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Planet Hollywood, or PH as it’s simply referred to, is the latest hotel readying for its big debut in Las Vegas. The former Aladdin Resort and Casino has been accepting guests since its celebrity makeover, and is set to officially open its doors as PH next month. Back in April, Travel Agent got a sneak preview of the revamped resort.
“We will be throwing the biggest party Las Vegas has ever seen for the grand opening,” Robert Earl, co-chairman of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and neighbor of Bruce Willis, told a room full of press and hotel VIPs in April. (Get ready for plenty of name-dropping, as Earl promised each person mentioned here would be a frequent guest of PH.) “This is not just a resort and casino, it is an amalgamation of three entities,” he said, alluding to the Planet Hollywood, Miracle Mile and Westgate Resorts franchises.
Indeed, after a $1 billion renovation, the hotel is positioning itself as strong competition for clientele of such stylish and hip neighboring properties as Wynn and The Palms. Not only does the hotel feature floor-to-ceiling Swarovski crystal chandeliers in the lobby and 5,000 Panasonic high-definition plasma TVs for public areas and guest rooms, but celeb-frequented hotspots like the restaurant Koi and Privé nightclub also are 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 and showcase original Hollywood memorabilia, such as the black blazer John Travolta wore in Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar winner “Pulp Fiction.” Three suites will be decorated in the names of sports stars Roger Clemens, Pete Sampras and Ray Leonard.
In addition to the guest rooms and suites, the Starwood-managed property will feature the 50-story Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate, which will house 1,200 vacation villas and 28 penthouse suites. The 3.2 million square feet of living space is set to make its debut in 2009.
Entertainment options include “The Beauty of Magic,” starring magician Hans Klok, and a production of “Stomp Out Loud,” a condensed version of the off-Broadway hit “Stomp.” The hotel has three lounges, 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; the 170 Miracle Mile Shops are composed of retailers like Urban Outfitters and H&M, the first store in the Swedish chain to hit Las Vegas.