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How The Palms Changed Vegas

Where: 4321 West Flamingo Road [map], Las Vegas, nv, United States, 89109

Movable Buffet, the LA Times Vegas blog, offers little inside celeb scoop on last weekend's Palms Fantasy Tower opening Block Party and instead gets all analytical about how the Palms rejuvenated Vegas.

Everyone credits Steve Wynn with creating modern Las Vegas and that is certainly the case. But a good argument could be made that contemporary Las Vegas has a lot more to do with the vision of George Maloof. When The Palms opened in 2001 it redefined what a local casino could be and very quickly the resorts on the Strip jumped on board with the Palms way of doing things, too.

The Palms understood first how to facilitate Vegas-worshiping TV shows (from "Real World" to Jenny McCarthy's wet kiss of a show to even one on the tattoo parlor inside the casino) combined with the shrewd marketing of a celebrity presence on the property. Both of these (booster "reality television" and stacking the deck with lots of advertised celebrity in house) have become SOP in Vegas.

Some of Maloof's advertised celeb tactics: Paris Hilton already owns one of the VIP suites and even though Sum 41's Deryck Whibley probably doesn't belong at a "glizty casino opening", the free alcohol provided by Maloof and co. lets him have a good time.

Related Stories:
· The Palms, Celebrity and Fantasy Suites [Movable Buffett]
· Celebs Flock to The Palm's Fantasy Tower Block Party [HotelChatter]