Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Executives brainstorm during hospitality summit

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, May 15, 2002 | 8:29 a.m.

More than a favored playground for adults who flock to our city for the finest in dining and entertainment, Las Vegas is also a never-ending showcase of the best in hospitality and a grand-scale training ground for key personnel who operate resorts around the globe.

Recently The Venetian, with The Rio, hosted the Millennium Hospitality Summit, a four-day conference led in great style by Cornell University's Hotel School. With alumni in key positions at luxury properties around the world, a virtual brain trust of talented hotel executives, gaming leaders, restaurant developers and other professionals made their way to Las Vegas.

Sessions on strategic planning spotlighted human resource experts Artie Nathan, Marilyn Winn and Edward Evans, all of Las Vegas, while rare glimpses of hotel and gaming operations were offered to attending delegates. Robert Goldstein, COO/president of The Venetian, spoke on "A Day in the Life of a 3,000 Room Hotel -- Operating a Las Vegas Megaresort," while others gave valued insights into Internet gaming, industry trends and the care and feeding of high-roller guests.

A panel presentation on "Wining and Dining, The Good Life," was sponsored by Las Vegas Life magazine and magnificently punctuated an exquisite evening in the private dining room at Valentino Las Vegas at The Venetian, hosted by restaurant industry legend Piero Selvaggio.

Delegates and their guests, including Ron Winarick, H. Stuart Harrison, Xania Woodman, Clark and Joan Sumners, Maurice Jordan, Kelli Maruca and George Bradley enjoyed an elegantly prepared five-course dinner with Mondavi's La Famiglia wines. Selvaggio graciously visited with each guest, posed for photos while answering questions on cuisine trends and provided autographed copies of "The Valentino Cookbook" to all attending.

Members honored

Chantal and Stephen Cloobeck hosted spring's most beautiful private party at their Spanish Trails home last week.

An event to honor members of the 1800 Club, those most generous benefactors of the Milton J. Schwartz Hebrew Academy in Summerlin, the evening recognized an elite few, including Dr. Leon and Faye Steinberg with his brother, Irving Steinberg, Dr. Miriam Adelson, Robert Frey and his wife, doctors Ted and Parvin Modaber-Jacobs, Donna Epstein, Jody Ghanem, Dorit and Ronnie Schwartz and Milton Schwartz (for whom the school is named) accompanied by his wife, Abigail.

In attendance as well were donors Brad Friedmutter with Linda Fresh, Dr. Keith Bond, school trustee Esther Quisenberry, Dr. Ed Hoffman, Sheldon Cloobeck, Gertrude Rudiak, Michael Gasta, Dr. Victor Muro and his wife, and school principal Natalie Bergman.

The Cloobeck home, designed for large-scale entertaining, gave guests a treasure trove of dining discoveries at multiple chef's stations including grilled sea bass and polenta on the patio; caviar in the breakfast room; a lush dessert array in the dining room and more; each prepared and served by the deft hands of Bellagio's catering department.

Mingling with the crowd in the home and gardens were models wearing Fred Paris jewels, with Farid Mataraki, general manager of the local store, seen explaining the designs to Haskel Iny, Steve Wolfson with his wife, Jackie Glass, Claire Bowling, Dr. Marcus Berman, Abbi Silver and Bob Fischer.

A brief program thanking donors was concluded by Stephen Cloobeck, who spoke in praise of the Hebrew Academy's sense of community and academic standards. The Cloobecks most recently gifted the school with an extensive Dell computer lab.

New digs

With invitations promising "libations, crustaceans and gyrations," last week's open house at Kirvin Communications Group's new offices was an invitation few chose to pass.

David Kirvin, in a rarely seen casual mood, was a genial host to guests Steve and Stephanie Stallworth, Mimosa Jones with John Tunney, Mercedes Warrick, Shawn Cardinal, Lisa Keim and Gordon Absher.

Filling quickly with arriving guests in a mood to relax at the party, the new offices on West Sahara Avenue held unexpected surprises at every turn with the Red Bull serving bar, sake room and wine assortment, all complemented by ample delectables prepared by Tom Kaplan and Joe Essa with their squad from Wolfgang Puck's catering division.

Making brief but pleasant appearances before their evening shows on the Strip were entertainers Rita Rudner and Clint Holmes, who were seen with Jackie Brett, Marti, Ted and Jay Maruca, Annie Kang-Drachen, Steve and Joyce Schneider, Jen Worthington and Scott Eldredge. Well-wishers also included Jackie DeLaney with Mariana Johnson, as well as Jeffrey Sherar, Madeline Benito, Jack Mulavsky, Joan and Dennis Stein, Madeleine Weekley and Tony Cordasco.

Helping schools

Community heroes come in many guises, with Station Casinos serving as one of most shining examples.

Providing financial and other assistance to Clark County's high-need schools and area nonprofit organizations, Station Casinos has pledged $1.3 million for 2002 for Community Partnership Programs. Following suit, some 21 new businesses have signed up to partner with high-need schools since Station Casinos began running advertisements encouraging fellow businesses to reach out and make similar agreements to help Southern Nevada children and their schools.

Mixing money with a comprehensive employee volunteer program, each assisted school benefits in a variety of ways, with past projects including fresh paint, tutors for classroom reading activities, faculty workshops, new landscaping for playgrounds and more.

Additionally, Station Casinos has also given funds and volunteer efforts to groups including Operation School Bell, the Salvation Army, St. Jude's Ranch for Children, Catholic Charities' Meals on Wheels Program and others.