Hilton sales talk heats up again

Tuesday, July 11, 2000 | 11:26 a.m.

On-again, off-again talk that the Las Vegas Hilton may be sold is on again.

The Las Vegas Sun reported in September 1999 that major lodging companies like Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels, as well as private investors, were interested in buying the off-Strip property.

Sources at that time told the Sun the 2,900-room Park Place Entertainment Corp. property could fetch $350 million.

Sales talk subsided for months but has been revived in recent days.

Robertson Stephens & Co. analyst Harry Curtis said Park Place has held talks with several potential buyers but nothing concrete has resulted from the discussions, Bloomberg News reported.

The Wall Street Journal reported today that Ed Roski Jr., owner of the Silverton hotel-casino, is interested in buying the Hilton.

But the Journal quoted a source as saying another potential buyer, Hyatt Hotels owner Hyatt Development Corp., was told the property is not for sale.

Park Place is declining comment on whether it wants to sell the property. It competes with Park Place's Caesars Palace for high-end gamblers, but has a steady flow of business from the adjacent Las Vegas Convention Center.