Help your boss plan a Las Vegas work trip

From the LA Times Blog. Some great tips, too much to list here because fair use. But there are three or four I want to mention.

Hotel:
The article mentions some of the priciest on the strip:

The Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas, Augustus Towers rooms at Caesars Palace, and THEHotel

All very, very nice. Can't go wrong with any of them. But some places cringe at the thought of expensing a stay in a casino. (I work for a company that would never expense a stay in a casino.) So here is a tip: Stay at the Four Seasons. It's on the top five floors of Mandalay Bay. It might be a bit more pricey, but can be easier to get through the office manager.

Dining:
Breakfast: Can' t go wrong with the buffet at Paris. But if you are staying in the above hotels, anyplace there is good.

Dinner (from the blog):

Steakhouses are an old standby: try Charlie Palmer’s at Four Seasons, the Palm at Caesars Forum Shops, SW at Wynn, N9NE Steakhouse at Palms or Delmonico at the Venetian. With so many new restaurants and celebrity chefs making the headlines, where to go depends on the age and hipness of the people you are wining and dining.

Golf (also from the blog):

Shadow Creek: A highly respected golf course built by Tom Fazio and exclusive to guests of MGM Mirage properties, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, the Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, New York New York, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus and Railroad Pass.

Reflection Bay: Out in Henderson at Lake Las Vegas, this was the first public resort golf course in Nevada designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Cascata: Designed by Rees Jones, Sports Illustrated called this luxurious resort in Boulder City “golf’s hidden treasure.” Read these articles for more information, “Las Vegas: Golf for high rollers” and “Las Vegas: Great golf at several price levels.”

Make sure you ask the concierge about tee times and courses that the hotel have some pull and can squeeze you in on short notice.

More Airline Trouble

Need help knowing if your American flight has been canceled. You can set it up to send a SMS through this page on AA.com

A quick search of the blogs tell me that people are not having mixed responses when calling the rebooking toll-free number (I would post it here, but if you are stuck in an airport, I have read they have them posted all over American's terminals). Midday: You might get disconnected. At night: better chance of getting a booking.

But there are worse places to be stranded than in Vegas. Out of the "goodness of our hearts", I won't rip American Airlines. :)

Here is the latest story from ABC News:

Thousands of passengers were stranded again today after American Airlines canceled nearly half of its domestic flights.

American canceled more than 1,000 of its 2,300 daily flights today to re-inspect wiring, just as it did two weeks ago. The carrier canceled 460 flights Tuesday.

Passengers at Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago's O'Hare airports were hardest hit today by the reinspections. Travelers in St. Louis, Austin and at New York's LaGuardia airport were also affected.

American officials said the situation remains fluid and they cannot yet rule out more cancellations today and Thursday.

"American will do whatever it takes to assist those affected by these flight changes and our employees are working hard to ensure that we remain their choice for air travel," said Gerard Arpey, chairman and CEO of American Airlines. "This includes compensating those inconvenienced customers who stayed overnight in a location away from their final destination."

The airline is again reinspecting wire bundles on its MD-80 aircraft, which caused the carrier trouble in late March. At that time, the airline explained that it is required to secure wiring at every inch, and the aircraft were reinspected because they may have had the bundles secured every 1¼ or 1½ inches.

The inspections are not a safety issue but rather a matter of precise technical compliance, according to the airline.

American Airlines operates 300 MD-80 airplanes, all of which were grounded Tuesday evening. About 30 of those planes were back in service as of 7 a.m. today. More are expected to be returned to service throughout the day.

Today's news comes as lawmakers on Capitol Hill prepare to hear horror stories this afternoon about passengers stuck for hours in airports and on the tarmac. A House panel will examine aviation delays and consumer complaints during its fourth hearing in a series focused on airline consumer protection.

Toni Braxton hospital scare

Sad news about one of my favorite artists. I don't go to shows in Vegas. Along with Prince, Toni's would be a show I would go and see. But it looks like she is going to make it. From Huliq:

A spokesperson for singer Toni Braxton announced she has been hospitalized in Las Vegas. TMZ.com reports that Toni is suffering from pericarditis - an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. According to TMZ, Braxton may have contracted the illness when she gave birth to her second son.

AOL's Music News reports that "Toni Braxton canceled her Las Vegas show after being hospitalized overnight with chest pains, hotel officials said. The 40-year-old Grammy winner spent Monday night at a Las Vegas hospital and was expected to be released after precautionary tests, Flamingo Las Vegas hotel-casino and Harrah's Entertainment Inc. spokeswoman Deanna Pettit said."

