Cast Your Vote In Our Readers' Poll
Share Your Favorite Hotels, Restaurants
UPDATED: 11:22 am EDT August 2, 2004
LAS VEGAS -- I love telling people what I think about Las Vegas, but now it’s your turn to tell me what you think with your vote in the Vegas4Visitors.com 2004 Readers’ Poll.
This is the third year we’ve done a poll, allowing people like you to express your opinions in 12 different categories: Best Overall Hotel -- Choose any hotel in the city you think offers the best rooms, entertainment, value, service, and overall experience. Best Strip Hotel -- This category is strictly for the hotels located directly on The Strip. Best Downtown Hotel -- Downtown Vegas offers a unique experience so there’s a separate category for hotels in the area. Best Off-Strip Hotel -- Whether it’s a locals’ joint in Henderson, a luxury resort at Lake Las Vegas, or a hip joint within walking distance of Las Vegas Boulevard, this category is for the hotels located off The Strip. Best Rooms -- Which hotel has the biggest, best, most comfortable and/or well-appointed rooms? Best Service -- A friendly smile from a knowledgeable staff member can make all the difference in the world. Best Casino -- This is not just about where you win, but of course that doesn’t hurt! Best Buffet -- Do you like the inexpensive refueling stations or do you prefer the high-class, high-cost places? Best Restaurant -- Some of the best restaurants in America are located here in Vegas. Which one is your favorite? Best Show -- Magic, theater, Broadway, showgirls -- tell us which show you think deserves the biggest round of applause. Best Attraction -- From volcanoes to roller coasters and everything in between, this is where you get to choose your favorite eye-catching diversion in Vegas. Best Nightclub, Bar -- Do you prefer a nonstop party scene or a relaxing cocktail and quiet conversation? Last year, we received thousands of votes from nearly every state (Idaho, where are you?) and six countries on three continents. Voting is open now through Aug. 31, 2004. Results will be published in a series of columns in September. Vote Now!
In Other News ...Phantom Of The Venetian
It is official: there’s going to be a “Phantom” roaming the halls of The Venetian. Hotel officials have finally gone public with details of the long rumored production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Phantom of the Opera" being developed for property. The space once occupied by the Guggenheim Museum (the big one in back by the parking garage, not the small one up front by the lobby, which is still in operation) will get a $25 million overhaul, turning it into a state-of-the-art showroom, designed specifically for the new Vegas production. The show will be shorter than the long-running Broadway version, clocking in at a sleek 90 minute with no intermission. Construction on the new theater will begin later this year and the show is scheduled to debut in early 2006.
Trouble in Merger Paradise?
Could there be trouble brewing in the MGM Mirage/Mandalay Resorts merger? The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting news of a so-called second request of information from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC apparently wants to know more about the possible effects the merger might have on other casino companies and the industry in general, meaning there may be some concerns about the merged company being a little too big for comfort. According to the story, almost all big mergers go through unless they get a second request and then the historical likelihood drops to about 50 percent. Officials with the companies involved are shrugging it off as no big deal and insist the merger is on schedule to be completed by spring 2005.
When Not To Visit Vegas
If you’ve wondered why late July and August are often slower than normal in Vegas, conditions around town last week may have provided a good reason. A rare combination of stifling heat (over 100 degrees), ridiculous winds in excess of 50 mph stirring up dust storms, and a fire on nearby Mount Charleston sending smoke across the city made things a little less than pleasant. The term "blast furnace" comes to mind. But then again, I guess that’s why most people stay in the nice air-conditioned casinos, right?
