Twistin' By The Pool - High Summer Is Pool Season In Vegas

The smell of sun tan lotion, chlorine, and margaritas can only mean one thing in Las Vegas: the party has moved outside for pool season. Pools are incredible centrepieces of many of the resorts and offer a great alternative to relax in the desert. And, when it gets too hot, most pools offer private cabanas for a little shade.

Here’s a list of the some of the best pools in town:

WET REPUBLIC brings daytime fun to the MGM Grand with its huge ultra pool that combines an exclusive nightlife vibe with eight separate pools and pampering spas.

MGM MirageBare Pool Lounge at The Mirage has quickly become the summertime sanctuary for Hollywood’s A-list. The ultimate in poolside pampering, Bare boasts two saltwater luxury dipping pools, ultra VIP service, DJ-spun music mix and European-style sun bathing secluded by towering palms.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers Rehab every Sunday. This exclusive daytime “recovery” session offers therapy in the form of palm-shaded sandy beaches, and blue water. Guests don't even have to get out of the water to enjoy the excitement of blackjack at the swim-up Palapa Bar.

Other notable pools in Vegas include:
• Mandalay Bay Beach at Mandalay Bay, which features the only climate-controlled poolside gaming on The Strip;
• Excalibur pool, where two luxurious pools and 17 cabanas have been added;
• Flamingo “GO” Pool, with unique cabana services that feature plasma televisions, X Box 360, mini-fridges and a personal server;
• Paris Las Vegas’ intimate pool, surrounded by manicured French gardens and adjacent to the replica of the Eiffel Tower;
• Caesars Palace with three distinctive pool experiences;
• The Pool at Bally’s with heated swimming pool, whirlpool spa, private cabana rental and poolside beverage service;
• TAO Beach, a seductive and sophisticated Asian-themed beach club that is an extension TAO Nightclub at The Venetian;
• Sapphire Pool, an adults-only pool at the RIO, with daybeds, loaded cabanas, and a make-your-own mojito bar;
• Grand Pool Complex at the MGM, which offers five swimming pools and three whirlpools surrounded by lush foliage, bridges, fountains and waterfalls; and
• Daydream Pool Club at M Resort, equipped with 10 VIP cabanas and multiple daybeds.

Resort News
The 390-room M Resort, Spa and Casino opened in March at the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard. Sitting at a higher elevation than other resort-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the M Resort provides optimal views of the world-famous Las Vegas skyline from its guest rooms, suites, conference centre and restaurants. The resort features a 14-screen digital movie entertainment complex, nine restaurants, state-of-the-art spa and fitness centre and a partnership with Taubman Centers, Inc. to bring in up to one million square feet of retail.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the $2.9 billion resort casino, toward the north end of the Strip, is scheduled to debut fall 2009. At 63 storeys, the resort will be the tallest hotel tower in Las Vegas, and will feature approximately 3,800 chic guest flats, spa, 27 restaurants and bars, almost three hectares of pool deck, casino, performing arts theatre, and trendsetting retail. The property is an eco-friendly luxury experience, built to US Green Building Council's Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Certification specifications.

City Center
CityCenter, a joint venture between MGM Mirage and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World, will open on the Las Vegas Strip in late 2009.

Located between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts, CityCenter will feature ARIA, a soaring 61-storey, 4,004-room gaming resort; non-gaming luxury hotels including Vdara Hotel and Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental; a US $40 million Public Fine Art Program; and Crystals, a 46,000-square-metre retail and entertainment district. Additionally, The Harmon, a luxury 400-room boutique hotel, is slated to open at CityCenter in late 2010.

Charting a new course for responsible growth in Las Vegas, MGM Mirage is pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at CityCenter. The project will incorporate a variety of elements – from the use of reclaimed water to on-site power generation – to make it one of the world’s largest environmentally sustainable urban communities.

LV Online
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has launched www.visitlasvegas.ca, an information tool for the Canadian travel industry. The new site includes a Vegas Certified program made up of 10 test modules. Vegas Certified agents will be included in a special database available to the Las Vegas hotel community seeking Las Vegas booking professionals. The hotels will then provide information as well as familiarization tours. Additional information on the website includes Canadian related content, an RFP for groups/meetings as well as the Canadian office contact information.