MGM Unveils Expanded Plans for “The Park” in Las Vegas
MGM Resorts International has unveiled expanded plans and the first look at programming for its dynamic park, dining and entertainment district taking shape on the west side of The Strip. Creating an interactive neighborhood environment, The Park will connect New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts and the new 20,000-seat world-class Las Vegas arena currently in development by MGM and AEG. New York-New York and Monte Carlo both are undergoing significant transformations of their Strip- facing experiences into robust plaza environments featuring casual eateries, bars, restaurants and retail destinations that will ultimately lead to The Park. When it opens in 2016 in conjunction with the arena, The Park will create an immersive outdoor destination spanning more than eight acres. Both New York-New York and Monte Carlo will transform their park-facing facades with a series of unique indoor/outdoor dining and entertainment venues, cultivating a vibrant patio culture that encompasses The Park’s landscaped spaces. To create a harmonious dialogue between resorts, Rue de Monte Carlo, the adjacent street providing access from Las Vegas Boulevard, will be realigned as a gently curving, tree-lined parkway: a grand approach to the new arena. New cobblestone walkways in front of New York-New York and Monte Carlo will lead guests into The Park from both directions and blend seamlessly with the mosaic tile patterns that canvas the space. Unique water features, including water walls stretching more than 100 feet in length along the entrance will add unexpected visuals, as will dramatic plantings incorporating a variety of beautiful desert blooms. Exploring The Park, guests will encounter spontaneous live entertainers, such as acoustic guitarists and street performers.
Wearables Replace Room Keys and Credit Cards at Two Ibiza Hotels
Two Ibiza hotels are rolling out wearable technology that will allow guests to leave their room keys and credit cards in their luggage while enjoying the summer destination. Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel and the brand new Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza shared details about the VIBs, short for very important bracelets, this week. Guests can use the bracelets to enter their rooms, pay for food and services on-site, and skip lines for check-in and check-out. Guests will have to buy the bracelets for $40 apiece. A summer resort is an ideal place to test wearable’s since guests are less likely to want to carry around their personal items while wearing bathing suits, swimming, or enjoying nightlife.
U.S. Pre Check Program Expands to Air Canada Passengers
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is expanding its Pre Check expedited screening program to passengers on international airlines. Yesterday, Air Canada became the first international carrier to participate, with TSA officials saying other foreign airlines would soon sign on. Airlines need to first update their computer systems to embed extra information in their boarding-pass barcodes as well as printing a Pre Check logo. Passengers in Pre Check lanes get to leave on their shoes, belt and light jackets, keep liquids and laptops in their bags and use a standard metal detector, not the full-body scanners. Security agents can process twice as many passengers in Pre Check lanes in the same time as in a normal lane. That allows the agency to dedicate more staff to other passengers. The program is open to some elite frequent fliers of U.S. airlines as well as the 2.4 million travelers enrolled in one of the Customs and Border Protection’s expedited entry programs: Global Entry, Nexus and Sentri. The government is turning to foreign carriers to sign on to the program, to help ease checkpoint congestion. The airlines are responsible for paying for their computer upgrades, hence some of the hesitation. With Air Canada’s entrance, the TSA says other foreign carriers are soon to follow. Ideally, the biggest benefit would be from airlines with the most U.S. passengers: British Airways, Air France and German carrier Lufthansa. But TSA officials said they are working with international carriers large and small.
Regal Princess Completes Sea Trials
Regal Princess has completed her sea trials in preparation for her May 20 debut. The new cruise ship set out to sea from her construction dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and was put through her paces with a series of maneuvers to test her propulsion, steering and navigational equipment. After a successful five days of trials, the ship is now back in the shipyard for further exterior and interior finishing. Regal Princess will be ready for her maiden voyage from Venice, a seven-day Mediterranean cruise to Athens including stops in Corfu, Mykonos and an overnight call in Istanbul. Regal Princess, a sister ship to Royal Princess, will offer guests a variety of features, including a large atrium, the social hub of the ship; an over-water Sea Walk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas; the Princess Live television studio; a dedicated pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.
News is courtesy of ARTA Online.
