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Walking the casino floor, the scenery is anchored by sculptures crafted by world- renowned artists; its landscape is bathed in natural light, shimmering through its tall panoramic windows. The air you breathe isn't your typical stagnant, casino haze, but rather a free-flowing atrium, alive with energy. Though it opened in December 2009, nothing about Aria feels dated. The hotel's cutting edge in-room tech is worth the trip alone. Aria itself is part of an $8.5 billion project originally started by MGM Resorts International, making it the centerpiece of CityCenter, the largest privately funded construction project in the history of the United States. Located on the southern part of the Strip, Aria features over 4,000 guest rooms, 568 luxury suites, four pools, 150,000 feet of gaming, a convention center, an 80,000-square-foot spa, upscale dining spots, and close proximity to high- end retail. Its scope is massive. And you'll know it the moment you see its towers light up at night, ablaze in the velvet Vegas sky. The first time I arrived at Aria Resort & Casino, it didn't take long for me to realize that it was anything but the typical Las Vegas hotel. From its architecture to its technology, very little about its ambience can be described as "old school" — separating it from its predecessors in a way that's contemporary and uniquely its own. By Michael Scivoli VUE ON TRAVEL V U E N J . C O M 101

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