Las Vegas Weekly

September 25, 2009 · 10:52 AM

Will a Strip hotel remain empty and only be used as decoration?

By Robin Leach

The Strip.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Wicked whispers and racy rumors …

Rumblings were rampant last night that a construction company completing a new hotel here in Las Vegas had been notified that it was to complete the job -- but then leave it unfinished and empty! Word is that the company has been ordered not to touch the interior of the building, and it won’t officially open as planned.

Apparently, the idea is that if and when the economy turns around and tourism numbers increase, the interior work can be completed maybe several years from now. The tower would appear to be completed for decorative purposes, and nearby properties wouldn’t have to see the continuing construction site.

Meantime, an advance look at room rates for early next year shows more alarming and eroding drops, with lower-end properties averaging no more than $75 a night to allow new VIP properties to fill up closer to the $200+ level. It’s whispered away from the board room that some hotels on the Strip have cut room rates so drastically to bring in tourists that they are losing as much as $50 million a month in hopes that gaming, retail and food and beverage sales will take away some of the pain!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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