IT'S OFFICIAL: A FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY COURT judge
refused the bids of two groups looking to buy the Aladdin Resort
and Casino, clearing the way for a $635 million purchase agreement
between Aladdin Gaming and a joint venture. The latter partnership
includes Robert Earl, founder and chief executive officer of Planet
Hollywood Int'l, Bay Harbour Management, and Starwood Hotels and
Resorts Worldwide. As previously reported, under the terms of the
agreement, $90 million will be spent to renovate the 2,567-room
property, which will be re-themed and renamed Planet Hollywood
Hotel & Casino, a Sheraton Hotel. Starwood, which will manage
the hotel but not the casino portion, also plans to develop a
Westin Vacation Resort of up to 600 units at the property. The
purchase will not include the adjoining Desert Passage Mall, which
is owned by Aladdin Bazaar.
SPEAKING OF THE ALADDIN...that's where a
Russian contingent will be this fall. The Kirov Ballet's only U.S.
performance will be a two-night engagement at the Aladdin Theatre
on Sept. 6 and 7. Ticket prices are $150, $75 and $50 each. In
conjunction with the ballet performances, the Aladdin Conference
Center on Sept. 5 and 6 will host the Blue Russian Festival, which
commemorates the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. The event,
which costs $10 per person, will celebrate Russian food, art,
culture and tradition. In addition, a VIP black-tie dinner on Sept.
6, which will be held in the conference center's grand ballroom,
will feature such guests as Nevada Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Las
Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, and Vladimir Yakovlev, governor of St.
Petersburg. Tickets cost $350 and $250 for VIP and general
admission, respectively, and can be reserved by calling (702)
732-9010. Tickets for the ballet performances and the festival can
be purchased through the Aladdin box office at (702) 785-5000, or
Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000 and www.ticketmaster.com.
CLIENTS CAN SAVE up to $50 per person on Funjet
Vacations Las Vegas getaways when they book a stay at one of the
MGM Mirage Resorts by July 4 for travel July 6 through Aug. 28.
Vacations include hotel accommodations, hotel taxes and roundtrip
air via Ryan Int'l Airlines, TransMeridian Airlines or American
Trans Air. Additionally, clients can get "value-added" offers such
as free meals and beverages, room upgrades, spa admission, and show
admission. Agents can access Funjet Vacations through VAX
VacationAccess at www.vaxvacationaccess.com as well as through
all four GDSs using the vendor code FUN. The company also can be
reached at (800) 558-3050.
THOSE LOOKING TO CATCH THE PIRATES of Buccaneer
Bay doing battle with the crew of the HMS Britannia at Treasure
Island have 12 days to do so. The 9 p.m. performance of the
original Battle of Buccaneer Bay on July 6 is the show's
last--until a new version debuts Oct. 26. The revamped storyline is
expected to feature a band of renegade male buccaneers clashing
with the Sirens of TI, a group of sexy women who are part muse,
part temptress and part pirate.
GOGO WORLDWIDE VACATIONS through Aug. 28 offers
three-night inclusive Las Vegas packages from Boston and New York
(JFK) that are valid for travel Mondays through Thursdays. From
Boston, with transportation via American Airlines, sample package
prices run $259 per person with a stay at the Palace Station Hotel
and Casino, $329 per person at New York-New York Hotel & Casino
and $349 per person at the Aladdin Resort & Casino. From New
York, with air via America West, sample prices run $329 per person
at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino, $385 per person at the
Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino and $435 per person at the Mirage.
Reservations can be made via GDSs and at www.gogowwv.com.
CORRECTION: Funjet Vacations' three-night
Thursday and four-night Sunday vacation departures from St. Louis
to Las Vegas--with travel Aug. 17 to Oct. 30--are eligible for
group discounts if booked by June 30. Last week's e-letter had
incorrect travel dates.