Strip Scribbles: Top 500 World Hotels list includes five in Las Vegas

Robyn Andrzejczak/IS Photography/ImagesofVegas.com

The Palazzo has been transformed into a 2009 Winter Wonderland.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 | 5:43 p.m.

Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Lou Ferrigno.

The Hard Rock Hotel

Nicky Hilton at Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock Hotel on Dec. 30, 2009.

Brian Steffy/Blush

Aaron Eckhart at Blush in the Wynn.

Kyle Kahre

Members of 100 Monkeys and Imagine Dragons at the Beauty Bar on Jan. 1, 2010.

Magnetic Public Relations

Daredevil Travis Pastrana at Lavo in the Palazzo.

The Light Group

DJ Tiesto spins at Haze on Dec. 31, 2009.

The world’s top-rated travel magazine Travel & Leisure has chosen five of our Strip luxury casino resorts in its just-published ranking of the Top 500 World Hotels. The list is based on the magazine’s reader survey results for rooms, facilities, location, service, dining and value.

In order of ranking from the highest, the five Las Vegas properties are Four Seasons Las Vegas, Wynn Las Vegas, Palazzo, Bellagio and The Venetian. I am presuming that Steve Wynn’s other Las Vegas property the Encore is too new to be added this year, but expect it and Aria to turn up on the list next year.

Congratulations to our fab five who made the list!

Star surveillance

After watching Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles show Love at The Mirage, screen legend Elizabeth Taylor had made dinner reservations for 11 p.m. at Stack. She arrived on time but explained that she wanted to stop by personally to say her thank you but that she was too tired to eat. Now that’s a beautifully polite superstar for you! While here as a guest of Elaine Wynn, the wheelchair-bound actress also watched Le Reve at the Wynn. … Floyd Mayweather Jr. turned up at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel for a second consecutive night and then went with pal Ray J for his favorite chicken noodle soup at nearby Mr. Lucky’s pre-breakfast!

… The original Incredible Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno had fans lined up for his meet-and-greet at the Art of Music in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. … Brothers Tony and Ferdinand Fercos were presented with awards for Best Magicians With Exotic Animals by the International Magicians Society at their show, which wrapped last night at Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for the Performing Arts. … Greg and Nene Leakes of The Real Housewives of Atlanta had lunch at Dos Caminos in the Palazzo, and then Nene tweeted: “I love Dos Caminos! Great food and drinks.” … MMA fighter Tito Ortiz was at Lavo happily posing for photos with fans while drinking Absolut Mandarin cocktails. Wilmer Valderrama arrived at midnight and treated Tito to a bottle of Perrier Jouet Rose champagne when he joined his table. Wilmer stuck with Patron shots and grabbed the mic, entertaining clubgoers until the lights came on.

… MLB icon Roger Clemens was at Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile Shops last night with eight friends. The crowd chanted “Rocket” to try to get Roger onstage, but he graciously declined, instead signing autographs and taking photos with fans. … Rapper Iyaz hung out at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel, where Nicky Hilton and friend DJ Jon Alagem hung out after dinner at Nobu. Nicky showed up the next night at LAX in the Luxor. … Hair color king to the stars Michael Boychuck was kept hopping with Nicky, mom Kathy Hilton and Kirsten Dunst, who all got styled and coiffed by his salon staff. … Warren Buffet watched one of Bette Midler’s final shows at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace and afterward went backstage. … Actor Aaron Eckhart sat on the patio with friends at Blush in the Wynn.

… Las Vegas-based Imagine Dragons started off the New Year playing alongside 100 Monkeys at Beauty Bar. 100 Monkeys is the band of Twilight star Jackson Rathbone, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday here. … During their performance at Ovation in Green Valley Ranch, Sin City Sinners were joined by Vinnie Paul of Pantera, Dizzy Reed, Jizzy Pearl and Brandy M of Rock of Love for a surprise onstage jam session. The next night, comedian Carrot Top joined the group. … UFC President Dana White dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms in a group of four. At a separate table, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and actor Jason Segel enjoyed dinner with a group of 11 friends. While Adam did Patron shots, Jason took a vodka cocktail with him to check out The Playboy Club. …. Extreme motorsports star and X Games legend Travis Pastrana was joined by Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley at Victor Drai’s XS in the Encore. Also at XS and Victor’s Tryst in the Wynn was Dreamgirls actor Keith Robinson. Travis also showed up at Wasted Space to celebrate his successful New Year’s Eve world record rally car jump.

Tonight’s tips

You might be partied out and exhausted, but fun and nightlife continue in the Entertainment Capital of the World. DJ Tiesto, fresh from his NYE gig at Haze, takes control of the wheels of steel tonight at Jet in The Mirage for the Industry Night NYE celebration. … The World Series of Beer Pong comes to an end with a full day of tournament play at the Flamingo. The championship match takes place, followed by the crowning of this year’s winners.

Tomorrow’s teases

The racy and randy revelations on both sides of the Atlantic about Tiger Woods and his posse of party girls continue to escalate. We take a look at the Las Vegas cast of characters and the new parking lot surveillance video that’s allegedly surfaced. Plus, we’ll have an advance look at the Top 100 Chinese Restaurant Awards.

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