Resorts prepare for strong holiday weekend

Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 | 10:53 a.m.

Possibly the only thing better than a three-day holiday weekend to draw tourists to Las Vegas is a three-day holiday weekend that includes a sentimental observance such as Valentine's Day.

This year's calendar provided a perfect storm scenario for the city, which will gear up for a celebration over the three-day Presidents Day weekend that should rival the Super Bowl or New Year's Eve.

"It's typically one of the strongest weekends we have," said Kevin Bagger, the head of research at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "It's the first three-day weekend that you encounter nationwide after the holiday season, so there's plenty of pent-up demand. And, of course, Valentine's Day sometimes plays into it."

Bagger said the LVCVA is expecting 285,000 visitors for the weekend, up from last year's 283,000. Bagger is forecasting occupancy of 97.3 percent, up from 97.2 percent last year. He said the city's room inventory has climbed to 129,600 rooms from 127,317 despite the closures of the Horseshoe and Castaways hotel-casinos.

The LVCVA projects a nongaming economic impact of $171.1 million for the weekend, up from $170.6 million last year.

Priceline.com, an Internet travel booking company, says the Las Vegas Strip is the most requested Valentine's Day-Presidents Day destination, according to a survey of users.

Other Las Vegas destinations also fared well in the survey, with the city's Convention Center area ranking No. 20 and off-Strip properties ranking No. 37. The Strip beat out New York, Miami, Orlando and Hawaii's famed Waikiki Beach in the survey.

While some Las Vegas properties will have all the guests they can handle with Presidents Day and Valentine's Day, others are planning special events to assure a packed house.

Caesars Palace will kick off its weekend tonight with the debut of Elton John's "Red Piano" show at the Colosseum. The show has been sold out for weeks, even with ticket prices ranging from $122 to $288.

Representatives of Caesars Entertainment Inc. said the company's resorts are sold out for the weekend.

MGM MIRAGE also is sold out for the holiday, but some tickets in the $175 and $250 price range are still available for its headliner, Bette Midler, in the MGM Grand Garden arena.

"Because it's a three-day weekend, the place is fully booked," Christi Braginton, a spokeswoman for MGM MIRAGE, said. "It's hard to get a restaurant reservation at any of our places."

The Venetian hotel-casino, which also is sold out, is offering several special events at its Grand Canal Shoppes mall. Electric violinist Drew Tretick will serenade guests and specialty dancers will perform at the mall's St. Mark's Square.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc.'s Rio and Strip properties are completely booked and Valentine's packages at The Rio's spa range from $220 for a single to $350 for a couple.

Wedding chapels across the city are preparing for a barrage of brides and grooms. Clark County's Las Vegas Marriage Bureau was open at 8 this morning and will stay open around the clock through midnight Monday.