Aria, MGM’s self-chosen jewel property despite those loyal to Bellagio, is continuing to improve what is broken in all the right ways. Since the property opened, many issues and problems have been continually fixed, with underperforming restaurants swapped out, and boutiques replaced with pressed juicerys and bar names changed. One of the more recent changes is of City Bar to Alibi, a more soft yet still modern alternative to a bar that was seemed very much an afterthought.
Other major changes are happening on both ends of the casino. On the south end, the Deuce lounge is no more, boarded up along with the hall running adjacent. In its place will likely be a walk up bar that doesn’t take up the space the Deuce did, therefore opening up more pathways through the casino, something that’s also been done with the slot area in the same location.
Near the lobby, a large chunk of the east side of the casino near the entrance has been walled off nearly to Javier’s. This space, according to an employee, is to become a new VIP lounge and reception area. Assumingly, as SkySuites has it’s own lounge, this will be geared to higher level Mlife tiers and players. Could MGM be trying their own version of a Caesars Entertainment Diamond Lounge? I can only say I hope so.
One thing is for sure. Aria still remains an experimental and volatile property for MGM, and it seems to be paying off. The floor was packed on a Sunday night, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Monte Carlo’s rebranding will likely play on this, and it’s a smart move. I for one can’t wait to see how it will play out.
We would love to hear your impressions with regard to Aria, feel free to comment below.
Eric loves blackjack, architecture, hotels, more hotels, more blackjack, art and design. He grew up drawing hotels, and now spends his free time traveling to see and experience some of the greatest hospitality experiences in the gaming world while using his education in architecture as a tool to analyze how the best hotels in the world are created and developed.
Hi Eric, I used to like Aria, but I’ve recently had a few bad experiences at restaurants there and am unlikely to be back. One time last year, I was at the bar of the Tapas place off the lobby with friends. The friends had been there 15 mins when I and my wife arrived. In the 10 minutes we stood there, not a single person asked us if we wanted anything – worse, servers would walk past and actively avoid eye contact with us! The place was maybe 20% full, most of the staff were standing around chatting.
Before that, we had a meal at Jean-Georges steakhouse. My wife ordered 2 appetizers as her meal, the second to be served with the main courses. Once all the mains had been eaten, the servers swooped in, removed all the plates except hers, and then wiped down the table – she was still eating her meal! The cleaner gave us attitude when we asked him to stop.
My business has moved mostly to The Wynn now.
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had those experiences there. Personally I’ve had nothing but great interaction with everyone I’ve interacted with on the staff there. My times eating at the Julian Serrano Tapas were fantastic, and the one meal I had at Jean-Georges, even though it was opening night, was pretty unremarkable but pleasant. I’m not sure how long ago this has been but perhsps you should give it another go? And definitely let management know if you’re not being served properly. MGM wants Aria to be one of their best properties, and that’s straight from an employee’s mouth to my ear. They take all feedback very well.
But you can’t go wrong with Wynn. 🙂
My most recent experience (beginning of May 2015) at Julian Serrano Tapas was exemplary. But, my experience was also with a known MGM player who was a regular and full comp. We were a group of around 10+ and the service was also quite good. Though, it was on a Sunday afternoon, and not particularly crowded even though it was a very busy Vegas weekend. That same weekend we dined at two of my favourite MGM (Bellagio) restaurants; so this was my only (very short) experience with Aria this year.