One night in April, this reporter almost thought she had been transported to another planet. It's easy to see why, when you compare my usual evening standard of microwaveable meals and sitcom reruns to the trendy food, vacationing celebrities and array of entertainment options that were available to me that evening. However, it wasn't another planet—it was simply a night in the life of a guest of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
The new Planet Hollywood, or PH as it's simply referred to,
is the latest hotel set to make its debut in
Indeed, after a $1 billion renovation, the former Aladdin site is positioning itself as strong competition for the clientele of such stylish and hip neighboring properties as Wynn and The Palms. Not only does the lobby feature floor to ceiling Swarovski crystal chandeliers and 5,000 Panasonic high-definition plasma TVs that adorn public areas and guest rooms, but celeb-frequented hotspots like the restaurant Koi and Privé nightclub are also headed to the 2,600-guest room property.
The rooms themselves will be museums of celebrity culture,
much like the Planet Hollywood eateries that inspired the hotel. Rooms and
suites are themed after movies that showcase original
New PH Towers by Westgate
In addition to the guest rooms and suites, the
Starwood-managed property also will feature the 50-story
Entertainment options include The Beauty of Magic starring magician Hans Klok—which will feature Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson—and a production of Stomp Out Loud, a condensed version of the Broadway hit Stomp. There are three lounges throughout the hotel, including the Extra Lounge, inspired by the entertainment news show hosted by Mark McGrath and Dayna Devon.
Two critical components of living like a celebrity include
spa treatments and shopping—and PH has not forgotten this. The Planet Hollywood
Spa by Mandara offers specialty massages, facials and body treatments, while
the 170 Miracle Mile Shops are comprised of retailers like Urban Outfitters and
H&M, the first store of the Swedish chain to hit
The hotel remains open throughout the full renovation, with one floor closing at a time in order to be revamped. However, Earl assured the crowd that everything would come together by the end of September. "This day has been a long time coming," he said.
Get a closer look at the new Planet Hollywood in the video below: