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Where?
North Strip
Who owns it?
Starwood
Ostensible Theme
Visitors can sample the luxurious lifestyle of pastel sportswear
and unlimited leisure at this desert resort. This time-honored
combination of gambling, golf, and tennis is geared towards the
"Ensure" set.
Clientele I
spotted a passel of retired folks, with a sprinkling of portly
executives. And, how could I forget the Wayne Newton doppelganger?
Employee costumes
Dealers wear high-collared white shirts with black trim. The
rather mature waitresses wear the Las Vegas uniform of choice-
the black and gold minidress. Your great aunt Cookie would approve.
Carpet and Other Decor
The architecture of the hotel captures the exotica implicit in
the Desert Inn name. However, the joint looks much more glamorous
inside. The recently renovated Players Suites have a healthy
dose of country club ritziness. It must be the Spanish tile and
those huge mirrored windows.
The carpet in the casino features a pattern of green leaves
and gold sunbursts. Green and gold are colors traditionally associated
with wealth, so the combination is thematically appropriate.
The gaming area is sumptuous- polished wood, an enormous chandelier,
fake palms- but not laborious. Gilt is present, but kept well
below lethal levels. Entrances to the hotel towers are named
"Augusta", "St Andrews", and "Wimbledon".
The restrooms are where the Desert Inn really shines. They
have a nice sitting area, marble floors, hair care products in
case of coiffure emergency, lotion, fresh flowers and live plants,
lots of towels, and framed botanic prints on the walls. The Desert
Inn knows that rich people demand a lot from their restrooms;
restrooms are expected to be comfortable havens with all the
amenities.
Food
Can't you just imagine "ladies who lunch" wearing their
cashmere sweater sets at the Terrace Pointe Cafe? But, of course,
dah-lings!
Games
The Desert Inn sticks with the traditional games. When it comes
to recreation, these folks don't play around.
Entertainment
Don Rickles keeps the blue-hairs in stitches. Kid Creole
and the Coconuts rock the Crystal Showroom.
Services
Just like any highfalutin' country club, the Desert Inn has its
own spa, golf course, ballroom, and an extensive pool area. The
true proof of luxury, though, is the presence of several employees
to sweep invisible motes of dust.
Did it work?
The Desert Inn was renovated not long ago, and they did a fine
job. They know how to show wealthy oldsters a good time and a
fair amount of comfort. The Desert Inn is proud to be old school,
so they don't dabble in themes; they specialize in a lifestyle...
Burt Cohen's lifestyle.
Suggestions The
Desert Inn should host a German-American Mardi Gras next year!
The attendees with their rowdy tavern songs and enormous hats
and conga lines will show the Desert Inn a mighty fine time.
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