A hotel bidding-war has broken out over the weekend pitting two hospitality giants against each other in a bid to grab the financially-troubled Cosmopolitan Resort currently under construction—and Luxe Life has learned that one of the partners is a company that superstar George Clooney was involved with last year on another Vegas resort project that failed to get off the ground!

The near $3 billion Cosmopolitan is being built right alongside the massive $8 billion MGM City Center project between the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo resort casinos.

Its prime lender, Deutsche Bank has begun foreclosure proceedings as the result of a $760 million loan default.

Luxe Life learned two weeks ago that the global Hyatt corporation was teaming with a New York investment group in a big-bucks bid to take it over—but now, this morning (MON) comes news that rival Starwood Worldwide Hotels (Sheraton, W Hotels) is joining with the huge Related Companies property development organization for a rival bid. Luxe Life readers will remember that last year actor George Clooney led a savvy group of film-world stars and investors in a joint-venture with Related for a new casino development near the Hard Rock. Although that venture disappeared from the radar both Clooney and Related said they would team up again for a future Vegas project. Maybe this rival bid for the Cosmopolitan is the one?

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