LAS VEGAS -- The self-styled entertainment capital of the world
said bonjour Sept. 1 to its latest megaresort, the $790 million
Paris Las Vegas Resort and Casino.
"Paris, the City of Light, transformed to the city of neon
lights" is how it was described by Arthur M. Goldberg, president
and chief executive officer of Park Place Entertainment, parent
company of Paris Las Vegas, at the grand opening ceremonies.
"We wanted to create a Paris as authentic as possible without
getting too cartoon- or fantasy-like," said Paul V. Pusateri, who
is president of Bally's Las Vegas and responsible for day-to-day
operations of Paris.
Early in the day, a few thousand VIPs and media guests began
occupying the resort's 2,916 guest rooms in a 34-story tower
modeled after the famous Hotel de Ville.
The guests attended a daylong series of events that included a
press conference, numerous tours of the 24-acre property and
musical performances from such luminaries as musician/conductor
Michel Legrand and singer Charles Aznavour.
Like The Venetian, which brought in glamour for its grand
opening in May by hiring actress Sophia Loren, Paris Las Vegas had
French actress Catherine Deneuve on hand, wearing a white suit and
sunglasses.
When Paris opened its doors to the public at 10 p.m., an
estimated 35,000 people poured in. The price tag for building Paris
was modest compared with such resorts as The Venetian, which cost
$1.5 billion.
Likewise, Pusateri said the resort's aim is to offer modest room
rates. Rooms range from $139 to $239 per night, with suites ranging
from $350 to $5,000.
By Vegas standards, the resort's 85,000 square feet of casino
space is also modest. But the resort boasts 140,000 square feet of
pillarless function space and a European health spa to boot. Paris'
13 restaurants and lounges also tend to be smaller and more
intimate than many here.
With Tres Jazz, a spokesman said, Las Vegas was getting its
first club where jazz is played on a daily basis rather than just
occasionally or on weekends.
Paris offers 31,500 square feet of shopping where guests can
find bottles of champagne priced anywhere from $20 to $1,000 at La
Cave; a small teddy bear at Les Enfants for $12.95, or a Paris
child's sweatshirt for $17.95 at La Menagerie de Paris.
Unlike the Forum or other areas of Vegas where shops are piled
together, the stores at Paris were deliberately designed to be
interspersed with restaurants and bakeries. The intended effect,
Pusateri said, is to create a Paris-like reality.
"It's incredibly real. It's incredibly well done," said actress
Deneuve at a press conference. The resort has replicas of the Arc
de Triomphe, the Paris Opera House and the Louvre. But the
signature attraction is a 50-story, half-scale replica of the
Eiffel Tower.
The day of my visit, $8 per person elevator rides up the Eiffel
Tower were not yet functioning (service was scheduled to start
Sept. 2). But a ride up promised a great view of the Strip.
Clients should know that only 20% of the rooms here offer views
of the Strip. But those who are willing to pay extra for a view of
the Eiffel Tower or the resort's pool can upgrade by renting
"premier" rooms.
Rooms include such touches as marble counters, two-line
telephones, separate showers and bathtubs, and a fresh robe
delivered daily.
The resort's major selling point, however, is service, according
to Pusateri, who said Paris' 4,000 employees -- or "citizens," as
they are called here -- have gone through extensive training.
Visitors were greeted with a sea of bonjours, though some
"citizens" admitted their grasp of French was un petit peu (very
little). Despite that, language classes are continuing and clients
can expect to hear a rash of French phrases.
Agents will play an important part in selling the hotel, with
one executive estimating agents might account for 30% of sales.
Michael Uhl, vice president of sales and marketing, said agents
"are so important to us that we had our entire executive committee
out calling on top-producing travel agents two weeks before we
opened."
He said Park Place executives dressed in French-style costumes
with berets visited a dozen of their top markets -- including Los
Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Boston and Dallas.
One agent incentive is that for each 10 bookings made for two or
more room nights, an agent earns a free three-day, two-night
weekend.
Fam trips will be offered to agents later in September and a
special "educational rate" is also available, though Uhl declined
to be specific.