Ever since its extravagant opening on Aug. 5, 1966, Caesars Palace has embodied all the grandeur, glamour and celebrity excess that Las Vegas is known for. Fifty years later, in 2016, the resort has grown into a sprawling 3,980-room property that also boasts 300,000 square feet of event space.
In a city that is always moving, it’s impressive that Caesars Palace has been able to thrive for so long.
But perhaps what’s most impressive of all is that when this Millennial (yes, I’m a member of that entitled bunch!) thinks of Vegas, Caesars Palace is the first property on the Strip that comes to mind. I guess I was most directly exposed to the property via the 2009 comedy film The Hangover, though I probably didn’t even realize it at the time—that’s a very late example of the resort’s prominence in pop culture.
When I was invited to check out Caesars Palace’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in August 2016, I was curious to see if they could impress the most discerning of all critics, you guessed it! Yours truly.
My weekend press trip started with an excellent dinner that paired seafood and sake at Nobu Restaurant in Caesars Palace, right outside the elevators to the on-site Nobu Hotel. We then moved on to a cake and champagne toast at the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace.
Gordon Ramsay, one of eight celebrity chefs who has a restaurant within Caesars Palace, led a birthday champagne toast and cake cutting to celebrate the historic occasion. The food and beverage proceedings were followed by a 10-minute fireworks display visible to crowds outside the resort.
This opening celebration set the stage for Saturday’s star-studded Grand Gala event for nearly 3,000 invited VIP guests that included our small group of meetings media writers and editors. We got a front-row seat to performances from the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Wayne Newton, and Donny and Marie Osmond. While I was skeptical at first, it was so over-the-top that I couldn’t help but crack a smile.
Tony Bennett, the only entertainer ever offered a lifetime contract to perform at Caesars Palace, easily stole the show at the Grand Gala, performing a number of his iconic hits. Celebrity host Howie Mandel even led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Bennett, who just celebrated his 90th birthday.
After the event, our media group was able to check out an after-party at the swanky Montecristo Cigar Bar and the Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace, both of which can be reserved for private events.
Overall, I was impressed by the Caesars Palace 50th Anniversary event, and it was a more extravagant example of how the resort is able to host memorable outings for groups that will entertain guests of all ages—from Millennials to Boomers and beyond. It will be interesting to see how Caesars Palace will cater to the next generation of tourists and meeting attendees alike, but it surely will find a way.
Contact Information:
CAESARS PALACE
www.caesars.com/caesars-palace
CAESARS MEANS BUSINESS
www.caesarsmeansbusiness.com