Be A Vegas Star
Ever dreamed of being a star of a Vegas stage? Bally’s is offering that opportunity by offering a "Strip search" -- no not that kind, a search for talent on The Strip. The talent competition is essentially a glorified karaoke contest, with participants singing their hearts out in front of a panel of judges for a chance at a one-night-only show in a lounge at Bally’s. The event is open to anyone who wants to enter and will be held every Friday and Saturday from Aug. 6 through Sept. 25 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Race and Sports Book. The contestants are judged on a scale of one to 10, based on style, presentation and vocal ability. Sixteen finalists will compete on Oct. 1, 2004, for cash, hotel accommodations, dinner at a Bally’s restaurant of their choice and a one-night contract to perform in The Indigo Lounge at a future date. Let’s see… I’m thinking I’ll sing "Luck Be a Lady."
Debbie Reynolds New Hall Of Fame Inductee
This year, 2004, is a big year for one of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars and legends, Debbie Reynolds. Not only is the singer, dancer, and actress celebrating her 55th-year in show business, she is also being recognized as an inductee into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame on Oct. 31, 2004, at the Tropicana Resort & Casino. The star of such classics as "Singing in the Rain" is a fixture in Vegas on stages and even, briefly, as a hotel owner -- her Debbie Reynolds’ Hollywood Hotel and Casino was located just off The Strip on Convention Center Drive during the ‘90s.
Time Magazine Story
I’ve been getting a lot of e-mail from people asking my opinion of the big Time magazine cover story about Las Vegas and my response has been a resounding shrug. Joel Stein is one of my favorite writers -- someone who understands how to treat a topic with respect without taking it too seriously. But the focus of the article and the way it portrayed Vegas as a nonstop, lascivious party scene fueled by alcohol and sex is a bit one-sided (OK, a lot one-sided). Sure, that kind of action exists and is in many ways responsible for the recent boom in Vegas tourism, but I’d be willing to bet you that 95 percent of the people who visit Vegas never go anywhere near those dens of nightclub or strip club iniquity. Most visitors go to relax, eat, see a show or three, shop, eat some more, sit by the pool, and what else? Oh yeah, gamble. I think Stein was seduced by a marketing concept ("What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas") instead of really delving into what makes Las Vegas the number one tourist destination in the world. But that’s just my opinion and as anyone who knows me will happily agree: I’ve been wrong before.
If you have a question you'd like to submit, click here.
This is the third year we’ve done a poll, allowing people like you to express your opinions in 12 different categories: Best Overall Hotel -- Choose any hotel in the city you think offers the best rooms, entertainment, value, service, and overall experience. Best Strip Hotel -- This category is strictly for the hotels located directly on The Strip. Best Downtown Hotel -- Downtown Vegas offers a unique experience so there’s a separate category for hotels in the area. Best Off-Strip Hotel -- Whether it’s a locals’ joint in Henderson, a luxury resort at Lake Las Vegas, or a hip joint within walking distance of Las Vegas Boulevard, this category is for the hotels located off The Strip. Best Rooms -- Which hotel has the biggest, best, most comfortable and/or well-appointed rooms? Best Service -- A friendly smile from a knowledgeable staff member can make all the difference in the world. Best Casino -- This is not just about where you win, but of course that doesn’t hurt! Best Buffet -- Do you like the inexpensive refueling stations or do you prefer the high-class, high-cost places? Best Restaurant -- Some of the best restaurants in America are located here in Vegas. Which one is your favorite? Best Show -- Magic, theater, Broadway, showgirls -- tell us which show you think deserves the biggest round of applause. Best Attraction -- From volcanoes to roller coasters and everything in between, this is where you get to choose your favorite eye-catching diversion in Vegas. Best Nightclub, Bar -- Do you prefer a nonstop party scene or a relaxing cocktail and quiet conversation? Last year, we received thousands of votes from nearly every state (Idaho, where are you?) and six countries on three continents. Voting is open now through Aug. 31, 2004. Results will be published in a series of columns in September. Vote Now! In Other News ...Phantom Of The Venetian
It is official: there’s going to be a “Phantom” roaming the halls of The Venetian. Hotel officials have finally gone public with details of the long rumored production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Phantom of the Opera" being developed for property. The space once occupied by the Guggenheim Museum (the big one in back by the parking garage, not the small one up front by the lobby, which is still in operation) will get a $25 million overhaul, turning it into a state-of-the-art showroom, designed specifically for the new Vegas production. The show will be shorter than the long-running Broadway version, clocking in at a sleek 90 minute with no intermission. Construction on the new theater will begin later this year and the show is scheduled to debut in early 2006.
