 |
| “Esteemed Gentlemen of the High Wire” is the finale of Absinthe at Caesars Palace. |
Las Vegas is catering to an increasingly younger crowd, one that appears to be eschewing the traditional comedy shows and such in favor of edgier, more exotic entertainment. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s 2012 Visitor Profile Study, nearly one in five visitors (19 percent) last year were ages 21 to 29, compared to less than one in eight (12 percent) in 2012. Almost one quarter of visitors last year fell into the 30 to 39 group, as that demographic’s share jumped from 18 percent to 24 percent. Forty- to 49-year-olds remained fairly consistent, down a tick to 21 percent, but visitors 50 and older, who accounted for nearly half of all visitors in 2011, represented only three out of eight last year.
 |
| Tryst nightclub at Wynn |
Nightclubs and Dayclubs
In addition to the myriad shows, naughty and otherwise, for the 18-and-over set, Las Vegas offers distinctive nightclubs and dayclubs where partygoers can dance to DJ music and blow the roof off. Travel Agent rolled the dice and they came up seven—so here’s a sampling of a half dozen plus one of the city’s hottest clubs.
Hakkasan Las Vegas: The five-level, 80,000-square-foot Hakkasan, which offers dining and nightlife inspired by Asian themes, opened at the MGM Grand in April 2013. Grammy winner Calvin Harris is among the high-profile DJs in rotation here.
Hyde at Bellagio: This club opens at 5 p.m. with a bar and menu of small plates from Circo, and offers 40 VIP tables, numerous DJs and live performances. Hyde’s spacious balcony overlooks the renowned Fountains of Bellagio.
Krave Massive: The largest gay venue of its kind in the world, this 84,000-square-feet nightclub opened on June 15. It has dance rooms, open bars, a martini and VIP lounge, and other amenities.
Light Nightclub: Mandalay Bay’s Light, “Turned on by Cirque du Soleil,” is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Entry fees on Fridays are $40 for men and $20 for women. On Saturdays, they’re $50 and $20. Fees are subject to change. The dress code requires guest to wear upscale, fashionable clothes.
Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub: The Marquee at The Cosmopolitan has a party deck where top DJs come to spin for residents. The Dayclub offers three levels of bungalow lofts, furnished with cabana, living quarters, pool cabanas with infinity pools and a party deck.
Tryst: Set along a private lagoon under a 90-foot waterfall, Tryst at the Wynn showcases some of the world’s best electronic music talent. Code is “Dress to impress.”
Haze: This nightclub at Aria offers a cutting-edge environment that includes a 70-foot LED light wall and interactive projection screens. Home to world-renowned DJs such as Katy Perry and Ne-Yo, Haze also hosts an Ibiza-style party on Saturday night.
—Khier Casino
For guests 18 and older, many of Las Vegas’ leading hotels host lavish shows that, despite their decidedly grown-up themes, avoid the seedier connotation of “adult entertainment.” Following is a sampling of these productions, which are promoted as suitable for couples and groups.
Part burlesque and part cabaret, Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York Hotel & Casino is an uninhibited production that takes its audience on a sexy thrill ride full of sensational acrobatics and naughty fun.
Performed by Spiegelworld, a traveling circus, Absinthe at Caesars Palace combines burlesque and cabaret with daring acrobatics and feats of strength and balance—including the jaw-dropping finale, “Esteemed Gentlemen of the High Wire,” performed without a safety net. The Gazillionaire and his assistant, Penny Pibbets, bring a raunchy comedic flair to their hosting duties.
Billed as “The Strip’s Biggest Tease,” Fantasy at the Luxor has been running for more than 13 years. The sexy production showcases 15 high-energy song-and-dance numbers set to a variety of today’s top music genres. Sean E. Cooper provides comic relief with his impersonations of Michael Jackson and Tina Turner, among others. Dinner-and-show packages are available.
There’s still time to catch Peepshow at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino before it ends its four-year run on September 1. The fairy-tale-themed striptease extravaganza was created by Jerry Mitchell, who recently won Broadway’s Tony Award for his choreography of Kinky Boots.
Jubilee!, which celebrates its 32nd anniversary this summer, is such an iconic Las Vegas burlesque show that host hotel Bally’s decided to rename its newly renovated South tower Jubilee Tower in its honor. More than 100 dancers, singers, showgirls and other performers appear in over 1,000 costumes designed by Pete Menefee, who has worked with the Rockettes and the Miss Universe Pageant, and Bob Mackie, whose creations have been worn by the likes of Cher, Diana Ross and Carol Burnett.
Tip: Two-thirds (67 percent) of visitors in 2012 decided which shows to see after arrival, thereby running the risk of getting shut out of the shows they really want to see. Find out what your Vegas-bound clients are most interested in seeing, be it one of the above shows or any other entertainment options, and book ahead. This is especially important for groups that require large numbers of tickets. Note: The average trip total spent on Las Vegas shows last year was $123.43, but ticket prices can vary greatly. If one show is too steep for your client’s budget, you can probably find less-pricey choices for them.
 |
| “Hand to Hand” from Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity at New York-New York |