Caesars Palace tops off new $1 billion tower

Octavius Tower to add 665 guest rooms

Amanda Finnegan

Construction workers prepare to hoist a beam signed by all Caesars Palace employees above the new Octavius Tower. The new tower is slated to open in summer 2009.

By Amanda Finnegan (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 | 7:30 p.m.

New addition at Caesars Palace

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Despite the current economic situation, Caesars Palace is still growing. The hotel/casino celebrated the topping off of its sixth high-rise tower today, The Octavius Tower. The new tower is slated to open in summer 2009.

Located along Flamingo Road on the southeast corner of the Caesars Palace property, the new 23-story, 665-room Octavius Tower will include 594 hotel guest rooms and 71 suites.

The addition of the Octavius Tower will bring the room inventory at Caesars Palace to more than 4,000. Plans for the $1 billion addition have been in the works since 2004.

Wilson Associates will be designing the interior of the Octavius Tower. General manager John Unwin said the design will be more contemporary and rich, but still staying with the signature Caesars Palace style. Wilson Associates’ previous work includes Four Seasons in Hawaii and California and Disney World resorts.

Construction workers raised a beam signed by all Caesars Palace employees, including those who have been with the casino since it’s 1966 grand opening.

“Caesars Palace has lead four decades of changes…The essence of Caesars has not changed; we’ve only grown to give more experiences for our guests,” general manager John Unwin said.

The ceremony also marked the expansion of the Garden of the Gods complex, convention facilities and a new outdoor wedding venue, all to open in summer 2009.

Although Caesars Palace president Gary Selesner admitted the resort is feeling the economic hit in some facets of business, he said the expansions will pay off in the future.

“Sure, there are some difficult economic conditions right now, but this tower is going to be around for 30, 40, 50 years. We’re building for the future,” Selesner said. “We are as confident as possible about our ability to fill this new tower and all of Caesars Palace next year but this is really more about two or three years down the road.”

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By stevem

10/21/08 at 7:55 p.m.

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you KNOW the suits at caesars are drinking pepto-bismol milkshakes for breakfast because that "rebound" looks farther and farther away with each passing week.
By rocket_car

10/21/08 at 8:52 p.m.

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"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking about real money", as the late Senator Everett Dirksen has oft been quoted...these days it sounds like small money.

"The essence of Caesar's has not changed...", to quote the president, yes, it's still "Smellin' of Troy" to quote cartoon character 'Troy McClure'. I always loved the savage beauty of the Roman Empire decor and Las Vegas just can't get enough of the Simpson's story...any Simpson, it seems.

That Caesar's Palace employee that has been working since 1966 and still can't retire...I think she took my drink order at a blackjack table in 1991 and was never seen by me again. I think she went to Walgreen's to buy some batteries for her hearing aide and her shift ended. neiman would blame that on the demmiecrats...I complained to the pit boss, but since he was missing parts from both hands, I figured he wasn't too worried about my Miller Lite.

Taking a 30-50 year approach to advancing the brand is encouraging..the last 10-20 were pretty spotty and in need of renovation/replacement. Remember when the American F1 race was right here? Boxing? Concerts? The list goes on...how about a return to greatness?
By denro

10/21/08 at 9:08 p.m.

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Caesars, never with an apostrophe.
What happens after fifty years?. It could make one wonder about the future.
Will these resorts be torn down one day for something newer and futuristic? Steve Wynn said the Encore/Wynn Resorts would be around forever, now that's a long time. So much to ponder.
By mikeg

10/21/08 at 9:09 p.m.

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Just in time to be spectacularly empty!
By rocket_car

10/21/08 at 9:28 p.m.

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denro, thanks for the correction, 'apostrophe' is a Frank Zappa album.

The visionary folks that brought us fifty years of weird and neat stuff in Vegas grew up in a much larger, more mysterious world. The world has gotten smaller, but there are a lot more people in it, and most of them aren't from here...

There needs to be a 'there' there or else it is just a slightly strange room with a fainting couch and sheer curtain in an otherwise pedestrian convention destination.
By moshima

10/21/08 at 9:47 p.m.

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I just can't imagine Vegas without Caesars. This landmark will always be here.
By neiman1

10/21/08 at 9:55 p.m.

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Our economy depends on the price of gasoline and jet fuel. Not just the cost to get here but if visitors have any money left after playing no jackpot slots at home called gas pumps. Obama's threat to reopen NAFTA has Canada now opening free trade talks with Europe. We get over half our oil imports from Canada. Why do we want to pick a trade war with Canada when they own our fuel supply? Watch Barney Frank promise to raise taxes next year.
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate...
By gqbossing

10/22/08 at 2:34 p.m.

Suggest removal

This project was funded in 2004, was started in 2005, and is completing in 2009. It included $400M for the new tower, $200M for renovations for existing towers, and $200M for renovations for other parts of the casino. 750 rooms is peanuts for a city with over 40,000 hotel rooms. Caesars is Harrah's flagship property in LV and demand for the ultra luxury rooms is still over 95% at that property, so this is a specialized need for more inventory.