Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, formerly known as the Las Vegas Hilton and the LVH, has some major plans in store this spring and summer.
The property, acquired by Westgate Resorts in mid-2014, has already been rolling out improvements.
David Siegel, founder and CEO of Westgate Resorts, acquired Westgate Las Vegas for $160 million and vowed he would spend at least that much to bring the struggling property back to its glory days when it was known as The International.
In February, Westgate Las Vegas became the first hotel to provide guests with the BeyondTV Wireless Streaming Player, allowing guests to stream the Internet, live TV, video-on-demand, personal media sharing, Internet radio and social media via their in-room TV.
A new Asian cuisine concept dubbed Silk Road Noodle Bar debuted at the resort in early March, honoring the world-famous Silk Road Trade Route. The restaurant features menu items such as Wagyu Beef Pho and Special Roast Duck and overlooks Westgate's Benihana Village.
That's in addition to renovations to the resort's Signature rooms (including 60-inch TVs), the European-style casino café Sid's Café, The International Bar (featuring cocktails, beer and large TV screens) and a new Concierge Lounge.
But that is just the beginning. There is much more planned for the spring and summer of 2015.
One of the most exciting attractions at the resort figures to be "Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition-The Show-The Experience," which will debut at Westlake Las Vegas on April 23 via a partnership with Elvis Presley's Graceland.
The exhibition will be the first-ever permanent Graceland exhibit outside of Memphis, encompassing more than 28,000 square feet and featuring hundreds of artifacts from the Graceland Archives. The artifacts will trace Elvis' life and career, from his early days in Tupelo, Miss., to his life in Memphis, Hollywood, Graceland, Las Vegas and more.
Artifacts include Elvis' high school yearbooks, his first Gold Album, his 1957 Harley Davidson motorcycle, a 1962 Lincoln Continental, 1971 Stutz Blackhawk, jewelry and iconic stage wear from Elvis' performances, including the first outfit worn on stage for his first concert at the International Hotel in 1969. Graceland-produced shows will also be scattered through the exhibit, concluding with a 26-minute film featuring content from some of Elvis' greatest performances.
The renamed and renovated Elvis Presley International Showroom will present Elvis-themed live shows on the same stage where Elvis performed over 600 sold-out shows from 1969 through 1976. The debut show will be "The Elvis Experience," honoring one of Elvis' legendary Las Vegas shows and starring actor Martin Fontaine, 24 musicians and eight choir members.
Westgate Las Vegas will also open Elvis Presley's Graceland Wedding Chapel on April 23, which will become the first wedding chapel ever to be operated by Elvis Presley Enterprises in Las Vegas.
On top of that, former Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year Suzanne Somers will be returning to Vegas with a new sophisticated nightclub act for the Westgate Las Vegas Shimmer Cabaret that recalls the days of The Rat Pack.
Westgate Las Vegas is also introducing the new Serenity Spa & Health Club, Edge Steakhouse and a renovated pool deck complete with 19 brand-new cabanas. The pool deck will feature new grass areas, furniture and fire pits. The cabanas will boast new furniture and HD TVs.
Westgate Resorts' new Las Vegas property used to be a world-famous hospitality and entertainment venue before falling on hard times in recent years. Given the vast improvements Siegel and Westgate Resorts are making to the resort and casino, a revival appears to be on the desert horizon.
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