The cause of Toni Braxton's chest pain is not known.

Despite some reports Braxton was not taken to hospital after performance, since there was not revealed schedule for Monday.

According To E! Online "While there hasn't been any further details released on her present ailment, Braxton has previously admitted suffering from a condition called pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart, which she was diagnosed with four years ago."

ATA closure affects Vegas

Hawaiians love to travel to Vegas. I regularly see them when I visit the downtown area. They are so personable and very cool to hang out with overall. The latest news about airline closures affects how they get to Vegas. From the Las Vegas Sun

The announcement today that ATA Airlines has shut down after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection severs another conduit for passengers between Las Vegas and Honolulu.

The Indianapolis-based airline – a code-share partner with Southwest Airlines, the busiest carrier at McCarran International Airport – had only one daily flight to and from Las Vegas.

But that flight was one of three daily nonstop round trips between Las Vegas and Hawaii’s largest city and capital, Honolulu.

Southwest’s code-share agreement enabled customers to book travel on Southwest to several ATA destinations. McCarran was one of four airports Southwest used to transfer customers and baggage through an agreement the airlines had since February 2005.

When booking flights with smaller carriers, check to see if they had a code-share agreement: a larger airline who will back them if something happens. Without an agreement, this happens (from Yahoo, bolding by me):

Airlines have a new attitude toward customers of failed carriers: It's your loss, not ours. With more airlines folding these days, the impact on consumers can be severe.

Passenger carriers are no longer required to honor tickets of failed competitors because Congress let a government protection for travelers expire in 2006. So when Aloha Airgroup Inc., ATA Airlines Inc. and Skybus Airlines Inc. all shut down last week, some airlines, including the nation's two biggest, refused to accept stranded ticket-holders.

That is a big change for consumers. They used to be able to buy tickets on struggling airlines with reasonable expectations that either the airline would keep flying if it went bankrupt, or other airlines would honor tickets for a small fee. Now, consumers need to be far more careful in picking airlines, especially for tickets bought months in advance.

Aloha Airlines also went Chapter 11, but will keep flying. They have a one-stop flight between Vegas and Hawaii.

No codeshare means you might have to pay an ungodly amount of money to get back home if you are stranded far from home. Back to the Yahoo article:

The carriers said they did offer tickets at discounted prices rather than full-fare, last-minute purchase prices. United said it offered a one-way fare of $275 from Honolulu or Maui to Los Angeles with no advance-purchase requirements, for example, and $475 from Honolulu to Chicago. American said it waived advance-purchase requirements so Aloha, ATA and Skybus ticket-holders could get discounted inventory if available.

But the reality is that at least some customers paid very steep prices. The Maui News reported several customers at Maui's airport said they had to pay $900 each for one-way tickets from Maui to Los Angeles on American. A spokesman for American, , says it is possible there was no advance-purchase inventory left when those customers called.

The kicker comes in the Yahoo article:

"We didn't have a code-share relationship of any kind with any of these airlines, so anything we do to offer people a discount is basically out of the 'goodness of our hearts,'" Mr. Wagner said. "Any discount we give is revenue lost, and we won't be getting anything out of their bankruptcies. So in a $100-a-barrel oil environment, anything that any airline does is generous."

Un-Be-lieve-able. Bad service, lost luggage, late flights, risk of being stranded, cramped seats, etc. Acting out of the goodness of their hearts might start improving their PR image around the country.

Increasingly, flying is becoming buyer beware.

(Disclosure: I flew to Savannah this weekend and the worse part was flying there and back. More on that later)

Fire at the Monte Carlo

No charges will be filed in a spectacular fire that damaged the facade of the Monte Carlo hotel-casino in Las Vegas.

Clark County Fire Chief Steve Smith says the Jan. 25 fire was started by welders working on the roof without proper permits, but it wasn't intentional.

The fire forced the evacuation of 6,000 guests and employees and cost some $100 million in damage and lost business. Seventeen people suffered minor injuries.

This is from the Associated Press on Mar. 25. I write it now because the Monte Carlo is still open and accepting reservations. Only 500 rooms were affected (by water and not the fire). But everything else is open.

On a personal note, the Monte Carlo is a finalist for my July trip to Vegas (along with the Luxor)

Elvis is alive...sort of

The King of Rock n' Roll is coming back to the Strip, kinda. As a part of a new hotel/casino, according to Fox News:

The company that owns the licensing rights to the name and image of Elvis Presley is continuing with plans to build a casino devoted to the King on the Las Vegas Strip

Now this is only in development. So it's 50/50 whether this actually happens. More from the article:

The project is scheduled to begin construction in the first quarter of 2009 with a completion date of late 2012, the filing said.

