2005
Las Vegas celebrates its Centennial year throughout 2005, beginning with the New Year's fireworks display. Las Vegas will celebrate its 100th birthday on May 15, 2005, with the world's largest birthday cake and a recreation of the 1905 land auction that started the Las Vegas community as we know it today.
2005
Wynn Las Vegas, the destination's newest megaresort, opens April 28, 2005.
2005
Visitor volume for 2004 breaks tourism records with 37.4 million.
2005
Wynn Las Vegas opens April 28, 2005. At $2.7 billion, the resort becomes the most expensive hotel and casino in the world.
2005
"Condo-mania" hits Las Vegas. A multitude of developers ranging from Donald Trump to MGM MIRAGE announce plans for high-rise luxury condominium projects. By 2010, 10,000 to 15,000 condominium-hotel units are expected to be added to the current room inventory.
2005
Las Vegas Sands breaks ground for The Palazzo, a $1.6 billion, 3,000-room resort adjacent to The Venetian.
2005
MGM MIRAGE announces Project CityCenter, an "urban metropolis" with 4,000 hotel rooms and 1,650 condominium units. Project CityCenter will cost nearly $5 billion, making it the largest privately funded project in the United States.
2005
Houston-based Landry's Restaurants takes over downtown's largest casino, the Golden Nugget.
2005
The National Basketball Association selects Las Vegas as the host for the 2007 All-Star game. This will be the first time this high-profile sporting event is held in a city without an NBA team.
2005
Megamergers galore in 2005. In June, MGM MIRAGE and Mandalay Resort Group complete its $7.9 billion merger. One month later, Harrah's Entertainment buys Caesars Entertainment for $9.4 billion, making it the largest casino company.
2005
The destination's tagline, "What Happens Here, Stays Here" firmly cements itself into the American lexicon. The wildly popular phrase is included in countless television shows such as First Lady Laura Bush's interview on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and Billy Crystal's opening monologue during "The Academy Awards."
2006
Boyd Gaming Corp. announces Echelon Place, a $4 billion development project. The 5,300-room resort will be located on the 63-acre site now occupied by the Stardust.
2006
The Castaways, the property formerly known as The Showboat, is imploded. Within 18 seconds, the 19-story hotel is reduced to a 20,000-ton pile of rubble.
2006
Cirque du Soleil opens its fifth resident show, ' Love' at The Mirage, playing in the theater space of long-time Las Vegas magicians, Siegfried & Roy. The show is based on The Beatles music.
2006
Nevada celebrates 75 years of legalized gaming.
2006
Red Rock Resort Casino Spa, the newest property from Station Casinos, opens. The property is the first billion-dollar resort to be built off the Las Vegas Strip.
2006
Fantasy Suites opens at The Palms Casino Resort. Located on the tower's 25th and 26th floors, the Fantasy Suites take the themed hotel room to exotic extremes.
2006
Palms Casino Resort breaks ground on Palms Place Condominium, Hotel and Spa.
2006
McCarran Airport ranked fifth busiest passenger airport according to the Airports Council International North America's annual traffic ranking.
2006
Morgans Hotel Group selects Golden Gaming to operate the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino properties.
2006
Hooters Hotel and Casino Opens in Las Vegas.
2006
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas closes for renovation.
2006
Nevada becomes #1 in restaurant growth. The National Restaurant Association report shows that Nevada's restaurant industry is growing faster than anywhere else in the country.
2006
Wynn Resorts breaks ground on Encore.
2007
NBA All-Star 2007 comes to Las Vegas. For the first time in history, the NBA All-Star game is played in a city without a resident NBA team.
2007
MGM MIRAGE's CityCenter releases residences for purchase.
2007
Monty Python's Spamalot debuts at Wynn Las Vegas.
2007
The Producers debuts at Paris Las Vegas.
2007
Fremont East Entertainment District Improvement Project celebrates its groundbreaking to revitalize Downtown.
2007
Grand Canyon Skywalk Opens. This modern-day marvel becomes the first-ever cantilever-shaped glass walkway to suspend more than 4,000 feet above the canyon's floor and extend 70 feet from the canyon's rim.
2007
Tropicana Resort & Casino celebrates 50 years on the Las Vegas Strip.
2007
The Stardust Hotel & Casino is imploded.
2007
The Aladdin Casino Resort transforms into Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Desert Passage Shops become Miracle Mile Shops.
2007
Cirque du Soleil announces its seventh resident production show featuring renowned illusionist Criss Angel.
2007
MGM Grand's The Signature completes third and final tower.
2007
The Las Vegas Springs Preserve opens to the public. This 180-acre, cultural and historic attraction, considered the "birthplace" of Las Vegas, features museums, galleries, the future Nevada State Museum and more.
2007
Las Vegas hosts first MTV Video Music Awards at The Palms Casino Resort.
