SINGER AND SONGWRITER ELTON JOHN will perform 75
shows over three years at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The
first shows are scheduled for Feb. 13 to 22; all performances begin
at 7:30 p.m. The shows--which also will include Davey Johnstone on
guitar, Guy Babylon on keyboards, Bob Birch on bass guitar, John
Mahon on percussion and Nigel Olsson on drums--will not change the
schedule for "A New Day...," which stars Celine Dion and also is
performed in the 4,100-seat Colosseum. Tickets for John's shows
cost $250, $175, and $100 plus applicable taxes and handling
charges and can be purchased at (888) 435-8665, www.ticketmaster.com or at the Caesars Palace Box
office.
MCCARRAN INT'L AIRPORT launched SpeedCheck, a
multiple-airline check-in system that allows travelers with
carry-on luggage only to check in at a self-service kiosk and print
a boarding pass for flights on 12 airlines. More than 30 SpeedCheck
kiosks are available in the airport's Terminal 1. They are near
security checkpoints and in the center of the ticketing lobby;
additionally, six off-site kiosks are located at the Las Vegas
Convention Center. Participating carriers include AirTran, Alaska,
Aloha, America West, Continental, Delta [including Song], Midwest,
Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. More airlines will be
added in the near future, according to an airport spokeswoman, and
plans also are under way to place kiosks at airline ticket
counters, which would enable baggage-tag printing for checked
luggage.
AIRTRAN will use Boeing 717 jet aircraft for
its new twice-daily nonstop service between Dallas/Ft. Worth
Airport and McCarran. The service begins Feb. 11. One-way tickets
start at $99 and range up to $249. To book or for more information,
visit www.airtran.com.
HILTON GRAND VACATIONS last week opened its
third Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Las Vegas. The 283-unit,
28-story building is the first of four planned phases of
development at the 10-acre Strip site. The resort features a
"desert Deco" motif throughout and offers guests a serpentine pool
adjacent to whirlpool spas, fountains for children, a fitness
center, the Waves poolside bar and grill, the Marketplace deli and
sundry store, picnic areas and barbecue grills. The property's
one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations include
remote-controlled color TVs, DVD players, Bose surround-sound
systems, high-speed Internet access, fully-equipped kitchens with
granite countertops, frameless glass showers, oversized tubs,
washing machines and dryers.
CAR BUFFS are giving the green light to a new
restaurant in Henderson's Hot Rod Hill auto plaza. The two-story,
9,500-square-foot Hot Rod Grille can accommodate up to 220 people
and includes a banquet facility for groups and a bar with 15
video-poker machines. The dining area on the main floor resembles a
1950s' diner, and there's even Cad-Kong, an 18-foot-high by
12-foot-wide 1959 Cadillac with fins and running tail lights that
serves as a merchandise display and hostess stand as well as a
backdrop for the entire eatery. The restaurant is open around the
clock, with breakfast served from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., lunch from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Between meal times
and after hours, appetizers and sandwiches are available. For more
information, phone (702) 567-5659 or fax (702) 567-0260.
<<P>