44 FEATURE
las vegas
to redefi ne the iconic Las Vegas skyline with the launch of The LINQ; an open-air retail, dining and entertainment district anchored by the world’s tallest observation wheel, (known as the High Roller) there is a fresh selection of new attractions to encourage clients to visit the city,” she added. In recent years Las Vegas has become a top
venue for foodies, with a host of celebrity chefs fl ocking to front designers restaurants in the top hotels, like Mesa Grill by Bobby Flay (Caesar’s Palace); Robuchon by Joel Robuchon (MGM Grand), Michael Mina (The Bellagio), Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill (The Venetian), and Gordon Ramsey Steak (Paris Las Vegas) among others. Remember that Las Vegas also works well as both a twin-centre destination and as a gateway into the Western US states. Adds Virgin’s Nevins-Ramessur, “Las Vegas is a great starting point for fl y-drives, it is easy to pick up a car and after seeing the bright lights of Vegas, head away from the city to explore many of the surrounding National Parks in Arizona and Utah. Alternatively, consider spending a few days in Vegas and then fl y onwards to major cities within California such as Las Vegas or Los Angeles.” One company well-used by UK operators is
Maverick Helicopters (
maverickhelicopter.co.uk). Maverick offers various luxury helicopter tours from Las Vegas out to the Grand Canyon. Highlights on the morning excursion include Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and Fortifi cation Hill, an extinct volcano, while Champagne is served some 300ft above the Colorado River. The day ends with a fl ight over downtown Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip. An afternoon version of the above that concludes with a sunset fl ight over the Strip is also available.
What’s new Hotels: Bally’s (
ballyslasvegas.com) has opened its
renovated 756-room Jubilee Tower. In the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, the rooms and suites look out onto the Paris Eiffel Tower and Bellagio fountains. The newly renovated Tropicana (
troplv.com) has
unveiled its Sky Villa Suites. On the 20th fl oor of the Paradise tower, the suites overlook the Las Vegas Strip and are a part of the resort’s $200 million transformation which incorporates all 1,467 guestrooms, the casino fl oor and
“Las Vegas is a great starting point for fly-drives, it is easy to pick up a car and after seeing the bright lights of Vegas, head away from the city to explore many of
the surrounding National Parks” ALICE NEVINS-RAMESSUR, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE, VIRGIN HOLIDAYS
restaurants, and the Tropicana Theatre. Attractions: Downtown Las Vegas recently
welcomed its newest attraction with the opening of Container Park at Fremont and Seventh Street. The family-friendly venue combines locally owned boutiques, galleries, eateries and bars with an open air setting of a park. Designed in industrial chic style, the Container Park is working with local museums who will send actors to the park to interact with visitors. Fashion shows, wine walks and other special events are also planned. Las Vegas’ newest roller coaster, and only the
second of its kind in the U.S, is providing plenty of spills at The Adventuredome at Circus Circus Las Vegas (
adventuredome.com/elloco). The open-carriage cars, each with only four passengers, are smaller than average, allowing the vehicle to make tighter, faster turns. The coaster’s unusual turns that tilt outward, combined with the open cars, spark the adrenalin rush. The 72-second ride includes a 90-foot ascent followed by a diving drop. One of the USA’s leading culinary festivals,
Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit, (vegasuncorked. com) will feature a line-up of star-studded chefs, sommeliers and mixologists when it takes place this May (8-11). The annual four-day celebration
www.sellinglonghaul.com
of food and wine offers rare access for food lovers to interact and rub shoulders with big-name chefs at special events such as the ‘Master Series Dinner’ and ‘Sushi & Sake with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’. The four-day festival will take place across a number of Las Vegas resorts including ARIA, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand and The Venetian. The four-star Planet Hollywood has built a whole new auditorium for Britney Spears, who will be performing her ‘residency show’, A Piece of Me, regularly throughout 2014.
The show is set to run for two years. �Excursions: The paving of the Diamond Bar Road from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West, after 14 years in the making, is on track to be completed this year. Once fi nished the two-and-a-half-hour drive time to Grand Canyon West, wholly-owned by the Hualapai Indian Tribe, will offer visitors a
Clockwise, from above: Route 66 near Oatman, two hours from Vegas, Fremont Street and the city’s iconic welcome sign
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