One billion-plus Vegas deal a winner while another mega project craps out
Maxim Magazine is lending its name to a more than $1.2 billion hotel casino planned to open by 2010.
At the same time, the proposed $3 billion casino complex backed by actor George Clooney has announced its cancellation.
The Maxim project includes a 2,300-room resort with a 60,000 square foot casino just north of Circus Circus.
“It’s going to be upscale. It’s going to be four-star,” Barry Pincus, director of brand development for Maxim publisher Dennis Publishing Inc., told the AP.
He also predicted the casino would be “sexy and flirtatious,” which is appropriate because Maxim is often described as a racy men’s magazine.
Maxim plans to partner with Las Vegas-based real estate developer Concord Wilshire Partners LLC in the project that will also include a 3,000-seat concert venue.
Construction is set to start next year.
Meanwhile, Miami developer Jorge Perez’s group said they had abandoned plans fro a $3 billion project that was to include a 300-room hotel and casino.
The group sold their 25-acre parcel set aside for the project for $202 million, more than doubling their investment just over a year ago.
Said actor George Clooney:
“I’ll donate my profits from the sale to the African Debt Relief Project — and I guess I’ll find someplace else to gamble.”
His partner Perez said escalating construction costs killed the project.
The cancellation of Las Ramblas came after an intense marketing campaign that included full-page newspaper advertisements.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Suspension of all regional trains in Catalonia following two new rail accidents in Spain