Fireworks, Flowers and the Fremont Street Experience to Mark the Holidays in Las Vegas
Dec. 4, 2009— -- "Good Morning America" weather anchor Sam Champion visited Las Vegas as part of the annual GMA Lights Up America series.
The desert city has a lot to offer.
Just a mention of the city evokes images of fun, excitement and spectacle. It's no surprise that Las Vegas is dubbed "the entertainment capital of the world."
Las Vegas was established in 1905 and became an official city in 1911.
Railroads, construction and gambling contributed to the city's rise in popularity, and early casino hotels -- then with the involvement of organized crime -- cemented the city's status as a premier entertainment center.
Las Vegas celebrated its 100th birthday on May 15, 2005. A year of celebratory events led up to the centennial.
The metropolis, nestled in the Mojave Desert, is home to about 1.8 million people, but the city hosts millions of visitors each month and is the top gaming destination in the world.
More than 37 million people traveled to Las Vegas in 2008, and more than 22,000 conventions are held there every year.
In response to the increased interest in the city, ambitious new development is taking form.
One such project -- the CityCenter -- is opening in phases starting this week in the middle of Las Vegas Blvd.
CityCenter has been under construction for years. It's $1.2 billion over-budget and has the world's attention because it's partially owned by the economically troubled government of Dubai.
The behemoth project was started by MGM Mirage. But after the company ran into financial problems, putting CityCenter in jeopardy, the investing arm of the Dubai government, called Dubai World, came to the rescue and formed a joint venture. MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren admits that getting the $8.5 billion project finished was a feat in itself.
"With everything that's happened in the United States, that's happened to our company, that's happened globally, to be able to deliver this product on time is remarkable," Murren said, talking to ABC News while sitting in a bar at one of CityCenter's new hotels, called Vdara.
CityCenter looks like a piece of a downtown skyline dropped in the middle of the Vegas Strip between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo casinos. Its high rises look more like futuristic office buildings than hotels and casinos. Gone are the glitzy light up signs and the themed properties so prevalent in this town.
Architects were tasked with building a city within a city that would be different and eco-friendly. They hoped in the process it would attract a more high-end clientele.
"The architecture speaks for itself," said Paul Berry, vice president of hotel operations at Aria, CityCenter's only casino/hotel. "You walk in, you see clean, simple lines. You'll see sedated colors, lots of natural light."
