Roughly two months hence, the El Cortez will open its extension, the Cabana Suites at the El Cortez (yes, that's the full name). It's to be a 64-unit mix of rooms, mini-suites and suites.
According to the PR folks …
"The Cabana Suites will bring the spirit of 1950s South Beach to Las Vegas with modern and stylish rooms and an outside design that has a contemporary Art Deco feel, reflecting the energy of downtown Las Vegas … The new hotel will bring an artistic style that has not been seen in downtown Las Vegas, and its sleek design and style fits in perfectly within Las Vegas’ arts district.* Also, the Cabana Suites will offer cost friendly luxury that anyone can afford … iPod docks and flat screen HD televisions, an expanded entrance lobby, an enhanced fitness center and a landscaped walkway providing convenient access from the Cabana Suites to the El Cortez."
(* — OK, so it's on the far side of downtown from the Arts District, but who's keeping score?)
Anything that helps stimulate traffic reintegrate the El Cortez into the downtown casino core is to be lauded, as the property is about as far out on the east side of the city as one wants to go. From the accompanying pictures, it's impossible to tell if the rooms will be capacious or claustrophobic, but …
… they'll be modishly tricked out …
… with just a hint of Austin Powers.
It may be small-scale (even the term "boutique" seems too grand) compared to some of the monoliths in the 2009 pipeline. But a downtown Las Vegas that's seen vast expansion of the Golden Nugget, not to mention new, revitalizing ownership of the Four Queens and Binions, is a reality that seemed literally incredible a bare five years ago.
