Aladdin
Transformation One Step Closer
The transformation of the Aladdin
into Planet Hollywood is a step closer with
work completed on the rotunda in the hotel-casino's
center.
Mike
Dean, president of M.J. Dean Construction, the
general contractor for the project, said basic
work on the 6,000-square-foot rotunda, the first
major interior portion of the redevelopment
project, was largely completed Friday.
Other
phases of the redevelopment are still being
designed or are awaiting permits, Dean said.
The
project's rotunda phase was a key part of the
plan to put the Aladdin on a higher plane, said
Robert Earl, co-chairman of Aladdin owner OpBiz.
The phase changed traffic flow to broaden the
resort's customer base and to present an edgier,
trendier look.
OpBiz
is a partnership of Earl, Bay Harbour Management
and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.
Redevelopment
of the Aladdin includes dropping the Middle
East theme and repositioning the property in
the same class as Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and
MGM Grand.
The
transformation of the Aladdin into the Planet
Hollywood started in October and should finish
in this year's fourth quarter.
Aladdin
President Mike Mecca said the rotunda project,
like other parts of the redevelopment, was designed
to reclaim "shelf space" to give the
hotel-casino more square footage for entertainment,
restaurants and casino operations.
"And
we're not just talking new, exciting amenities
for the property," he said. "The overall
design makes it very contemporary, very competitive
and very accessible."
The
property continues to operate as the Aladdin
during renovation. Mecca said despite the redevelopment
project and rebranding of the Aladdin, occupancy
rates have remained in the high-90 percent range.
"The
marketing team is doing a great job of disguising
the construction work and minimizing the disruption,
which helps the property do as well as it is,"
he said.
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