The Wynn Las Vegas will be losing its banner Broadway show this summer, when Spamalot goes dark in July after a 15-month run. What epic entertainment can possibly replace the Tony Award-winning musical? Uh, apparently, Danny Gans.
When the impressionist moves in, the theater will be re-branded as part of Encore Las Vegas, the hotel's attached expansion property.
This isn't the only hotel show shakeup we've heard about either. Criss Angel is slated to do a Cirque du Soliel show at the Luxor, and another Cirque production could be on the way to one of Wynn's Vegas hotels.
Mariah Carey's picture is on display at Tippy's which she frequents when on Eleuthera.
The destined-to-be-divorced newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon went on record with People magazine this week about their quickie nuptials.
While we know the vows were spoken at Mariah's private residence on Eleuthera in the Bahamas, the love affair actually began at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Here's what Nick told People:
"From the first time we sat down to discuss the video at the Beverly Hills Hotel, we connected," Cannon said. "We had so much in common spiritually, and we laugh at the same things. I didn't have to put on my Mac Daddy suave mode. I was able to be myself with her. We are both eternally 12 years old."
Good thing the law doesn't allow 12-year-olds to marry for reals. Anyways, Mariah has been spotted at Tippy's at Pineapple Fields in Eleuthera many times before. We're wondering if this is where Nick and her are holing up and if they are, then we are seriously jealous.
While you may want to swim at the Marriott in Manhattan, visiting the Marriott in Baghdad probably doesn't sounds so refreshing.
The Washington Post said Bill Marriott and co. were contemplating opening a hotel in the fortified Green Zone of Baghdad. Um yeah, that sounds crazy.
Opening a Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh is one thing. But moving into Baghdad is quite another. The Green Zone has been a frequent target of attacks by insurgents. A recent flare-up, when 114 rocket and mortar rounds fell in the Green Zone during a 30-day period ending in late April, showed the unpredictability of the danger.
Marriott is actually aggressively attempting to expand its presence in the Middle East from 26 to about 75 over the next several years. Yet we say, maybe Marriott should work on streamlining their WiFi policy before they start building in Iraq?
A hotel just outside Chicago got sold today which normally wouldn't be newsworthy to us but it was called The Purple Hotel, our favorite color!
While it was once classy in the 1960s it became a den of debauchery, the site of a mob hit, and home to both sex and rodent parties. (Although not at the same time...we don't think so at least.) In other words, it was like totally hip.
The hotel was initially the Lincolnwood Hyatt House, then turned into a Radisson then a Ramada before it became so awful that no franchise wanted to be a part of it. The Sun-Times writes of the final hotel name, The Purple Hotel:
By that name, it was relying on such events as the Midwest Fetish Fair & Marketplace for business, and the police regularly were called to the hotel to quiet disturbances.
The hotel used to segregate the sex parties from other guests, but a former general manager once told the Sun-Times that complaints arose from people who "got on the wrong elevator."
Now, the hotel will be demolished and replaced with some retail/residential mixed-use building. Boring! We sorta think Ian Schrager needs to drop this Edition Hotel business and launch a chain of Purple Hotels. Bring back hedonistic hotels Ian!
· Attorneys now threatening TripAdvisor reviewers who write bad things. Oy. [LA Times] · NBA baller Richard Jefferson formally charged with choking man at boutique hotel Graves 601. [Minneapolis Star-Tribune] · RIP: Gridskipper is moving to Curbed. [Gridskipper] · The Sheraton Gateway LAX hotel is starting JetSet Sundays poolside with airline-inspired drinks. [Jaunted]
Seems like the Loews Coronado Bay Resort is not the only one hyping up their gas-friendly packages this seasons.
· Kimpton Hotels, never one to miss out on any package/promotion/anything-friendly fun, is offering parking and other hotel discounts to anyone who shows up in a hybrid car. Also, the 70 Park Avenue property in not-so-car-friendly Manhattan is offering a "Road Warrior Package" which gives guests a $20 gas card and complimentary parking (usually billed at a rate is $52 a day.) Rates start at $289 a night.
· Down in Costa Mesa in California's Orange County, nine participating hotels are offering guests the “2008 Fly/Drive & Dine” promotion from now through September 30, 2008.
Guests will receive a $25 reimbursement on airfare or purchase of gasoline along with a $25 per night dining credit for area restaurants. No minimum stays are required. Rates start at $99 per night and the gas/air reimbursement will be mailed after your hotel stay. Go to Costa Mesa Online for more details.
· Out in Colorado, the JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek has put together the "Easy Escape" package which includes deluxe accommodations, a $50 gas card, free valet parking and a complimentary car wash.
Plus they will even throw in JW Marriott cooler bag stocked with bottled water and snacks when you leave. Rates start at $239 a night and the package is available Thursday-Sunday nights from now through September 1. Use code SPJM to book.
Now that we've squared away the Best and Worst WiFi Hotels stateside, it's time to look at what's happening abroad.
Baby bro Jaunted has continued its WiFi Week by publishing yesterday some helpful tips on finding wireless when traveling outside the U.S. and typically, you can always get some sort of access in a cafe.
But here we'll be looking at the hotels abroad where HotelChatter editors and contributors found or didn't find WiFi. We've been keeping tabs on the International Hotel WiFi scene all year long and unlike what's happening here at home, the Hotel WiFi trend seems to be improving in other countries.
For instance, we traveled to London and had complimentary WiFi in our hotel near Hyde Park. Also, several small UK-based chains have decided to give up WiFi for free to its guests. Over in Spain, Best Western continues to offer free WiFi and we even found out that there's WiFi in the Hilton in Cairo. Of course, it's at a fee of $7 but still, that's improvement.
Something that totally makes us melt? Radisson SAS hotel in Europe publishing a list of their hotels that offer free WiFi. Life is good again!
Keep reading for more of the Best and Worst International Hotel WiFi Report
Just last week we told you about The Surf Lodge from the nightlife group, MCM Hospitality, which is behind the popular nightclubs CAIN.
The 32-room hotel is located a half-mile from the beach on Fort Pond in Montauk and will have its opening day over Memorial Day weekend. And the hotel is much more than just a chill spot on the beach.
A restaurant from Top Chef contestant Sam Talbot is planned as is an outdoor bar and live performance area, boutique shop and even a hair salon.
Here's a glimpse at what the beach-themed rooms will look like. Also, a PR rep for the hotel lets us know the place will have free WiFi throughout, "including from the hammock on your private deck overlooking the water." We like the sound of that!
Poison frontman and Rock of Love star Bret Michaels is performing at the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando on May 29th for the hotel's Velvet Sessions. The cost of a chance to dance near the extension-wearing aging rocker? $50 and that includes specialty drinks from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The concert starts in the hotel lobby at 8:30pm. [Orlando Sentinel]
· Speaking of Orlando, About.com just released a Disney World Resort Map. Prepare to do a lot of reading. [About.com] · Intercontinental Hotels might be lagging in the WiFi department but they are determined to stay green in the future. The hotel brand just unveiled its Innovation Hotel website which showcases sustainability of hotels. [LAT Daily Deal Blog] · MGM Mirage might be splitting their hotels and casinos into two separate divisions. [Online Casino Advisory] · The burgeoning Riviera Maya Hotel Scene in a nutshell. [Dallas Morning News]