Trouble in Merger Paradise?
Could there be trouble brewing in the MGM Mirage/Mandalay Resorts merger? The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting news of a so-called second request of information from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC apparently wants to know more about the possible effects the merger might have on other casino companies and the industry in general, meaning there may be some concerns about the merged company being a little too big for comfort. According to the story, almost all big mergers go through unless they get a second request and then the historical likelihood drops to about 50 percent. Officials with the companies involved are shrugging it off as no big deal and insist the merger is on schedule to be completed by spring 2005.
When Not To Visit Vegas
If you’ve wondered why late July and August are often slower than normal in Vegas, conditions around town last week may have provided a good reason. A rare combination of stifling heat (over 100 degrees), ridiculous winds in excess of 50 mph stirring up dust storms, and a fire on nearby Mount Charleston sending smoke across the city made things a little less than pleasant. The term "blast furnace" comes to mind. But then again, I guess that’s why most people stay in the nice air-conditioned casinos, right?
Be A Vegas Star
Ever dreamed of being a star of a Vegas stage? Bally’s is offering that opportunity by offering a "Strip search" -- no not that kind, a search for talent on The Strip. The talent competition is essentially a glorified karaoke contest, with participants singing their hearts out in front of a panel of judges for a chance at a one-night-only show in a lounge at Bally’s. The event is open to anyone who wants to enter and will be held every Friday and Saturday from Aug. 6 through Sept. 25 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Race and Sports Book. The contestants are judged on a scale of one to 10, based on style, presentation and vocal ability. Sixteen finalists will compete on Oct. 1, 2004, for cash, hotel accommodations, dinner at a Bally’s restaurant of their choice and a one-night contract to perform in The Indigo Lounge at a future date. Let’s see… I’m thinking I’ll sing "Luck Be a Lady."
Debbie Reynolds New Hall Of Fame Inductee
This year, 2004, is a big year for one of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars and legends, Debbie Reynolds. Not only is the singer, dancer, and actress celebrating her 55th-year in show business, she is also being recognized as an inductee into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame on Oct. 31, 2004, at the Tropicana Resort & Casino. The star of such classics as "Singing in the Rain" is a fixture in Vegas on stages and even, briefly, as a hotel owner -- her Debbie Reynolds’ Hollywood Hotel and Casino was located just off The Strip on Convention Center Drive during the ‘90s.
Time Magazine Story
I’ve been getting a lot of e-mail from people asking my opinion of the big Time magazine cover story about Las Vegas and my response has been a resounding shrug. Joel Stein is one of my favorite writers -- someone who understands how to treat a topic with respect without taking it too seriously. But the focus of the article and the way it portrayed Vegas as a nonstop, lascivious party scene fueled by alcohol and sex is a bit one-sided (OK, a lot one-sided). Sure, that kind of action exists and is in many ways responsible for the recent boom in Vegas tourism, but I’d be willing to bet you that 95 percent of the people who visit Vegas never go anywhere near those dens of nightclub or strip club iniquity. Most visitors go to relax, eat, see a show or three, shop, eat some more, sit by the pool, and what else? Oh yeah, gamble. I think Stein was seduced by a marketing concept ("What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas") instead of really delving into what makes Las Vegas the number one tourist destination in the world. But that’s just my opinion and as anyone who knows me will happily agree: I’ve been wrong before.
The Full Story
In Next Week's Column
Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.Plus, don't forget to send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!Click here to go to the main page of Vegas4Visitors.com and see all of the fantastic resources Vegas4Visitors has to offer you when planning your next trip to Las Vegas.-------If you have a question you'd like to submit, click here.Rick Garman is the head writer for Vegas4Visitors
