Nov. 22, 2011--More than 2,300 hotel rooms in the historic Flamingo are getting a makeover, Caesars Entertainment officials announced Tuesday.

Five hundred refurbished rooms will be available for guests starting Jan. 2, with plans to complete an additional 100 rooms every 11 days. In total, 2,307 rooms of the resort's 3,500 will be redone.

The renovation is the latest effort to modernize and reinvigorate the more than 70-year-old property. Caesars is spending tens of millions of dollars on upgrades. In September, the company opened a Margaritaville mini-casino inside the resort, and a Carlos'n Charlie's Mexican restaurant is slated to open this winter. Caesars also recently broke ground on a $500 million entertainment development between the Flamingo and Imperial Palace that will include a 550-foot Ferris wheel and outdoor shopping promenade.

"Flamingo has established itself as a one of the Strip's original resorts with a classic nostalgia reminiscent of vintage Las Vegas," resort President Rick Mazer said in a statement. "The upgraded rooms will build upon the elements that Flamingo is most known for while bringing a completely new energy to the property."

The renovations should be complete by the end of 2012. The hotel's remaining 1,000-plus rooms and suites were updated in 2008.

Las Vegas-based Westar Architects is overseeing the project. Upgraded rooms will include contemporary furniture and modern decor in muted tones with splashes of signature Flamingo pink, vintage Las Vegas artwork and 32-inch flat screen Plasma televisions. Rates start at $85 a night.

___

(c)2011 the Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Visit the Las Vegas Sun (Las Vegas, Nev.) at www.lasvegassun.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services