Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com | 31 Forget the flamingo dancers and the Elvis impersonations. Las Vegas is so much more than that, said Michael Goldsmith, vice president of international marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Speaking exclusively to Travel Weekly Asia, Goldsmith described it as a "wonderful time and it helped make us who we are today, but the Las Vegas of today and tomorrow is a much more dynamic destination." If money speaks in Las Vegas, it would tell a tale of reinvention. The destination has gone from seedy lounge singer to well-rounded performer in a matter of decades, with a few handy tricks up its sleeve. Almost two-thirds of the revenue generated in Las Vegas no longer comes from casino gaming, said Goldsmith. "For the newer hotels, this is even higher because of the MICE market." Explaining the longevity of Las Vegas as an entertainment destination, Goldsmith said, "Diversification is important for any market. The more diversification you have, the better off you will be." Visitor numbers show a measured increase: year-to-date numbers (up until August) are at a two percent growth compared to 2014. There isn't necessarily a decline in the casino market but a "slowing growth," explained Goldsmith. While visitors are streaming in, they no longer spend hours in front of a slot machine. This, he said, is proof that visitors are no longer casino- LAS VEGAS: PROUD OF ITS PAST AND EXCITED ABOUT ITS FUTURE By Danielle Yong Not since the 1950s has there been development on this scale on the north end of the Strip. focused. Instead, they're exploring the outdoors, indulging in culinary delights and snapping up bargains at discount shopping outlets. In fact, the city has claimed the title of 'Gateway to the Grand Canyon'. There have been more Asian travellers from all over, including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines. The most important change, said Goldsmith, is that resorts and attractions are now designing programmes and hiring people with the right language skills to sell and market their service to visitors, with a corresponding rise in FITs. With the change in traveller profile comes a new type of operator. The Genting Group, South-east Asia's biggest gaming conglomerate, has begun construction on an integrated resort. The US$4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas is slated for completion in mid-2018. This is the first Las Vegas Strip development in nearly a decade, featuring regional Chinese restaurants, gaming and retail space and a top-tier nightlife venue. Entertainers will pay homage to Chinese culture and civilisation: an overture to the world's biggest spenders. Not since the 1950s has there been development on this scale on the north end of the Strip. The new resort is expected to create thousands of jobs and net the U.S. government hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue. "Asians are investing in Las Vegas because they see a future there," said Goldsmith. If Las Vegas is a performer, she will soon be crooning in Mandarin." WYNN'S FAIRWAY VILLAS OPEN TO PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME Take a quick spin around Steve Wynn's twin resort towers on the Las Vegas Strip, and it's obvious the man has taste. It's in the details of his properties, from the lighting fixtures made of imported glass to the recurring butterfly motifs to the tastefully appointed foliage around the pools. So just imagine the care and attention that went into the hotel's most exclusive areas, luxury suites and villas with amenities like private massage rooms and butler service. Guests no longer have to imagine, as the Wynn and Encore have officially added the Wynn's Fairway Villas and the Encore Three Bedroom Duplex to the public rental roster. "We are happy to extend the Wynn Fairway Villas and Encore Three-Bedroom Duplexes to all of our guests for the first time," said Brian Gullbrants, executive vice president and general manager of Wynn and Encore. "Previously these suites were available to invited casino guests, and were recently made available to every guest, so they too can experience all of the resorts' luxury suite products." The villas, which overlook the Wynn Golf Course with private balconies, have been best known as Steve Wynn's own residence, where the chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts created a custom By Sarah Feldberg space by combining multiple villas into a lavish and lovely home, once depicted in Architectural Digest: walls upholstered in rich blue silk, Picassos above the dining table, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the emerald expanse of the golf course. His rent for the home was US$43,750 per month. So what can guests who fancy a stay in Steve Wynn's neighborhood expect? The villas have one or two bedrooms each with two baths, private massage rooms and living rooms that seat eight. A stay in one of the villas includes airport limo service, twice daily housekeeping and expedited access to shows, restaurants and golf reservations. Set in the resort's other glass tower, the Encore Duplex is centred around a living area with views of the Las Vegas Strip, seating for 16 and a formal dining space. Each bedroom boasts a pop-up 42-inch LCD TV and en suite bathroom, complete with whirlpool tub and rain shower, and the duplex has its own billiard room with wrap-around windows and a private exercise area. The booking also comes with a daily cabana at the Tower Suite's dedicated pool, housekeeping and butler service and airport limo rides. Today, you don't even need an invitation to stay there. Though you do need some expendable income. Wynn Fairway Villas offer private balconies overlooking the Wynn Golf Course. Photo Credit: Barbara Kraft DESTINATION: LAS VEGAS

• Cover