian SpringAppalachian Spring is a modern score composed by Aaron Copland that premiered in 1944 and has achieved widespread and enduring popularity as an orchestral suite...
) by Aaron CoplandAaron CoplandAaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"... - "Singin' in the Rain" by Gene Kelly
- "Rondine al Nido" by Luciano Pavarotti
- "Luck Be a Lady" by Frank Sinatra
- "Winter Games" by David Foster
- "Hey, Big Spender" by Gwen Verdon & Original Broadway Cast
- "Con Te Partirò" (Time to Say Goodbye) by Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
- "Hallelujah Chorus" by Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- "Carol of the Bells" by Los Angeles Master Chorale
- "O Holy Night" by Placido Domingo
- "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" by Johnny Mathis
- "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Johnny Mathis
- "We Need a Little Christmas" by Johnny Mathis
- "Sleigh Ride" by Johnny Mathis
- "Santa Baby" by Madonna
- "Your Song" by Elton John
- "God Bless The USA" by Lee Greenwood
- "Star Spangled Banner" by Whitney Houston
- "Pink Panther" by Henry Mancini
- "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion
- "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra with Count Basie
- "This Kiss" by Faith Hill
- "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" by Mikhail Rudy
- "Gayaneh Suite (Dawn, Ayeshe's Dance)" by London Symphony Orchestra
- "Overture and All That Jazz" by Catherine Zeta Jones
- "Ecstasy of Gold" by Ennio Morricone
- "Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis Presley
Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Conservatory (greenhouse)
A conservatory is a room having glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom...
and Botanical Gardens
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
. In total, there are five seasonal themes that the Conservatory undergoes: Chinese New Year, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
From January to mid-March, the Conservatory celebrates the Chinese New Year with a display dominated by flowers bromeliads and Orchids, as well as the animal of that particular year that the Chinese zodiac
Chinese zodiac
The Shēngxiào , better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year mathematical cycle...
celebrates. The theme then changes over to the Spring display, which lasts until May, and usually features a butterfly house as well as many varieties of tropical flowers. During Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend, the Bellagio then switches over to its All-American Summer display, featuring a large recreation of the Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
, as well as several American flags throughout the Conservatory. The Summer display is usually very patriotic featuring a lot of red, white, and blue, and is dominated by hydrangeas. From late September until Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
weekend, the Conservatory then puts on it Fall display featuring several varieties of chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
and several large pumpkins throughout the display. Finally, the Conservatory then switches over to its winter holiday display after Thanksgiving, which is dominated by its large centerpiece Christmas Tree and several varieties of poinsettia
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima, commonly known as Zack Wood or noche buena, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Mexico and Central America. The name "poinsettia" is after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the US in 1825...
. Whatever the season, colorful displays are decorated with many real fragrant flowers, and fountains may also be present. The Conservatory is located next to the lobby of the hotel and is open to the public.
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA)
In addition to the numerous works of art found throughout the public areas of the resort, the Bellagio also houses a special exhibition space displaying art work on loan from various museums and private collections from around the world. Originally the space that displayed the personal art collection of Steve Wynn, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has since become a rotating exhibition space after he sold his hotels in 2000. In the past, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art was located atop the grand staircase in the Conservatory that Julia Roberts descended in the movie Ocean's ElevenOcean's Eleven
Ocean's Eleven may refer to:*Ocean's 11 , the original heist film starring all five members of the Rat Pack*Ocean's Eleven , a remake of the above film with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon...
, but was then moved to its larger current location along the pool promenade eight months after Bellagio opened to better accommodate larger crowds.
Currently, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is hosting a landscape exhibit titled, A Sense of Place: Landscapes from Monet to Hockney.
It features over 30 different landscape works ranging from the mid-1800s to present day, culled from the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego , in San Diego, California, USA, is an art museum focused on the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art from 1950 to the present.-History:...
, and the private collection of MGM Resorts International. The current exhibit will be on display until January 2012 and features works by Claude Monet
Claude Monet
Claude Monet was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting. . Retrieved 6 January 2007...
, Alfred Sisley
Alfred Sisley
Alfred Sisley was an Impressionist landscape painter who was born and spent most of his life, in France, but retained British citizenship. He was the most consistent of the Impressionists in his dedication to painting landscape en plein air...
, Alex Katz
Alex Katz
Alex Katz is an American figurative artist associated with the Pop art movement. In particular, he is known for his paintings, sculptures, and prints and is represented by numerous galleries internationally.-Life and work:...
, Helen Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler is an American abstract expressionist painter. She is a major contributor to the history of postwar American painting. Having exhibited her work in six decades she has spanned several generations of abstract painters while continuing to produce vital and ever-changing new work...
, Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein was a prominent American pop artist. During the 1960s his paintings were exhibited at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City and along with Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist and others he became a leading figure in the new art movement...
, and Vik Muniz
Vik Muniz
Vicente José de Oliveira Muniz, known as Vik Muniz , is a visual artist living in New York City.-Early career:Muniz began his career as a sculptor in the late 1980s after relocating from Brazil to Chicago and later to New York. His early work grew out of a post-Fluxus aesthetic and often involved...
, among several other artists.
Past exhibits at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art include:
- Impressionism: Art in Bloom
- Kindly Lent Their Owner: The Private Collection of Steve Martin
- Alexander Caldar: The Art of Invention
- Faberge: Treasures From the Kremlin
- Andy Warhol: The Celebrity Portraits
- Treasures from Chatsworth: A British Noble House
- Monet: Masterworks From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- The Impressionist Landscape: From Corot to Van Gogh
- Ansel Adams: America
- In the Master’s Hand: Picasso’s Ceramics
- Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol, & Friends
- American Modernism
- 12 + 7: Artists and Architects of City Center
- Figuratively Speaking: A Survey of the Human Form
Awards and reputation
The Bellagio was awarded its 12th AAAAmerican 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 award in 2011 for the year 2012, making it the first hotel 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...
and one of a select few in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
to reach this milestone. It is the only hotel in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
to house two Five Diamond award winning restaurants under the same roof. Because of its distinctions, it has a reputation as one of the finest hotels worldwide and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World
The Leading Hotels of the World
The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is a hospitality consortium owned by Hotel Representative, A.G. It represents over 430 hotels and resorts worldwide. Headquartered in New York City, the consortium maintains offices in 24 cities world wide....
.
- AAA Five Diamond Award, 2001 - 2012
- Celebrated Living #1 Hotel in the U.S. Readers Choice Platinum List, 2009
- Condé Nast Traveler Magazine Gold List of the World's Best Places to Stay, 2008 - 2011
- Expedia Insiders Select Top Destination Resort, 2009
- Forbes Travel Guide, Five Star Award for The Villas at Bellagio
- Forbes Traveler Magazine World’s 400 Best Hotels, 2008 - 2011
- Market Metrix Hospitality Index Best Upscale Casino Hotel, 2008
- Travel + Leisure Magazine Top 500 World’s Best Hotels, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Travel Weekly - Readers Choice Award 2008
- Trip Advisor Top 10 Attractions in the US #1 Bellagio Fountains, 2008
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Favorite Hotel, 2009
- Zagat Survey Top Overall, 2008; Most Popular Hotel, 2008