HONG
KONG, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Police in the world’s biggest gambling hub of
Macau are investigating what they suspect is a rare murder in a
five-star casino resort after a Chinese man was found stabbed in his
bed, broadcaster TDM reported on Monday.
Murder
cases have been rare in the Chinese territory since Portugal ceded
control of what had been a colonial backwater on the heel of China’s
southern coast 20 years ago.
The
suspected murder took place in Sands China’s Conrad Macau hotel, TDM
reported, citing police. It comes as slower mainland growth, a weaker
yuan and a simmering trade war with the United States threaten to derail
Macau’s growth.
The
41-year-old victim, an active gambler from the mainland, had been
stabbed. The case was being investigated and no further details were
available, TDM said.
Macau
police and Sands China did not respond to requests for comment. The
company is controlled by U.S. billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas
Sands.
Macau
is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. Casino
revenues shrank in January for the first time in more than two years.
Violent
crime in Macau has often been linked to its junket operators – the
middlemen who bring China’s wealthiest to the gambling tables. Slower
growth and tighter regulations have made it hard for many small junket
companies to stay in business.
Criminal
gangs known as triads, which are known to operate in Macau, are
typically involved in extortion, money laundering, murder and
prostitution.
(Reporting by Farah Master Editing by Robert Birsel)
Caesars Republic Scottsdale to Break Ground in Second Half 2019
LAS VEGAS, January 28, 2019 – Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR), the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment company today announced plans to open Caesars Republic Scottsdale, its first non-gaming hotel in the United States, as part of its plan to expand its brands and loyalty network through its licensing strategy.
Caesars Republic Scottsdale will be located adjacent to the region’s premier luxury retail destination, Scottsdale Fashion Square, and will be a four-star hotel developed by HCW Development and operated by Aimbridge Hospitality. Caesars Entertainment will license its brand, advise on design elements and integrate the industry’s leading loyalty network Total Rewards.
“Caesars Republic Scottsdale represents the introduction of a new world class brand and further progress on our strategy to expand our non-gaming business into premier destinations,” said Caesars Entertainment President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Frissora. “This project will be our first non-gaming asset in the United States and demonstrates the global strength of the Caesars brand. We look forward to partnering with HCW Development and Aimbridge Hospitality to create a world-class experience in one of the nation’s most desirable communities.”
This modern 11 story glass structure with 266 rooms will be developed at the intersection of North Goldwater and East Highland Avenue. This high-profile location will allow the Caesars Republic Scottsdale guests the ability to walk to the state’s most elegant mall.
The interior décor will feature rich textures and strong architecture, juxtaposing soft curves and bold accents in a chic and classy lobby, with designs curated throughout the guest rooms. The first-floor bar will be the spot for an after-work cocktail or glass of wine after a day of shopping. The signature restaurant will feature a sophisticated, high-energy environment that will synergize with surrounding trade areas, catering to both locals and hotel guests alike. There will be an abundance of outdoor seating on the patio with fantastic views of Camelback Mountain. In addition, there will be a coffee shop, ideal for a casual business breakfast or as a grab-and-go option for those on the run.
The guest room experience will set the standard for rooms and amenities in Scottsdale. In addition to the mixture of kings, double queens, one and two-bedroom suites, the hotel will also feature a bridal suite, and on the 11th floor, five luxury entertainment suites. On the second floor, there are five breakout rooms which will accommodate up to 40 people each or can be opened for events up to 200. The second-floor executive board room is capable of seating 16 at a permanent table.
Caesars Republic Scottsdale will house a 7,000-square foot column-free ballroom with 34-foot sliding glass doors which open out onto the adjacent lawn, suitable for outdoor events for up to 600 people. The ballroom is divisible into four sections and can accommodate banquets up to 500. The ballroom’s LED lighting system will allow event organizers to customize the look and feel of their event with the ability to change the ceiling color. Additionally, the ballroom will feature a cutting-edge sound, internet and audio-visual system.
The most stunning part of Caesars Republic Scottsdale will be the 7th floor, encompassing a rooftop pool and bar – the only rooftop pool in Scottsdale – featuring breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain. The pool will host activities such as yoga at 9 and champagne at 11. The rooftop bar will feature specialty drinks by HCW’s award-winning mixologist. There will be weekend brunches and lively afternoon energy year-round. This area will also serve as private event space for exclusive groups or company events. Adjacent to the pool will be the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center.
“We are very excited to work alongside our new partners to introduce the Caesars Republic brand to the world,” said Richard Huffman, Chief Executive Officer and President of HCW Development. “Scottsdale is a vibrant community and we are confident that this high-end facility will provide a truly unique and dynamic experience to both locals and guests traveling from afar.”
