Not going anywhere for a while

The Flamingo is continuing to try to redefine itself in the face of bigger, more modern developments on the Strip. But it's not going away anytime soon, an official says.

"To rebuild today would be a heck of a lot of money," property President Don Marrandino said.

A major redesign of the hotel-casino, the world's 10th-largest hotel, could be part of a master-plan development of Harrah's center Strip properties. But these days, the property is pouring its capital improvement money into remodeling and refurbishing approximately 500 rooms this year after completing 636 rooms in 2006.

"We thought we'd invest in not just a room makeover but a whole new room design," he said. "We thought our biggest asset was our massive room inventory. We immediately said the first thing we'll do is really do a great job and make the rooms hipper to the new Vegas customer."

The Flamingo is the largest hotel by room inventory for Harrah's Entertainment with 3,530. The new Go Rooms, a play on the last two letters of the property's name, are aimed at keeping the hotel competitive with other properties on the Strip. The latest 500 rooms are scheduled to be finished in November.

Marrandino said the property wants a cooler, hipper, music-oriented theme to help capture the "new Vegas" customer. Marrandino well understands hip; he is a former president of the Hard Rock Hotel.

Beyond the usual remodeling of floors, walls, beds and light fixtures, most of the old plumbing and electrical wiring will be removed and replaced and new high-speed Internet connections will be installed.

Because of the age of the buildings -- some of the towers date back three decades -- much of the Flamingo's infrastructure had to be redone before updated electronics and redesigned bathroom features could be hooked up.

Each room will be fitted with a flat-screen television and an iPod docking station. The bathtubs are being replaced with larger showers. Las Vegas-interior design firm Cagley & Tanner designed the rooms.

Marrandino wouldn't say how much is being spent on the room conversions.

While the room remodeling has been a main focus for the property for the past couple of years, the Flamingo continues to redefine itself in other ways.

Comedian George Wallace, who got his start as a writer for the late comedian Redd Foxx, has been using the Flamingo as his base for three years. And singer Toni Braxton relaunched her career nine months ago at the hotel-casino.

"Whenever she's on shows like 'The View' or 'Larry King Live' and other national shows, we always get a nice mention," Marrandino said

Marrandino, who came to Las Vegas almost two years ago from Harrah's properties at Lake Tahoe, said the Flamingo also continues to update the casino with new machines, fresh carpeting and even a test of a new card game.

"We're just getting the place back to where it needs to be," he said.