The Sahara Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, which first opened its doors in 1952, is to close in May.
Sam Nazarian, chief executive officer of SBE Entertainment Group, which owns and operates the Sahara, said the company was working with its partners on a number of options for the property, including a complete renovation and repositioning.
"While no final decision has been made at this point," he said, "the continued operation of the aging Sahara was no longer economically viable."
"We see the northern end of the Strip as the future of Las Vegas. With Las Vegas showing early signs of recovery, we are confident that we ultimately will find a creative and comprehensive new solution for this historic property."
The hotel and casino is to remain fully operational until May 16, while the company has been working with MGM Resorts International on possible solutions for both customers and employees.
"SBE is fortunate to have a strategic relationship with MGM Resorts International. As a result, we will work together to try to find jobs for Sahara employees in cases where there are open positions in MGM Resorts’ properties," said Nazarian. "We will also work with MGM Resorts to accommodate Sahara hotel and group customers with reservations following our closure."
