Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sheldon Adelson feeling some recovery momentum in tourism, convention business

Sheldon Adelson-Marina Bay Sands Singapore

Marina Bay Sands

Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, center, take part in the ribbon cutting at Marina Bay Sands Singapore on April 27, 2010.

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Brad Garrett and Larry Ruvo at the Keep Memory Alive 14th Annual Power of Love Gala at the Bellagio on Feb. 27, 2010.

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Burlesque dancer Margie Hart

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Allegiant Travel Company founder and Chief Executive Officer Maurice J. Gallagher Jr., shown where you would usually find a flight attendant.

Notes from the week, and for the weekend:

• Sheldon Adelson reported during a Friday interview for CNBC that there was light at the end of Palazzo regarding the city's tourism and meeting business. The chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp, which owns Venetian and Palazzo on the Strip, said, "weekends are coming back strong and I think by next year we'll probably be 80 percent of normal for the (convention) business."

Adelson also said that Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, which opened in April, will report "extraordinarily high" earnings, and says Las Vegas is no longer the center of the gaming universe. He proclaimed: "Asia is the Mecca for gaming and we intend to be as aggressive, as assertive as we need to be in order to develop other locations." Yes, Asia might be the Mecca, but Vegas has the Sacca. Tony Sacca, of course.

• With cover-to-uncover charges at $30 for women and $40 for men, Encore Beach Club was the playground for up to 3,000 visitors at any given time over Memorial Day weekend. By comparison, that's three-quarters of the capacity of The Colosseum at Caesars. All day long.

• Clark County Assessor Office records show Pia Zadora has purchased a $2 million home in Las Vegas. Yes, I'm combing the Assessor's records for Pia Zadora info — what of it?

The deal was made final in May. The residence is located in Queensridge Towers across from Suncoast and measures 6,806 square feet. No pool, no spa, but two fireplaces and a big basement for Pia. Five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and two half-bathrooms. That seems an odd bedroom-to-bathroom ratio, right?

But what this all means, of course, is the person portraying Pia Zadora in "Legends In Concert" better be on her toes.

• Whatever formalities remain for the contract to be finalized between Brad Garrett and Tropicana should not prevent him from moving into the old Comedy Stop space at the hotel. Garrett has spoken publicly about this business venture, on the BlogTalkRadio show "Night Views," that June 28 is the targeted opening date. I understand some tweaking is being done before the formal announcement is made public.

• Funny business is also Cork Proctor's business. He's a person I've long felt is as funny as just about any stand-up who has performed in Las Vegas over the years, but has never achieved great fame. He's at the Comedy Stop at Sahara, with Greg Vaccarello and Greg Morton, from Monday through June 13.

Proctor has noted, in a mix of comedy and reality, that he has been fired from every hotel in the city during his career. After a long layoff from performing at Vegas clubs, Comedy Stop owner Bob Kephardt booked him in January and has brought him back.

The one time I've seen Proctor perform was at a "Meatball Awards" show at Imperial Palace a few years ago, where he was emcee, and his material can be devastating. Of one person in the audience, a person Proctor has known for years, he said, "(Name withheld) disproves the theory that wearing a beard can make you look masculine."

• What might make a world of difference for the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas? Well, not "what" but "who." Holly Madison. Her "Holly's World" reality TV show is recording scenes at the new attraction at Emergency Arts and the ongoing Burlesque Hall of Fame weekend at the Plaza. If this sort of exposure can be monetized, great. The Hall of Fame is seeking at least $1 million before planning seriously for a larger, permanent space on or near Fremont Street.

• Given the option of flying, Allegiant Travel Company founder and Chief Executive Officer Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. instead is riding a bike from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md.

Gallagher has assembled a team to compete in the Race Across America, which starts June 12 in Oceanside. According to a news release, Gallagher will be joined in competition by Allegiant exec M. Ponder Harrison, Las Vegas-area back pain specialist Dr. Mike McKenna, and Allegiant Air Cycling Team co-founders Andy Bestwick, Tony Gebbia and Jeff Johnson.

Gallagher is an avid road cyclist, which is helpful anytime you are riding a bike across the United States. Teams alternate personnel during the RAAM, which was launched in 1982, and typically finish the event in six days. Proceeds raised by the Allegiant team will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Go to the Ronald McDonald House website for information and how to donate.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.

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