Renovated Tower Rooms Debut at Las Vegas Hilton

The Las Vegas Hilton (a top stop with many families because of its Star Trek Experience attraction) has unveiled renovated rooms in its North Tower (with 923 rooms) and East Tower (with 600 rooms).

The rooms now feature new beds, premium bed linens, a pillow package, 37" plasma TVs, wireless Internet access, high-end amenities and MP3 ports for digital players.

Also, 221 executive level "Resort Club" rooms have been added with additional amenities and access to the "Resort Club" lounge on the 24th floor. These rooms also offer plush spa robes, upgraded bathroom amenities, slippers, IPOD Docking Station, in-room business printer, safe and refrigerator. The "Resort Club" lounge on the 24th floor features complimentary food and beverage selections, power breakfast, afternoon cookies and light snacks, and complimentary evening wine and cheese reception.

MGM Mirage, Others Creating Multi-Billion Dollar Resort

If you're planning ahead--about five years ahead, that is--look for an incredible new project at the corner of the Strip and Sahara Avenue. MGM MIRAGE, Kerzner International Holdings Limited (best known for its Atlantis Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas) and Istithmar Hotels FZE have announced that the companies will develop a multi-billion dollar integrated resort property on the Las Vegas Strip.

Under the terms of the agreement, MGM MIRAGE will provide the land for the resort and Kerzner and Istithmar will provide cash equity. MGM MIRAGE, Kerzner and Istithmar will own 50 percent, 25 percent, and 25 percent, respectively of the newly formed joint venture.

The land being contributed by MGM MIRAGE is being valued at $20 million per acre. The new integrated resort complex is anticipated to be a multi-billion dollar project. The new resort will be designed for approximately 40 of the 78 acres of land owned by MGM MIRAGE, located on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. Kerzner will lead the planning and conceptualization of this project. The joint venture is expected to draw upon MGM MIRAGE's substantial presence and experience in Las Vegas and Kerzner's experience in developing and operating some of the world's most recognized and successful destination resorts.

Sol Kerzner, Chairman and CEO of Kerzner International, observed: "We are excited to be partnering with MGM and Istithmar to create one of the most exciting integrated resort destinations in the world on the Las Vegas Strip. I expect that construction will commence in the first half of 2009 and that we will open in 2012."

Photo courtesy PRNewsWire

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Adds First Video Game Character

If you've got a video buff in the family, there's one more reason to visit the popular Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, located at The Venetian. The famous wax museum, a 250-year-old operation which began in London, has unveiled its first video game character, Master Chief. The impressively life-sized figure of Halo's Master Chief was revealed to the world by song-writer and bass player Pete Wentz of 2007 Teen Choice Award Winner and Grammy nominated band Fall Out Boy at an official unveiling ceremony Saturday afternoon.

"For me, the launch of Halo 3 will be the entertainment event of the year. It will be as big as or bigger than any of the summer's movie blockbusters," said Wentz. "Master Chief is as much of a hero today as characters like Spiderman, Frodo and Luke Skywalker were for previous generations."

The figure was created at the Madame Tussauds Studios in London specifically for the Las Vegas attraction. Master Chief stands at an impressive 7'2" tall, with an approximate finished weight of 275 lbs. A total of 10 studio artists worked on the massive figure, dedicating an estimated 892 man-hours for the sculpture including 687 hours for sculpting, 168 hours for molding, and 37 hours for painting. Materials included over 1,000 pounds of clay.

Master Chief will be stationed at the attraction's front entrance area -- providing guests with a "disarming" greeting at the door. With its towering presence, this newest attraction at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is sure to bring out the most devoted fan base -- Halo Nation -- for a personal look and photo with their iconic hero.

Best of all, you'll be able to interact with the figure up close and personal as with all the statues at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas; stand and have your photo taken!

For More Information:
• visit www.mtvegas.com

Photo: Pete Wentz, songwriter and bass player for alt-rock band Fall Out Boy and an avid gamer, helps unveil Halo's Master Chief at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. (PRNewsFoto/Madame Tussauds)

Luxor Losing Egyptian Theme

If your family likes the Egyptian theme of the pyramid-shaped Luxor, visit now because it looks like the longtime theme will be out by next year.

The hotel, which was recently in the headlines for the Britney Spears opening of the popular LAX nightclub there, will be moving toward a more cutting edge style and losing its Egyptian motif including many of the family attractions. We haven't received all the details yet but here's a recent article on the planned changes:

Ancient Egypt out, sex appeal in at Luxor | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/19/2007

Stratosphere to be Sold

We've learned that the Stratosphere Las Vegas owners at American Real Estate Partners have planned to sell the hotel and casino to Whitehall Street Real Estate Fund.

The hotel offers more than 2,000 hotel rooms as well as some of the city's most thrilling thrill rides and an observation deck with views of Las Vegas.

For more information:
• visit www.stratospherehotel.com

Caesars Palace Announces $1 Billion Expansion

One of the largest hotels on the Strip will soon be even bigger thanks to a $1 billion expansion of Caesars Palace. Look for the construction of a new 665-room Octavius Tower with three new swimming pools that will rim an expanded outdoor whirlpool spa, a poolside café and garden wedding venue. The expansion is scheduled for completion in early 2009. The project will also include a major renovation of the existing 512-room Forum Tower.

Luxor Announces Renovation Plans

Luxor, with its distinctive pyramid shape and family-friendly attractions like the King Tut Museum and motion simulator rides, has announced a multi-phase renovation. The project will take place in several stages. Phase One will include a new Cirque du Soleil show featuring illusionist Criss Angel. The second phase will bring about changes to the property’s atrium and galleria areas including a new buffet. The third phase will focus on room remodeling; that stage is planned to begin in 2009.

Ronn Lucas Show Now at Luxor

It's not always easy to find shows to interest young children but the Ronn Lucas show (the man The New York Times called the “World’s Best Ventriloquist”) is a good option for families with children age five and up. The clean, family-friendly show features puppets Scorch (a teenage dragon), Buffalo Billy and Chuck.

Ticket prices start at $29.95. The show is dark on Thursday and Fridays. Shows are scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 3pm and Monday and Saturday at both 1pm and 3pm.

For More Information:
• visit the Luxor website

Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas Offering Babymoon Package

The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas has always been one of the most family-friendly hotels on the Strip with special amenities for all ages of travelers, from infants to teens. Now the hotel is offering a special package designed for parents and the very youngest of travelers.

The Babymoon Package is for brand new parents and their new family member and includes the weekend in a one-bedroom suite overlooking the glittering Las Vegas Strip.

Upon check-in, the new parents will receive a basket of baby products and a $500 gift certificate to the famed FAO Schwarz before settling into their baby-proofed suite.

For More Information:
• visit Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

Welcome to VegasFamilyTripper!

Welcome to VegasFamilyTripper.com...both to our new site and to our travel news blog! In this space, you'll find news that's appropriate for families traveling to Las Vegas: special hotel packages, new shows, new attractions, restaurants that are family-friendly, and much more. We're the authors of Open Road's Las Vegas with Kids, longtime Vegas fans who have enjoyed traveling with our family in this exciting city and look forward to sharing our travel experiences with you and your family!