Travel Roundup: Waldorf Astoria on Hold, Las Vegas' Pool Season Begins, Mexican Cruises in Seattle and More

Philadelphia’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel put on ice — A 58-story Waldorf Astoria Hotel planned for Center City is on hold. The $420 million project, which included upscale shopping, spa and condos,  was delayed when Timothy J. Mahoney III, president and chief executive officer of Mariner Commercial Properties Inc., sold his stake in the project to his partner, Brook Lenfest of Brooks Capital Group. Mahoney cited current unfavorable economic conditions as his reason to sell his 50 percent share. [Source: Philadelphia Inquirer]

Las Vegas’ often topless “Day Life” season begins – “Day Life,”or the nightclub pool season in Las Vegas has begun. About 30 hotels have pools with a nightclub element, like the Hard Rock Beach Club, MGM Grand’s Wet Republic, Mandalay Bay’s Moorea Pool and the Venetian’s Tao Beach. To add more interest, about a dozen now allow topless sunbathing. Almost all pools are open to the public with an entrance fee. [Source: Dallas Morning News]

Cruise ships trade Seattle for Mexico — Passengers on Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines landed in Seattle instead of Mexico, part of cruise lines’ strategy to avoid Mexico’s swine flu outbreak. Most, packed for a tropical vacation, used their time on shore to buy warmer clothes. Although some expressed concern about their trip being rerouted, at least one passenger said he was happy to avoid the swine flu epidemic in Mexico. [Source: Associated Press]

Alaska Airlines to start nonstop flights to Houston, Atlanta – Alaska Airlines will begin flying nonstop from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Houston beginning Sept. 23. The airline, a subsidiary of Seattle-based Alaska Air Group Inc., will also begin flying nonstop flights to Atlanta  October 23. [Source: Houston Business Journal, Atlanta Journal-Constitution]