Tuesday, April 11, 2006 | 7:24 a.m.
Boyd Gaming Chairman Bill Boyd is to be honored as the Nevada Hotelier of the Year on Wednesday at Mandalay Bay at the 27th annual Las Vegas International Hotel and Restaurant Show.
But Boyd would not be Boyd's own choice for the award, not a surprise given his modest disposition.
When asked during a phone interview Monday afternoon whom he would choose to honor as the Hotelier of the Year, Boyd said, "I would probably give it to Bob Boughner. I am accepting the award on behalf of the 25,000 men and women who work in our company ... we're only as good as they are, but if I were to pick one person to single out, it would be (Bob)."
Boughner has worked for Boyd since 1976, when he was hired as a timekeeper (whose duties were to clock workers on and off their shifts) at the California in downtown Las Vegas. He has moved steadily up the Boyd corporate ladder to lead the company's Borgata operation in Atlantic City and will return to Vegas to head up the $4 billion Echelon Place project, which will stand on the site occupied today by the Stardust.
"He's one of the most talented people around," Boyd said. "He would certainly be the one I would vote for."
Joining Boyd as an honoree at the two-day convention, which runs Wednesday and Thursday, is Scott Farber as Nevada Restaurateur of the Year. Farber is director of operations for Emeril's New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grand and Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian.
In a news release, Nevada Restaurant Association President Paul Hartgen said of Farber, "His passion for the industry has helped establish Las Vegas as a premier dining destination."
NoteMart
Pew poll: More on Boyd. I asked if he remembered the first award he received, ever. After some contemplation, he passed along that he recalled winning a rosary as a student in Catholic school in L.A. He remembered a piece of Bible-related information and won the rosary as a second-place prize; a little girl in his class edged him out for first ...
Back to the '60s: The Beatles and Doors managed to make some Vegas-centric news Monday. The Los Angeles Times (among others) reports that the surviving members of the Doors and the estate of Jim Morrison are looking to build a theater of between 800 and 1,200 seats in Las Vegas for a standing show with a Doors theme. The site was not specified.
Meanwhile the London Daily Telegraph is reporting that an album by the Beatles featuring new music is in production and will be released to coincide with the opening of the new Beatles-themed show at the Mirage. A summer opening is said to be planned for the Mirage production.
Apple Corps head Neil Aspinall said the show is "a huge investment. It involves the creation, by the remixing and remastering of the Beatles' recorded performances, of completely new music, which will be featured in the show, and which should lead to the release of the show album." ...
Out for laughs: Announced Monday is the return of the "Comedy Festival," a partnership of HBO and the entertainment company AEG Live. The festival will run from Nov. 14 to Nov. 18 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and other Harrah's venues. TBS is a title sponsor. Last year's event drew such comedy heavyweights as Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Bill Maher, Dane Cook, Susie Essman and Lewis Black ...
Life in the fast lane: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and County Commissioner Myrna Williams were the first to take the course at the Drive, the "autotainment" attraction across from the Sahara on Paradise Road on Monday. Both drove Cadillacs during the attraction's first official day of business.
The Drive, operated by General Motors and featuring an array of GM vehicles (including new Corvettes and H3s), costs $10 but is free for Nevada residents - including high-profile politicians - through April 10 ...
Play! Now! Frequently! Megabucks has surpassed $17 million ...
Life in the faster lane: A silver convertible Dodge Viper SRT-10 rumbles through Vegas with the vanity plate 505 HP.
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