Vegas' CityCenter Trims Plans

Construction problems and the ongoing U.S. recession last month prompted MGM Mirage and Infinity World Development Corp. to postpone the opening of The Harmon Hotel & Spa, a key feature of its massive Las Vegas CityCenter project, for one year until the end of 2010.

The Harmon still is scheduled to feature 400 guest rooms, but plans to include 200 residential condominium units have been canceled, reducing CityCenter costs by $600 million. The remaining CityCenter components—the 4,000-room Aria Resort & Casino, the 400-room Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences and the all-condo Veer Towers—remain on track to open in December.

"By cancelling The Harmon condominium component, we will be able to avoid the need for substantial redesign of The Harmon resulting from contractor construction errors," said Robert Baldwin, president and CEO of CityCenter.

CityCenter, a joint venture between MGM Mirage and Dubai World subsidiary Infinity World Development, is slated to occupy 67 acres between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Strip.