TIGER AT THE PALAZZO RESORT( 14-FT LONG X 7.5-FT TALL)
ROARING IN Strip Resorts Mark Chinese Year of the Tiger with Events & Decorations by SONYA PADGETT LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL February 11, 2010
If you want to get an idea of how important Chinese New Year is to Las Vegas, just visit any major Strip resort on Sunday.
There will be no shortage of lion dances, red lanterns, I Ching coins, citrus trees, banners, Asian dining options and entertainment.
That day marks the beginning of the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese zodiac and the start of Las Vegas' two-week courtship of the Asian market that travels here each year for the holiday. The Chinese New Year is a 15-day holiday set by a lunar calendar. It usually falls in January or February.
The Asian market has long been important to Las Vegas, but only in recent years have local resorts enriched their offerings to appeal directly to tourists who celebrate the holiday with a trip to Vegas, resort representatives say.
In addition to the colorful and traditional dragon and lion dances, resorts now offer dining specials and book Asian entertainment, such as the group Grasshopper at Caesars Palace or entertainer Sam Hui at MGM Grand.
"I think over time, Chinese New Year has come to rank up there with some of the bigger events that take place in Las Vegas," says Ron Reese, spokesman for The Venetian and Palazzo.
While it's hard to predict percentages, resort representatives expect to see an uptick in international visitors during the next two weeks, especially since that market has been less affected by the recession.
"Las Vegas is going to see a tremendous Chinese New Year's this year," predicts Gary Selesner, president of Caesars Palace. Caesars has been marking Chinese New Year for 35 years. "I would say at this point Chinese New Year is probably the most significant event in Las Vegas" and gaming revenues for the month should reflect that.
"It's just a great and growing market for the city of Las Vegas," Selesner says. "We're not the only ones who have recognized this."
This year, Harrahs will have lion dances at all properties, Selesner says. Nearly every major resort is decorated with traditional Asian symbols, another sign of the growing popularity of the holiday, he adds.
The Venetian and Palazzo have an Asian theme with citrus trees, red envelopes, lanterns and I Ching coins, among other things. The centerpiece of the decor is a 14-foot tiger (designed by Stephen Stefanou with Design Solutions ) in the atrium gardens at the Shoppes at The Palazzo.
"We brought a feng shui consultant in to talk about what to do," says Audra Danzak, vice president of floral and horticulture for Palazzo and The Venetian.
Some of the suggestions made were to ensure the water in ponds was still and that metal be used in certain displays.
Every decoration has a meaning and purpose to the Chinese and their placements can have an impact. For instance, bamboo and other elements were arranged in groups of eight, a number that is seen as lucky, Danzak explains.
They wanted the tiger designed by Stephen Stefanou , which took eight weeks to make, to project a proud manner but not appear too fierce.
Saturday at 3 p.m., a ceremonial dragon and lion dance is scheduled to start at The Venetian's porte-cochere and end at the upper Palazzo porte-cochere.
Also at 3 p.m. Saturday, MGM Grand will host a lion and dragon dance in the valet area and porte-cochere.
At 1 p.m. Sunday, a dragon dance will take place at The Venetian porte-cochere, wind through the casino and end at the Palazzo porte-cochere.
Also Sunday, lion and dragon dances will be at The Mirage at 3 p.m., Bellagio at 7 p.m. and Mandalay Bay at 10 p.m. The dances will be in the resorts' porte-cocheres.
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aria will host a lion and dragon dance in the porte-cochere.
Chinatown also will mark the holiday with a day of entertainment and events. There will be a variety of Asian cuisines, lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations and other activities.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at Chinatown Plaza, 4255 Spring Mountain Road. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger.
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@review journal.com or 702-380-4564.
If you want to get an idea of how important Chinese New Year is to Las Vegas, just visit any major Strip resort on Sunday.
There will be no shortage of lion dances, red lanterns, I Ching coins, citrus trees, banners, Asian dining options and entertainment.
That day marks the beginning of the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese zodiac and the start of Las Vegas' two-week courtship of the Asian market that travels here each year for the holiday. The Chinese New Year is a 15-day holiday set by a lunar calendar. It usually falls in January or February.
The Asian market has long been important to Las Vegas, but only in recent years have local resorts enriched their offerings to appeal directly to tourists who celebrate the holiday with a trip to Vegas, resort representatives say.
In addition to the colorful and traditional dragon and lion dances, resorts now offer dining specials and book Asian entertainment, such as the group Grasshopper at Caesars Palace or entertainer Sam Hui at MGM Grand.
"I think over time, Chinese New Year has come to rank up there with some of the bigger events that take place in Las Vegas," says Ron Reese, spokesman for The Venetian and Palazzo.
While it's hard to predict percentages, resort representatives expect to see an uptick in international visitors during the next two weeks, especially since that market has been less affected by the recession.
"Las Vegas is going to see a tremendous Chinese New Year's this year," predicts Gary Selesner, president of Caesars Palace. Caesars has been marking Chinese New Year for 35 years. "I would say at this point Chinese New Year is probably the most significant event in Las Vegas" and gaming revenues for the month should reflect that.
"It's just a great and growing market for the city of Las Vegas," Selesner says. "We're not the only ones who have recognized this."
This year, Harrahs will have lion dances at all properties, Selesner says. Nearly every major resort is decorated with traditional Asian symbols, another sign of the growing popularity of the holiday, he adds.
The Venetian and Palazzo have an Asian theme with citrus trees, red envelopes, lanterns and I Ching coins, among other things. The centerpiece of the decor is a 14-foot tiger (designed by Stephen Stefanou with Design Solutions ) in the atrium gardens at the Shoppes at The Palazzo.
"We brought a feng shui consultant in to talk about what to do," says Audra Danzak, vice president of floral and horticulture for Palazzo and The Venetian.
Some of the suggestions made were to ensure the water in ponds was still and that metal be used in certain displays.
Every decoration has a meaning and purpose to the Chinese and their placements can have an impact. For instance, bamboo and other elements were arranged in groups of eight, a number that is seen as lucky, Danzak explains.
They wanted the tiger designed by Stephen Stefanou , which took eight weeks to make, to project a proud manner but not appear too fierce.
Saturday at 3 p.m., a ceremonial dragon and lion dance is scheduled to start at The Venetian's porte-cochere and end at the upper Palazzo porte-cochere.
Also at 3 p.m. Saturday, MGM Grand will host a lion and dragon dance in the valet area and porte-cochere.
At 1 p.m. Sunday, a dragon dance will take place at The Venetian porte-cochere, wind through the casino and end at the Palazzo porte-cochere.
Also Sunday, lion and dragon dances will be at The Mirage at 3 p.m., Bellagio at 7 p.m. and Mandalay Bay at 10 p.m. The dances will be in the resorts' porte-cocheres.
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aria will host a lion and dragon dance in the porte-cochere.
Chinatown also will mark the holiday with a day of entertainment and events. There will be a variety of Asian cuisines, lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations and other activities.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at Chinatown Plaza, 4255 Spring Mountain Road. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger.
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@review journal.com or 702-380-4564.
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