Zagat Releases 2009 Las Vegas Travel Guide (United States)
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Zagat Releases 2009 Las Vegas Travel Guide (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Industry economy -
Figures / Studies
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-12-16
Zagat Releases 2009 Las Vegas Travel Guide covering 796 top restaurants, nightspots, hotels, golf, shops, attractions
The Chips May be Down, but Resorts are on the Rise; Vegas Rolls in as Most Expensive Dining City
Not everything has to be a gamble in Las Vegas
Today, Zagat Survey is launching what promises to be a sure bet – its 2009 Las Vegas travel guide, helping both locals and tourists find the best places to eat, drink, stay and play. The 2009 Las Vegas guide is based on the shared experiences of 5,279 participants, rating and reviewing 796 of Vegas’s restaurants, nightclubs, shops, hotels, golf courses and attractions. Designed for visitors and locals alike, this updated guide reflects significant developments since our last survey was published including maps and a number of new resorts, restaurants and nightspots that seem to come and go with the flights of tourists. The chips may be down, but you wouldn’t know it from a glance at the Strip. Las Vegas defiantly continues to grow, in spite of the current national economic slump.
“Despite the current economy, we anticipate an increase in domestic travel in 2009,” noted Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey. “Despite its reputation as Sin City, Las Vegas is a destination that offers ‘something for everyone.’ Many visitors come to gamble, of course, but they also enjoy dining in our nation’s best restaurants, partying at some of the world’s most exciting clubs, shopping at prime branded stores, golfing and just plain lounging in the sun or at the city’s many spas. This is one town where you don’t have to spend a penny to enjoy fabulous tourist attractions. We wanted to get all of this into one useful book.”
Glitter & Gluttony: New resorts—all of which were planned before the market slowdown—continue to recruit celebrity chefs in droves, invigorating the city’s already vibrant restaurant scene. At the Palazzo on the Strip, Charlie Trotter returned with the seafooder Restaurant Charlie, Wolfgang Puck cloned his LA steakhouse CUT and Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali unveiled Table 10 and Carnevino, serving their signature New Orleans-inflected cooking and meaty Italian cuisine, respectively. Coming later in 2009, Theo’s by Theo Schoenegger (Ex Patina in Los Angeles) will showcase Cal-Ital fare; plus a star-studded selection at Aria, the forthcoming casino at City Center on the Strip has announced eateries by such renowned restaurateurs and chefs as Sirio Maccioni, Michael Mina, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Masayoshi Takayama and Shawn McClain.
Like many other things in Vegas, such vices aren’t cheap. Among the U.S. cities that Zagat Surveys, Las Vegas ranks as the most expensive place to eat at $44.44 per meal. In comparison, a typical meal in New York City and Miami respectively costs $40.78 and $38.86 and well above the national average of $34.21. Still Las Vegas offers a host of inexpensive, family oriented eateries.
The Party Never Stops: Though 2008 ushered in a slew of posh nightclubs, midlevel venues are working to keep their numbers up in the wake of the flagging economy. Many clubs are offering creative drink specials, like half-bottle service at Rok in New York-New York. Meanwhile, the more affordable Downtown district continues to thrive with entries like Gold Diggers at the Golden Nugget and the Canyon Club at the Four Queens. Even so, with the luxurious City Center still moving forward along with Encore’s aptly named new club XS, don’t expect Sin City to repent for its lavishness any time soon.
Hey, Big Spender!: If you win at the tables, there are plenty of places to spend your dough thanks to Vegas’s world-class shopping scene. Among the city’s myriad of shops, Nordstrom was named Most Popular and Brioni rated Top Quality. This year in Vegas, be sure to check out the goods at new boutiques by: Annie Creamcheese, Barneys New York, Canali, Chloé, Christian Louboutin and Michael Kors.
Hotels: In a city of mega-hotels, resorts and spas, newcomers keep cropping up every year. New on the Strip in 2009 are the all-suite Palazzo Resort, Hotel & Casino and Trump International Hotel & Tower. Many are awaiting the grand opening of Encore, the sister resort to the Wynn, at the end of the year. The Bellagio Hotel was ranked the Most Popular hotel and the Wynn ranked #1 for Top Overall score (combined average of Rooms, Service, Dining and Facilities scores).
MOST POPULAR
1. Bellagio
2. Wynn
3. Venetian
4. Mandalay Bay
5. Caesars
TOP OVERALL
1. Wynn
2. Four Seasons
3. Bellagio
4. Ritz-Carlton
5. Palazzo
What happens in Vegas: Vices aside, there is a lot to do in Las Vegas. Zagat ranks The Bellagio Hotel’s iconic fountains both Most Popular and Top Appeal attraction. The city is loaded with famous sites, shows, amusement rides and of course, wedding chapels. Just walking through some of the major casinos – Caesars, Mirage, the Venetian, for example – can be a show in itself.
Tee Time: Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas Resort was named the Most Popular golf course, with Rees Jones’ “absolutely amazing” Cascata as the Top-Rated golf course in Las Vegas and all of Nevada.
The 2009 Las Vegas guide ($12.95) was edited by Heidi Knapp Rinella, Jason Bracelin and Michelle Golden. The guide is available wherever books are sold, on ZAGAT.com
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