Las Vegas Weekly

July 17, 2008 · 6 AM

Vegas stars of all ilk team for recovery effort

By Robin Leach

Oscar Goodman, the mayor of Las Vegas and (at times) the whole of the universe, is taking a break from his busy schedule to help market the city.

Photo: Steve Spatafore

Top stars, beloved VIP chefs and even our beauty-salon kings from the best Vegas Strip venues are joining forces to help fight the current economic recession and mortgage crisis. They have all become part of a special promotion specifically designed to boost tourism to Sin City from across America and Canada.

Everybody from Cirque du Soleil and illusionist Criss Angel from their joint new Believe show at the Luxor to Wayne Brady and the Blue Man Group at The Venetian and the Jersey Boys at the neighboring Palazzo, to rocker Vince Neil and celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Trotter, Alexander Stratta and Hubert Keller, plus Paris Hilton’s color king Michael Boychuck are all participating in this once-in-a-lifetime wild and crazy Vegas campaign.

Titled “The Ultimate Vegas Escape Sweepstakes,” three lucky winners will grab the most extraordinary sweepstakes packages ever put together. It’s even simple, because winning couldn’t be easier. Players just have to log onto VisitLasVegas.com or in Canada at VisitLasVegas.ca from today through Sept. 2. You can even go to watch Mayor Oscar Goodman and Angel talk up the prizes on YouTube

As our “Happiest Mayor on Earth,” Goodman says: “Lets face it -- the world feels like it is going mad and crazy times call for crazy fun. As this is Vegas, we always look for ways to do things bigger and better. That's why we’re offering these specially created trips to experience the entertainment capital of the world in ways they could only imagine. Since Vegas is always full of the unexpected the three prizes are packed with goodies and are the best ever offered.” The “Ultimate Vegas Escape Sweepstakes” winners will be drawn on Aug. 1, Aug. 18 and Sept. 3.

Angel will personally welcome the winner of the “Adventure Las Vegas” package. He’s donating tickets for his gala opening of Believe and an invitation to the exclusive after party at the Luxor. He says you will even get some one-on-one time with him and teach you at least one trick. The Luxor is also gifting a poolside cabana at its pool and providing VIP access to its celebrity hotspot LAX nightclub. Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil will oversee a tattoo at his Ink parlor at the Flamingo. The winner will relax in VIP style at the Adventure Spa up at Red Rock Resort, enjoy a pool party cabana at MGM’s new Wet Republic day club, train to be a Wine Angel at starchef Charlie Palmer’s Aureole restaurant at Mandalay Bay, and “float” on the Zero Gravity adventure flight! There’s a $5,000 shopping spree at Fashion Show mall and you get a shot at stardom with a live performance on stage at the world famous Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s. The winner gets three nights in a lavish suite in The Signature at MGM Grand.

Included in the “Celebrity Las Vegas” package is access to the VIP Opening Night party welcoming one of the world’s top DJ’s, Paul Oakenfold, to his yearlong residency at Perfecto Las Vegas at the Palms, plus a behind-the-scenes tour and instrument workshop with Blue Man Group in addition to tickets for the show. Iron Chef Kerry Simon hosts a dinner at George Maloof’s new Palms Place. Celebrity chef Hubert Keller hosts a wine cellar dinner at his Fleur De Lys at Mandalay Bay, and there’s a $5,000 shopping spree at the Forum Shops at Caesars. The winner spends three nights in Sylvester Stallone’s celebrity suite at Planet Hollywood and gets the star table with VIP access and bottle service at Prive nightclub there.

Some of the highlights of the “Backstage Las Vegas” package include a private meet and greet with Wayne Brady and front row tickets for his Venetian Making It Up show and watching Jersey Boys and meeting the cast next door at the Palazzo, where the winner will stay for three free nights in a super deluxe high-roller suite. Hotel tycoon Steve Wynn is providing a VIP Indulgence package to his Le Reve water spectacular and dinner and a tour of the kitchen with his top-ranked chef Alex Stratta. Celebrity chef Charlie Trotter will also provide dinner and a grand kitchen tour of his new Restaurant C at the Palazzo and Wolfgang Puck will even give a personal cooking lesson out at Springs Preserve. Colorist to the stars Boychuck will personally provide a celebrity makeover at his Color salon in Caesars Palace, while Donald Trump picks up the tab for the world’s most expensive massage -- with purifying diamonds -- at his new Trump Tower Spa. In addition to a helicopter and limo ride over and down the Strip, the winner gets a $5,000 shopping spree at Tiffany’s in the Bellagio and even gets to select a song to play for the dancing waters.

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