Travel Agent - September 3, 2007 - (Page LV6)

Las Vegas Primer on Las Vegas Shows From acrobatics and magic to music and comedy, Vegas is show central W ith more shows than anywhere else on the planet, the Las Vegas stage has it all. From headliners to hilarity, illusions to acrobatics, there is an extravaganza to match all personalities. We’ve assembled a list of some of the best shows to recommend that touch on all major show categories, including magic, star-driven galas, Broadway offshoots and the seemingly ubiquitous Cirque Du Soleil. Cirque Du Soleil When Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil first brought its modern animal-free-circus concept to Las Vegas, it completely changed the notion of the city’s entertainment style. There’s no language used in any of these shows, making them a good pick for international audiences. There are Cirque shows currently running at five resorts, and more are on the way. The original show Mystère debuted at Treasure Island in 1993 and is still playing. It tells the story of two babies who explore a world filled with strange crea- Front Row Access F or travel agents, getting access to the best seats can be a challenge. While there is no golden ticket for gaining tickets to sold out shows (unless your clients are high-rollers), Vegas.com has some of the best seats on the market, many times even better than shows’ box offices. “We definitely have some of the best availability in the city for a lot of shows. Because of our volume and the amount of business we do with shows, we have access to the best inventory,” said Bryan Allison, vice president of marketing with Vegas.com. This fall, the company is expected to roll out a travel agent commission provider. Call 800-851-1703 or visit www.vegas.com for more information. tures, but is really a device to link different acrobatic acts together. The show plays twice nightly at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday and at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance by calling 800-392-1999 and tickets are $60, $75 and $95 per person including tax. The newest show at The Mirage is LOVE, a Beatles homage utilizing new arrangements of classic songs as a performance backdrop. It’s also the most dancefocused of Cirque’s shows. Tickets start at $69, but the best seats go for as much as $135. KÀ at the MGM Grand features a colossal, 360-degree-rotating stage and gravity-defying stunts in a show featuring Brazilian martial arts, dance and puppetry. It plays twice nightly at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Tickets range from $69 to $150. Call 866774-7117 or go to www.ka.com. Over at the New York– New York Hotel & Casino, Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil, is an erotic cabaret-style production for adults only, featuring acrobatics and burlesque. There are also contortionists, aerial stunts and hand-balancing. Dances include flamenco, African, tango, modern, waltz and striptease. Zumanity plays Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 pm. Call 866-606-7111 or visit www.zumanity. com for tickets ranging in price from $69 to $129. Finally, “O” at Bellagio is set mostly in and around water and features dazzling high dives, aquatic stunts and feats of strength. Zumanity at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino “O” plays at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. There will be added performances of “O” on Monday, December 31, 2007, at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with tickets available on August 31 at 11 a.m. PST. Tickets range from $99 to $150. To get the best seats for your clients, tickets to any Cirque du Soleil show can be purchased starting 90-120 days in advance, depending on the show. Though tickets do not typically sell out until closer to the performance, the best tickets have a tendency to vanish fast, as these are the most popular shows on The Strip. Though not a Cirque Du Soleil production, Le Rêve was created by Franco Dragone, who also created many of the troupe’s early successes before moving on to develop this show at Wynn Las Vegas. Presented in an aqua theater-in-the-round, the show features aerial acrobatics and incredible athleticism combined with live music and elaborate speContinued on page 12 6 TravelAgent September 3, 2007 http://www.ka.com http://www.vegas.com http://www.vegas.com http://www.zumanity.com http://www.zumanity.com http://www.vegas.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 3, 2007

Contents News You Can Use Agenda: Fam Trips, Calendar of Events, Deal of the Week Cover Story: Hotel Brand Expansion Africa: Egypt’s Newest Destination Hawaii: Hawaii Update Pacific/Asia: Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square Europe: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Caribbean & Bahamas: Marriott Expands Its Caribbean Portfolio El San Juan Hotel & Casino Upgrades San Juan’s New Doubletree by Hilton Mexico: Hotels Offer Post-Hurricane Deals Ski: The Inn at Lost Creek Agent Profile Meet Mame King Advertisers’ Information Classified Marketplace Luxury Travel Expo Update People & Places Special Supplement: Las Vegas Sales Guide

Travel Agent - September 3, 2007

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