2007
Harrah's Entertainment announces $1 billion expansion of Caesars Palace including a new Octavius Tower.
2007
Luxor unveils renovation plans.
2007
FIBA Americas Championship is held in Las Vegas for the first time.
2007
Harrah's Entertainment and AEG announce plans for a 20,000-seat, state-of-the-art sports arena.
2007
Silverton Casino Lodge begins $130 million expansion.
2007
The Frontier Hotel & Casino is imploded to make room for a multi-billion dollar project from the Elad Group modeled after New York's The Plaza Hotel.
2007
Michelin unveils first-ever restaurant and hotel selections for Las Vegas. One of only four U.S. cities to be written up by this guide, Las Vegas joins New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Michelin Guide Las Vegas 2008 features 127 restaurants and 30 hotels.
2007
Plans and details announced for Anthony Marnell's The M Resort, Spa and Casino.
2007
Neon Museum begins the reassembly of the historic La Concha Motel lobby at the site of the Neon Boneyard. The La Concha will serve as part of a permanent museum building for the non-restored historic signs.
2007
Town Square Las Vegas, a new retail, dining and entertainment project, opens on South Las Vegas Boulevard.
2008
The Palazzo celebrates its grand opening.
2008
Golden Nugget completes $60 million expansion including adding convention space and a new nightclub.
2008
Caesars Palace raises table game limit ceiling to the highest in Las Vegas.
2008
Bette Midler becomes new resident headliner at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, replacing Celine Dion who had a successful five-year run.
2008
Lake Las Vegas ownership shifts to the Atalon Group.
2008
September 1; The Star Trek Experience closes at the Las Vegas Hilton after 12 successful years.
2008
Donny and Marie headline at Flamingo - Oct. 2008
2008
Aliante Station celebrates grand opening - Nov. 11, 2008
2008
Encore Las Vegas opens - Dec. 2008
2009
CityCenter starts accepting applications for more than 12,000 open jobs - Jan. 5, 2009
2009
Mamma Mia ends its record-breaking engagement at Manadalay Bay - Jan. 4, 2009
2009
M Resort, Spa Casino opens - March 1, 2009
2009
Terry Fator opens show at The Mirage - March 17, 2009
2009
Las Vegas Convention Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary - April 12, 2009
2009
Las Vegas celebrates third annual Vegas Uncork'd presented by Bon Appetit - May 7-10, 2009
2009
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino unveils The New Joint and headliner Carlos Santana - May 2009
2009
Disney's The Lion King opens at Mandalay Bay - May 15, 2009
2009
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts celebrates groundbreaking - May 26, 2009
2009
National Hockey League hosts its 2009 Awards in Las Vegas at The Pearl at Palms - June 18, 2009
2009
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas introduces 490-room Paradise Tower - July 31, 2009
2009
Hotel 32 at Monte Carlo Opens - Aug. 10, 2009
2009
Charo debuts all new show at Riviera Hotel & Casino - Aug. 2009
2009
Pink's Hot Dogs opens first location at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas - Sept. 2009
2009
Las Vegas participates in Third Annual Restaurant Week Aug. 31 - Sept. 6, 2009
2009
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and wife Carolyn renew their wedding vows publicly on Fremont Street on 9/9/09
2009
Hard Rock Opens a New Flagship Cafe on Vegas Strip - Oct. 2009
2009
World's Largest Helium Balloon - Cloud Nine - Takes Flight Above the Strip - Oct. 5, 2009
2009
"Mr. Las Vegas," Wayne Newton celebrates his 50th year of entertaining audiences with a new production at the Tropicana, "Once Before I Go." - Oct. 14, 2009
2009
British Airways Starts Daily Non-Stop Service between London Heathrow and Las Vegas - Oct. 25, 2009
2009
Clark County Museum inaugurates restored Candlelight Wedding Chapel - November 14
2009
Golden Nugget's New Rush Tower Opens - Nov. 20, 2009
2009
Vdara Hotel & Spa Opens at CityCenter - Dec. 1, 2009
2009
Crystals Opens at CityCenter - Dec. 3, 2009
2009
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Celebrates 25 Years in Las Vegas - Dec. 3, 2009
2009
Mandarin Oriental Opens at CityCenter - Dec. 4, 2009
2009
Las Vegas hosts NASCAR Champion's Week festivities for the first time ever - Dec. 4, 2009
2009
Las Vegas Strip closes to vehicular traffic for the first time in marathon history for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon - Dec. 6, 2009
2009
Country Music Legend Garth Brooks comes out of retirement to perform special engagements at Wynn Las Vegas - Dec. 11, 2009
2009
ARIA Resort & Casino Opens at CityCenter - Dec. 16, 2009
2009
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Opens All-Suite HRH Tower - Dec. 28, 2009
2009
Planet Hollywood Opens Westgate Resorts Tower - Dec. 28, 2009