Las Vegas Weekly

January 15, 2010 · 3:09 PM

Happy 20th birthday to The Rio; celebration begins today

By Robin Leach

Penn & Teller, longtime headliners at The Rio, celebrate The Rio's 20th anniversary with President Gary Selesner, Rio Rita and General Manager Gerry Tuthill. The Rio culinary team created a cake in the form of the all-suites hotel for the celebration.

Photo: The Rio

Happy 20th birthday to The Rio just steps off the Strip, and the party starts today through Feb. 4. The all-suites resort and its staff are celebrating their 20 years over the next 20 days, and everything is either priced at $20 or less, or a 20 percent discount is applied. Room rates are slashed to just $20 per person per night! It was back in 1990 that The Rio opened with 430 suites, but in 1993, the 20-story expansion tower was added to the current Ipanema Tower and now boasts two towers with more than 2,500 suites, including nine lavish Palazzo Suites.

The Rio opened with the still-popular Carnival World Buffet, which features more than 300 dishes prepared daily and was the first buffet in Las Vegas to offer live cooking stations. The late famed French chef Jean-Louis Palladin opened Napa Restaurant in 1997, and his world-class wine collection from the culinary hot spot is still available today in The Rio’s wine cellar. My pal Steve Martorano opened his Cafe Martorano with authentic Italian cuisine in Napa’s place in 2007. The late Danny Gans was the headliner there for four years before departing for The Mirage in 2000, and the Masquerade Show in the Sky launched in 1997 continues today.

You can find all 20 ways to celebrate 20 years in 20 days at RioLasVegas.com/20, but here are some highlights: All tickets for Chippendales are $20, a ride in the Show in the Sky is $20, and the second ticket for Penn & Teller’s magic show is $20. It’s $20 for an upgrade to a Masquerade Suite. Manicures in the spa and a two-day fitness access pass are $20 each. Sign up for the rewards card, and you get a $20 cash credit. Coffee in Rio Java is 20 cents. There are certain terms and restrictions, but overall there’s no better bargain in Las Vegas.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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