CES Las Vegas

January brings the Consumer Electronics Show to Las Vegas. Even for the convention capital of the world this is a huge show, with some 140,000 attendees and 2700 exhibitors. CES is so large that it fills both the Las Vegas Convention Center and most of the Sands Expo Center as well as most of the hotel rooms in Las Vegas, which tend to run at much higher than even weekend rates.

Budget tip for CES? Stay downtown during CES. Many of the hotels there are as nice as the moderate priced strip hotels, and the Deuce bus runs very frequently from Downtown to the Strip 24 hours per day. Rates downtown didn't appear to be any higher during CES this year.

The rooms in Fitzgeralds on Fremont Street were nicely remodelled a few years ago and you'll also find nice rooms at most of the downtown properties. Just be sure to ask for a room change if you aren't happy with the first one they give you.

Palazzo Las Vegas Grand Opening Jan 19

If you are heading to Las Vegas in January contact the Palazzo about their $199 luxury suite specials in association with the Grand opening of the Palazzo on January 19th. I had a chance to tour part of the Palazzo today while in Las Vegas for the Computer Electronics Conference, and it's a very impressive, beautiful property with a tasteful yet spectacular ambiance. Bill Gates keynote speach was at the Palazzo Grand Ballroom, which must hold about 8,000+

They are still working on getting all the suites ready, though the construction was nicely hidden from the public. Even if you don't stay at the Palazzo be sure to drop in to see the sculptures and waterfall. It's right next to the Wynn, another of the "newer" must see properties like the Bellagio Hotel.

The Palazzo Las Vegas is part of the Venetian's hotel empire, and from their website we learn:

The Palazzo will give the company the largest hotel and convention complex in the world on the heart of The Strip. In addition to JERSEY BOYS, The Palazzo will feature more than 3,000 all-suite rooms and offer its new shopping, dining and entertainment on two luxurious levels. The 450,000-square- foot retail space, The Shoppes at The Palazzo™ will be highlighted by Barneys New York and connected to The Venetian via The Grand Canal Shoppes. It will house approximately 60 high-end and mid-level stores from the most recognizable brands to the hottest newcomers and unique one-of-a-kind boutiques drawn from all over the world. Additionally, The Palazzo will offer a variety of new restaurants from renowned chefs, many of whom are not yet featured in the Las Vegas area.

CES Las Vegas 2008

The Computer Electronics Show here in Las Vegas is in many ways *the big* technology event of the year. I'm here covering it but the posts will be at Joe Duck:
http://joeduck.com

Taking the Bus?

Las Vegas has a great selection of transportation options that vary quite a bit in terms of cost. Many folks take taxis around, but it's not clear to me that they save any time over the cheaper alternatives since during big events you may have to wait in a taxi line at the hotel. The Monorail is fantastic, and it is what you want to take if you are near a monorail station - basically places between the Sahara on North Las Vegas Strip and MGM to the South. This is *the way* to get up and down the strip unless you *really* love to walk. The strip his huge so wear great shoes in any case, even if you'll be taking transportation you'll be walking a lot.

Here is a good roundup of McCarran Airport to Strip and Downtown via bus:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070901202908AAGJftl

The $5 shuttles from the Airport are comfortable but usually pretty slow as they stop at many hotels.

Powering Las Vegas

Some stats from the National Geographic special regarding power consumption at some of the Las Vegas hot spots:

Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino:

$1.7-2.0 million per month power bill
Uses enough A/C for 5000 homes
7000 employees

The Mandalay Bay also has the countries largest ballroom, which seats over 6000 people.

The LUXOR spotlight shines like an amazing beacon into the sky above Las Vegas, and on into space. It is visible from outer space. The electric bill for the "sky beam"? $125,000 per year.

Surfing in the Mandalay Bay wave pool, which holds about 1.5 million gallons of water. The electrically powered wave machine uses turbine pumps that can shoot out over 100,000 gallons per minute into chambers. Releasing the water in the chambers creates the waves.

Bellagio Las Vegas

The Bellagio is one of Las Vegas premier hotel casinos and probably ranks about equal in qaulity with the Wynn even though the Wynn was designed to be fancier and tends to be more expensive. I think the new Palazzo may be even nicer but I have not been there yet or read reviews.

Luxury Hotels
Cirque Du Soleil
Bellagio Nightlife
Bellagio Weddings
Amenities at Bellagio
Restaurants of the Bellagio
Spa Services at Bellagio Las Vegas
The Bellagio Casino and Gaming

The Bellagio is a favorite hotel for many Las Vegas regulars, combining as it does a central strip location, a glamourous and tasteful european decor, and Las Vegas' most beautiful free attraction the Bellagio Fountains, which put on a super show every half hour. Don't miss the fountains of the Bellagio regardless of where you stay - this is really a spectacular syphony of music and water. Great "seats" are always free and always good - just stand anywhere.

I'd recommend being down at the fountains rather than far away, and although it's tempting to watch them from high above across the street at the Paris Las Vegas I think it's much more spectacular up close.

CES Las Vegas. From Kevin Costner to Donny Deutsch to Bill Gates

CES Las Vegas is coming up next week and I'll be there covering the world's top tech event. CES takes over Las Vegas for CES and it is remarkable how expensive the motels are during the event. Rooms that would be $100 can go for $400, though usually it looks like the rates about about two to three times the midweek and one to two times weekend rates.

I think Donny Deutsch will be at CES for his "Road to CES" series on his show "The Big Idea"

Kevin Costner will be performing with his band for the CEA awards show, but I'm more exited to see Mary J Blige at Paris Las Vegas for the Monster Retailer party.

And of course Bill Gates will be talking on Sunday about the future of technology.

Clearly, CES is going to be hopping in Las Vegas.