Gay-oriented hotel planned for Las Vegas

Monday, Oct. 21, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

A gaming industry veteran is developing the 47-room Blue Moon Resort on Sahara Avenue at Interstate 15, providing Las Vegas with its first gay-oriented hotel.

In Business Las Vegas, a sister newspaper to the Las Vegas Sun, reported in its Oct. 18 edition that many Las Vegas hotels already promote their properties as "gay-friendly" by offering entertainment that appeals to the gay population, performing commitment ceremonies for gay couples and advertising in publications aimed at the gay market.

Blue Moon owner John Hessling, who has about 12 years in the Las Vegas casino business, told In Business Las Vegas that his property will take things a step farther.

"When it comes down to it, (megaresorts) are too big to act upon 'gay-friendly,' " he said. "You still get the strange looks at the counter. You get asked, 'Are you sure you want a king size bed?' It's not a fully comfortable atmosphere (to be) able to lay by the pool and kiss your partner."

The project makes business sense, observers say.

"The megaresorts are just starting to realize what a vast potential market there is in catering or focusing on (the gay community)," said Lee Plotkin, a Las Vegas-based gay rights advocate. "It's been a missed opportunity for eons."

"Large hotels are certainly gay-friendly simply because they cannot afford not to be," said Rich Campbell, president of Atlantis Events Inc., a West Hollywood, Calif.-based worldwide tour operator for gay clients. "We see gay guests in every property, at all times of the year."

But Las Vegas has few gay-specific bars, restaurants and nightclubs as well as accommodations despite the "tens of thousands of gay convention-goers and tourists" who visit Las Vegas each year, he said.

"What's interesting is how few businesses have adequately targeted this ripe market."