Another 8,000 rooms in Vegas?? I guess great for the consumer since the demand went to the crapper. Good for job creation but the other hotels will suffer with the large amount of new rooms on the market. Timing could not have been worse but looks like a killer development.

Supply demand 101.

After seeing some hype on the opening of CITY Center I was inspired to see what it would cost for a visit at this late date.

Upscale Hotels came be yours for medium 2 digits per night if you look around. Even in December last year when the world was ending I didnt see rates like this. But the bigger problem is flight availiblity. It was going to cost me double, or much more for good arrival departure times, the rates I usually pay from DC.

This, Im sure, is due to the airlines cutting back on scheduled flights due to the punk economy but this is grim news for Vegas tourism.
First they have to practically give the rooms away and then they cant get the people into town.
Dont get me wrong , I love a deal on a nice room or suite as much as anyone but this is not healthy.

You could and should make the case youre paying so much less for the room you can pay more for the flight but people dont. They just remember what they are used to paying.

Hope Im wrong on this. One thing in Vegas' favor is there truly is nothing like it anywhere else. The East Coast, after so many years experiencing Atlantic City and the Indian casinos, I think have come to firmly conclude they are a poor substitute for Las Vegas.

I have to agree with what you're saying. I've been coming out to Vegas at least once a year since 2003, but for the first time ever, I can't get a direct, non-stop flight to Vegas att he times I would want one. Coming from the East Coast, with a direct, non-stop, I'm already looking at 5+ hours to get there. When you add in a stop, now I'm looking at 7+ hours. That's just too long for me. It's too bad, because I love this town, and there's still a lot of ladies here in Vegas I'd love to see.

Nice accomadations,stayed 3 nights @ $129 per night. Not bad!

I just checked on a mid week (tues-fri) one stop thru ATL and got a RT fare of $239.
I might just take the trip

& is the whole development open or just parts ,got offered same killer room  rates & thinking about it for my Jan trip.

I have not been able to fly non-stop in well over a year.  They began cutting back the flights at least 6 months before the market decline and it has just worsened.  The only non-stops seem to be the red-eyes which I now take most of hte time as they are cheaper and you aren't waisting the day away.  Can rarely get a flight for under 350 when I used to get non-stops for under 250. Not so much fun anymore!

Flights from LV to NY have faired much better and although there are fewer of them, there still seems to at least be some availability.  I have taken to flying Jet Blue now (love them) and have not been deterred as of yet.

That where I live (ABQ) is close enough where I don't get poked when I go to LV. $550 for air(roundtrip/nonstop) and 3 nights at Mandalay Bay the end of last month.

But you don't EVEN want to know what I spent hobbying while I was there!

Could've supported a family of four for a year in the Southern hemisphere or Far East!

Sara..Ive noticed that too. The flights always seemed to be full from DC  so its odd they were cutting back and just jacking up prices.
The last time I went I waited til 5-6 weeks before and did get a good deal(around $250) but it was like I just had to wait them out cause 2-3 months before I was scheduled to go the prices were $400-500.
Its like a game it seems and if you know how to play you may do fine otherwise your screwed, though not in the way or method I had hoped for sure..LOL

I think what we'll see is that some of the older hotels will close, removing many of the lower priced rooms from the market.  This is a natural progression, City Center hotels are now the "A List" properties, moving Encore, Wynn, Palazzo, down to A- and Bellagio to B, etc.  The lowest tier will be removed completely.

We've already started seeing this.  Binions (downtown) has closed its hotel (only the casino remains open).  The Sahara has closed 2 of their 3 towers.  I think the Riviera will be next up for closing.  I wouldn't be surprised if Circus Circus were to close up shop soon.

With stratosphere running 19.99 usd specials they will not be far behind. Basically the old guard are no longer re-investing cash to upgrade. The Luxor has turned into a wreck.

Anyone else find $7.00 for a can of beer on an air plane flight a little excessive?

It is likely that some more casinos will limit their products. It is also likely a few well known strip properties will change owners in 2010.

I would put Encore and Palazzo equal to Aria. Aria is still going through growing pains and has yet to really wow most people.

If your even a modest gambler, you should be able to get at least 2 free nights at either Wynn or Palazzo. (But not during AVN or CES...)

there were 141,000 hotel room in Clark County before City Center. 8,000 is mereley a 6% increase.

A friend of mine had a room at the Aria.  Gotta be honest, it's okay, but not groundbreaking.  Here's what I noticed - first, during the initial opening, the wi-fi wasn't working.  Second, while the staff is nice, they pale in comparison to the Encore/Wynn staff.  this includes floor staff and dealers.  She told me the food wasn't all that great (I didn't eat there).  All in all, while I was there, I was impressed with the hotel, but do i think it will replace the Wynn/Encore as the premier property?  No.  Nice, yes.  5-diamond quality?  No.  It's the little things - I didn't notice any doormen at the entrances.  Encore and Wynn have them - little things like that make ALL the difference.  Still nice, and I do expect some older places to start shutting down.

Also nice when it's on the company dime. Airlines are charging for everything, food baggage....lucky to get water with ice in it without attendant copping attitude