First phase plans include an "Elvis-inspired" luxury hotel and casino and a separate hotel-condominium. FX will own and operate the 2,269-room hotel and 93,000-square-foot casino.

A separate project, with 778 hotel rooms and 147 condominiums, will be operated by a joint-venture partner.

A 206,000-square-foot convention space, retail space, restaurants and showroom also is planned.

Developers hope to tap into the market for Elvis-themed weddings with several wedding chapels, a bridal and flower shop, and wedding reception and banquet areas.

An interactive multimedia Elvis experience, a boutique and an Elvis memorabilia store are also planned for the project.

Wonder what it's going to be called. Graceland West? But when coming goes up, then something must go away.

The site is currently occupied by several retail store and restaurants, including the Harley-Davidson Cafe and Smith & Wollensky. It generated $21.4 million in revenue for FX mainly through rental income.

Too bad, I like both places. Some projects sound promising, but this is a little blah.

Summer Concerts and pool openings

The best reason to go to Vegas in the summer is the pool scene at different hotels. When I stayed at the Hard Rock, I got an unexpected surprise as MTV shot a live concert from the great pool at HRH. The topper was a performance from my favorite singer, Shakira. So in Vegas, you can get a tan while enjoying live music by some of the top artists in the world.

So when you are looking at hotels, also look at who will be performing. The 2008 lineup, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority, includes Kanye West and Smashmouth.

One of the first pools to introduce European-style sunbathing to Las Vegas, Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay, is still beaconing sun worshipers. Also offering this poolside perk to visitors are the GO Pool at Flamingo Las Vegas, and BARE at The Mirage, which also invite guests to let go of their inhibitions and say goodbye to those pesky tan lines.

The newest aquatic destination to open in Las Vegas is WET REPUBLIC. Opening in April, WET REPUBLIC is a 53,000 square-foot ultra pool at MGM Grand featuring the only two saltwater pools on The Strip. In addition to the main pool area is an open-air ultra lounge featuring signature cocktails, premium bottle and pitcher service and sophisticated cuisine. A sundeck will transform into a stage that will host renowned DJs and entertainers.

TAO Beach, located on the roof of TAO Nightclub at The Venetian, is hosting its second pool season beginning April 18. In addition to cabanas featuring high-definition plasma televisions, X-box consoles, iPod and DVD rentals, guests enjoy poolside manicures, pedicures, massages and order an exotic meal from the menu at TAO Asian Bistro.

Last summer, Mandalay Bay Beach completed a $30 million expansion with the Beachside Casino, the first of its kind on The Strip. Home to the Beach Bar & Grill, it also features climate-controlled beachside gaming and a range of cabanas atop the three-story casino. The Villas Soleil offer exclusive amenities and a spectacular view of Mandalay Bay Beach.

Some of the hottest pool parties are happening off the Las Vegas Strip. The Palms Pool & Bungalows returns with Ditch Fridays beginning in May. Hosted by resident DJ Skribble of MTV fame, the parties feature live performances, fashion shows, prize giveaways and more. The three-acre paradise consists of three pools, four outdoor bars, a separate dining area, waterfalls and lavish cabanas.

The always popular Rehab at Hard Rock Pool and Beach Club returns for its fifth season. In this adult beach-club atmosphere, floating palapas become dance floors with the music of famous deejays like Tiesto, Jonathan Peters and Scooter & Lavelle. Party-goers enjoy the Beach Bar & Grill or placing a bet right along the water's edge at the gaming tables. Note: Rehab takes over the pool at the Hard Rock every Sunday.

The line to get in Rehab can be long and getting a cabana can be pricey. But it is the best party in Vegas on Sundays.

The Friday Night Live (FNL) Concert Series begins on May 2 with Puddle of Mudd. In its second season, FNL will feature Eeek-A-Mouse, Dropkick Murphys, Stephen Marley, Smashmouth, Steel Pulse, De La Soul and Jonny Lang.

Taking place in the Sandbar Backyard at Red Rock Resort is the Summer Concert Series. Launching on April 25, Red Rock will welcome GRAMMY(r) Award-winning artist Kanye West and special guests Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D. Also appearing throughout summer are Dierks Bentley, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Peter Frampton and UB40.