Top 10 hotel demolitions caught on video

Hoteliers don't have it easy. People are always looking for the next place to be seen and what's considered fashionable changes more often than a Beckham hairstyle. 

One option is to give a hotel a refurb. A nice coat of paint and a few well-placed pots can do wonders to the look of a hotel. 

However, sometimes it's the structure that has to go and that means calling in the demolition men. 

Far more interesting than watching a new hotel going up is an old one coming down. 

Special mention must go out to Las Vegas, a city that certainly knows how to give a building a send off. 

10: Hilton/World Trade Centre Hotel in Dubai

The hotel opened its doors as Hilton for the first time in March 1978. The property was taken over by Jumeirah International, which renamed it the World Trade Centre Hotel. It was closed to the public on May 15, 2004 to pave the way for the development of the World Trade Centre Residence.

Watch it's final hurrah below.

9: The Beirut Hilton Hotel in Lebanon

The Beirut Hilton Hotel, which was built in 1975, was never occupied.

Days before the grand opening Lebanon’s civil war began.

It was one of three badly damaged hotels that were never rebuilt and was imploded in July 2002.

8: The Stardust Resort & Casino Las Vegas

The Stardust Resort & Casino Las Vegas was located on the Las Vegas Strip.

Most of the casino complex was built in 1991, and its March, 2007 demolition marked the youngest undamaged high-rise building to ever be demolished, according to those in the know.

The Stardust officially closed on November 1, 2006, after operating for 48 years.

7: Club Med in Bermuda

Built in 1973 as a Holiday Inn, the property occupied the site of a 19th century British fort, part of which was apparently incorporated into the swimming pool.

However, Club Med, who took it over from Holiday Inn, closed in 1988 and it was 20 years before the site was handed over to make way for a multi-million dollar Park Hyatt hotel, residence complex and golf course.

Of course, there was the small matter of explosion to get through before work could begin.

6: The Desert Inn in Las Vegas

Part of the Las Vegas Strip for more than 50 years, the Desert Inn said goodbye in 2004.

It was brought down to make room for the second phase of the new Wynn Resort.

Built in 1950, the Desert Inn was one of only five properties on the Strip at that time.

The original Las Vegas hotels held a lot of memories, but swelling visitor numbers and outdated facilities brought about a new era of mega-hotels on the strip.

5: The Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas

The Landmark Hotel opened in 1969 and played host to celebrities such as Danny Thomas, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

However, time took its toll on the iconic building.

In 1990 it was imploded to make way for a parking lot for the Las Vegas Convention Center located across the street.

4: The Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas

It went down in 1993, but we will leave the commentator on the clip to run through the details of the million dollar firework display and million dollar explosion. 

3: Everglades Hotel in Miami Florida

The Everglades was built in 1926 for US $3 million and the 23-story hotel was once the city’s largest and most luxurious hotels.

It’s demise was complete in under 20 seconds, making way for new, luxury condominium, Everglades on the Bay.

2: The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas

The Sands Hotel was a historic Las Vegas Strip hotel/casino that operated from 1952 to 1996.

Designed by architect Wayne McAllister, the Sands was the seventh resort that opened on the Strip and during its heyday was the centre of everything that was sizzling on the Strip.

Regulars mingled with the stars in the lounge after their late-night shows.

Today, The Venetian stands where the Sands once stood.

1: New Frontier in Las Vegas

Opened in 1942, the New Frontier’s biggest claim to fame was being the venue for Elvis’s first Las Vegas performance, back in 1956.

The second resort to open on the Strip, it was imploded in 2007.

The marquee of the hotel was still standing until December 2008 when it was taken down at the request of Steve Wynn prior to the opening of the Encore hotel.