Las Vegas Ready to Start off the New Year with a Bang

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - As reported by the
Las Vegas will be ablaze with fireworks on New Year's Eve  Las Vegas Sun: "Rooms are booked, fireworks are set and Metro Police will be on standby tonight for Las Vegas' busiest night of the year.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is expecting 291,000 visitors for New Year's Eve celebrations tonight, a 2.5 percent increase from the 284,000 people who visited the city last year..."

"As of Tuesday afternoon, hotel rates on the Strip ranged from $230 at Imperial Palace to $525 at Caesars Palace, according to the travel Web site Vegas.com. Other standard prices were $400 for a room at the Venetian, $370 at Mandalay Bay and $399 at the Hard Rock Hotel.

New Year's Eve room rates are down an average of 15 to 25 percent, according to a recent survey of rates at 89 casinos conducted by the Las Vegas Advisor consumer newsletter.

Some MGM Mirage hotels are full, including the Bellagio, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay and The Mirage, while the company's other hotels were at least 90 percent full, MGM Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher said..."

"Wynn and Encore Las Vegas reached full occupancy after the hotels dropped room rates earlier this month.

Harrah's Entertainment properties Paris Las Vegas and Bally's also are full, while the Rio, Harrah's, the Flamingo, Imperial Palace and Caesars Palace still were accepting reservations Tuesday night.

Harrah's spokeswoman Debbie Munch said the company "expects rooms to sell out by New Year's Eve."

Fireworks will ring in the new year at eight locations, including Mandalay Bay, the Luxor, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Stratosphere and the Fremont Street Experience... "