Caesars Republic offers a new kind of lifestyle hotel experience; the first brand from Caesars Entertainment designed exclusively for non-gaming hotels. Caesars Republic is a brand with an edge: it inspires the imagination, pushes creative boundaries, and collaborates with trendsetters.
The brand pays homage to the dynamic energy of Las Vegas – celebrating rebellious spirits and beckoning its guests to unleash their alter egos. Just as all republics are social in nature, Caesars Republic incorporates thoughtful details and brand rituals to facilitate connections among its guests.
No two hotels within the brand will be exactly alike – everything from the décor to the culinary offerings are inspired by local traditions and tastemakers. Caesars Republic taps into the unique pulse of each host city, amplifying its energy and culture.
“We are honored to partner with Caesars Entertainment and add a hotel with the iconic Caesars brand to our management portfolio,” said Aimbridge Hospitality President and Chief Operating Officer, Robert Burg. “We share Caesars’ commitment to operating excellence and look forward to managing Caesars Republic Scottsdale.”
Scottsdale is an ideal market for the introduction of the Caesars Republic brand. Scottsdale hosted an estimated 4.5 million overnight visitors and 4.4-million-day trip visitors in 2017. Caesars Republic Scottsdale will be located just north of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Owned and operated by Macerich (MAC), Scottsdale Fashion Square features an elevated luxury wing anchored by Neiman Marcus, plus a new flagship Apple, and more than 200 shopping and dining options including market exclusives Saint Laurent and a recently announced Nobu.
“Our market-dominant Scottsdale Fashion Square is the natural home for the innovative new Caesars Republic hotel concept,” said Ed Coppola, President, Macerich. “The addition of this exciting new hotel is part of the next phase of development for our exceptional mixed-use property, which also will introduce Class A office space and upscale residences to bring even more value to this one-of-a-kind destination.”
This announcement follows the late 2018 opening of Caesars Entertainment’s two beachfront luxury resorts and beach club on Meraas’ Bluewaters Island in Dubai. Additionally, Caesars announced plans last year to develop a non-gaming Caesars Palace resort along the coast of Puerto Los Cabos, Mexico.
About Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Caesars Entertainment is the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment provider and the most geographically diverse U.S. casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment’s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah’s® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars Entertainment’s portfolio also includes the Caesars Entertainment UK family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars Entertainment is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit, visit www.caesars.com/corporate.
Project team currently includes BRP Architect firm out of Springfield, MO; Studio 11 Interior Design from Dallas, Texas; Transaction handled by LeDonna Spongberg of CBRE’s Phoenix office.
Shares of Wynn resorts (WYNN) dove more than 15 percent Thursday after the casino operator’s chief executive said the company is seeing a “slowdown” at its Macau location.
Though CEO Matthew Maddox said results were strong during China’s seven-day Golden Week holiday, attendance since then has been “choppy” during the week and “sporadic” on the weekends.
Las Vegas Monorail will be turning 12 years old in July, 2016. The monorail system has had its share of growing pains over the years, but it did provide me with transportation on a recent trip to Las Vegas from the Convention Center to the Quad Hotel. The Las Vegas Monorail project was constructed by Bombardier Transportation, the same company that is currently rolling out its C Series regional jets. It was built as an extension to the existing monorail line that operated between the MGM Grand and Bally’s Hotels. The monorail suffered many malfunctions while in its testing phase that delayed the start of passenger service for about a year. These malfunctions included parts falling from the monorail tracks to the ground. The Las Vegas Monorail finally opened to the public on July 15, 2004. The system did experience a couple of shutdowns during its first year of operations, including one that lasted almost four months when parts began falling from the tracks again. One year after service began, Transit Systems Management announced that it would shut down its operations, turning responsibility for operations to the Las Vegas Monorail Company.
Las Vegas Monorail Bankruptcy and Expansion Plans
On January 13, 2010, the Las Vegas Monorail filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection. The filing stated that the Monorail had been operating since 2004 using proceeds from its initial financing and debt service reserves. These funds have now been fully depleted, which made it necessary to file for re-orginization. According to the court petition, Las Vegas Monorail has between $10 million and $50 million of assets, and between $500 million and $1 billion of debts. The Las Vegas Monorail Company successfully emerged from bankruptcy protection in November of 2012, with its debt load slashed down to just$13 million.
A feasibility study for a planned expansion of the monorail to the McCarran Airport was approved back in November of 2005. This extension was officially approved in December of 2006 by Clark County commissioners, providing that the financing would come from private funding. However, funding for the project never materialized. The monorail company most recently proposed in May of 2015 that the monorail be extended to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, with an additional station being added at the Sands Expo & Convention Center across the street from the Wynn Las Vegas.
