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17.07.2024 - 12:38 / thepointsguy.com
I didn't know it the first time I stepped foot (or rolled, really) into The Mirage, but the stroller I was sitting in was entering hallowed ground in the hotel world. I was 4 years old, it was 1996 and my parents had just driven my brother, my grandma (Magaw, as we called her) and me from the Texas Panhandle to the Las Vegas Strip to celebrate Christmas in style.
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We weren't staying at The Mirage.
In fact, we were on the far end of the Strip at the MGM Grand, but I can still remember, if just for a fleeting second, how magical it felt to enter that larger-than-life space. Above me, the glass atrium felt like a spaceship; people from all walks of life floated by in every direction, slot machines were dinging and rattling, coins were jingling in large plastic buckets, and — as far as the pictures show — I was enthralled.
But the thing I remember the most were the fish, a giant wall of them, full of more shapes, colors and designs than any little boy from rural, cotton-growing, "Friday Night Lights" West Texas had ever seen. That was the moment when I fell in love with The Mirage — and hotels as a whole.
Now, flash forward a quarter of a century, and my love for The Mirage hasn't changed. Though I may have ditched my stroller and OshKosh B'gosh overalls, every time I visit Las Vegas, it's essential for me to walk under that big glass dome and say hi to those fish. Most recently, it's been while I'm in line to check in to the hotel instead of gawking from a distance.
But sadly, The Mirage has changed — and as of today, it's actually no more. July 17, 2024, will go down as the day The Mirage closed its doors forever, set to reopen after a massive transformation into the Hard Rock Las Vegas.
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When The Mirage opened its doors for the first time back in 1989, three years before I came into existence, it changed the world — at least the hotel world.
Set on 77 acres, Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn set out to build a megaresort. And he did. At the time, it was the largest hotel on the planet, and it redefined what a resort could be with its sprawling size, seemingly endless dining options, toned-down but visible theme (technically Polynesian, in case you were wondering) and overall sense of luxury.
It also opened up Las Vegas as a family-friendly destination thanks to its over-the-top erupting volcano, Siegfried & Roy's magic show featuring white tigers, and the chance to temporarily escape the mundaneness of everyday life to feel like you and your family entered a tropical paradise hidden in the middle of the Nevada desert. A mirage, if you will.
Since that
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Tenaya at Yosemite is pleased to announce the completion of a 244-room remodel in its main Lodge, lobby refresh, and the addition of new amenities to enhance each guest’s experience.
July was a whirlwind — and, well, the news was nonstop. Between politics, that wild global computer fiasco (you know, the one that hit airlines hard) and the Olympics starting, you might have missed some big news on the hotel front.
For nearly as long as commercial air travel has been possible, flight attendants have pushed back on policies surrounding their appearance and what they have to wear. It used to be about miniskirts and hot pants; today it’s about tattoos, comfort, and gender-neutral clothing. No matter the specifics, the shifts in airline uniforms reflect shifts in culture, and if you look to the skies, you can see that change happening yet again. In recent years—and even this past month—airlines worldwide have increasingly been loosening once-strict appearance guidelines and dress code policies to become more inclusive.
In 2019, ToursByLocals received $33 million from a private equity firm and had plans for a full rebranding of its website. Then came the pandemic.
Jul 29, 2024 • 4 min read
The country’s most extraordinary frozen holiday attraction, ICE!, announces its 2024 Christmas season lineup and its debut in San Antonio, Texas. Kicking off this November, the 24-year-old holiday tradition created by and featured across all five Gaylord Hotels will also be held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Each location will feature 2 million pounds of expertly hand-carved, larger-than-life ice scenes and fan-favorite characters from memorable Christmas classics. Two iconic holiday favorites will join this year’s roster including Elf™ and the long-awaited return of Frosty the Snowman™. Tickets to all ICE! locations are on sale today, including a limited time offer exclusively at ICE.marriott.com.
The three startups in the list this week represent modern takes on old ways of doing business in three travel sectors: tour packages, timeshares, and hospitality tipping.
Tourism is an important part of life in Alaska. In fact, last year, tourism brought in nearly $158 million in revenue for the state.
Holding meetings and events at posh hotels isn't a new concept; some of the toniest hotels in the world have served as backdrops to some of the most important gatherings in history. Whether it's for negotiating peace, creating bodies of diplomacy or hosting heads of state — or certain A-list pop music chanteuses — these are some of our favorite hotels in the world with an important claim to history-making meetings.
This autumn, get ready to raise your steins and toast a weekend of Bavarian tradition as Fredericksburg, Texas, hosts its annual Oktoberfest from October 4th - 6th, 2024. Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg is set to transform into a colourful celebration of German culture, complete with authentic music, food, and activities for all ages.
The sweltering summer heat has caused an unexpected problem for flight attendants: exploding soda cans.