STORY:
Las Vegas Vying For World Spotlight

The city that never sleeps expects sold out hotels, concerts and parties

Las Vegas, a city of just over 600,000 people, expects to host 275,000 people over the New Year's Eve holiday. Travel industry experts tell the Las Vegas Review-Journal they expect the city's 121,000 hotel rooms to sell out by this fall.

It's the same statewide, Chris Chrystal, spokeswoman for the Nevada Commission on Tourism told the Review-Journal. Nevada will have close to 160,000 hotel rooms by Dec. 31, she said, 'and we do think it'll be a sellout.'

Most of the major hotels Las Vegas are still planning their events, but so far the downtown hotels may play host the most public New Year's Eve event. The Fremont Street Experience will host a New Year's Eve show featuring Starship and the Guess Who from 5 to 7 p.m. and Creedence Clearwater Revisited and REO Speedwagon from 9 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 with the gates opening at 3 p.m. and the event starting at 5 p.m.

At midnight, organizers say tons of confetti will drop from different points within the light-show structure and revelers will see the premiere of a specially designed light and sound show overhead.

On Jan. 1, Starship and the Guess Who will play during a free concert at the Fremont Street Experience from 9 to 11 p.m.

At the Rio, tickets still can be purchased for Rod Stewart's New Year's Eve show. The hotel is offering a $4,000 package that includes a room for three nights, two tickets to the concert and a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne. The Rio's Masquerade Village also will be the scene of live entertainment this New Year's Eve. On past New Year's Eve, the Village has been closed for private parties.

At Mandalay Bay, both rooms and tickets to Bette Midler's New Year's Eve show are available. New Year's weekend room prices at Mandalay Bay begin at $1,100 a night with a three-night minimum stay required.

There are packages available at several off-the-strip hotels, with three-and four-night packages ranging from $750 for three nights at the Wild Wild West to $1,999 for four nights at Texas Station.

In addition, Texas Station is sponsoring Club Millennium 2000, which offers New Year's Eve packages at $300 and $400 per person that include a midnight buffet, beverage service, party favors and entertainment and live music in a specially designed 'nightclub of the future' setting.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal

DATE: 8/27/99

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