Las Vegas launches new “Know the Code” marketing campaign with social integration

by McLean Robbins on



Taking a trip to Sin City? Las Vegas is stepping up their marketing efforts with a full-blown social and digital media campaign that we’re actually finding quite clever.

Playing off the slogan “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” idea, they’ve launched an online pledge entitled “Know the Code” encouraging Vegas visitors to log in and sign an online pledge promising that they won’t reveal details of their trip via social media.

Of course, these #knowthecode tweets are actually driving more publicity to the scandalous city – ingenious.Visitors can log in to VisitLasVegas.com and sign an oath stating: “I promise to follow the code of Las Vegas by not tweeting, tagging, posting, telling, whispering, emoting, defining, drawing up, writing about or in any way revealing the all powerful What Happens Here, Stays Here moment of me or any one else in my party to others not on said trip during or at any time after said trip’s duration – i.e. the moment being the part or parts of the trip that should stay in las vegas. The other parts are fine … so sayeth this person.”

According to the website, the “movement” is nearly 10,000 strong. Of course, the site also features a number of “share-worthy” venues and experiences in Las Vegas, helping drive potential future tourist revenue.

Given our own personal love of social media (and our amusement at those who love to over share), we think this campaign is hilarious.


Best Buy airport kiosks: Rip off or godsend?

by Grant Martin on

America-sized vending machines are the new big things at the nation’s airports, giant robots that help you pick out the last second headphones or digital camera that you forgot to bring on the road.

If they’re anything like the airport Burger King, however, then consumers should be concerned about the markup. Like the restaurant, it’s always possible that airport retailers can inflate the price of their goods because they have a monopoly on the local market, squeezing passengers for more cash and gouging for a few extra dollars.

Concerned, Gadling Labs took a quick survey of the Las Vegas airport Best Buy Kiosk and then did a comparison with the current online prices. What we found was that prices were identical between the airport and the online store, from headphones to cameras to HD video devices. Here are a few examples:

Sony Bloggie Touch: ($199|$199) (LAS|Online)
Bose OE Audio Headphones: ($179|$179) (LAS|Online)
Skullcandy Skullcrusher Headphones ($69|$69) (LAS|Online)

What does this mean? That Best Buy is charging passing airport customers the same price that it charges its customers elsewhere. Way to go Best Buy — it’s the classy thing to do.

Caesar’s Palace plans new luxury tower

by McLean Robbins on

Las Vegas‘ famed Caesars Palace yesterday announced opening dates for the Octavius Tower, a 668-room hotel tower including 60 suites and six luxury villas. On sale today for stays beginning January 2, 2012, the resort’s sixth tower will offer a “resort within a resort” experience with a private entrance, separate hotel lobby and direct access to the Garden of the Gods pool oasis and gardens. Rooms will go on sale Thursday, September 15, for guest arrivals beginning January 2, 2012.

While expansions and additions to Las Vegas hotels are nothing new, the Octavius Tower marks another luxury market expansion, similar to properties like Wynn (Encore) and The Venetian (The Palazzo) that have opened separate yet related luxury hotels near their own properties in recent years. The expansion comes hot on the heels of more than two years of renovations and major milestones (remember The Hangover?) and the opening and planned opening of restaurants like Central Michel Richard, Nobu and Old Homestead Steakhouse.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the timing for the opening of Octavius Tower,” said Gary Selesner, regional president of Caesars Palace. “With very high hotel occupancy over the last six months and the unqualified success of the Augustus Tower – Octavius’ sister tower – we look forward to offering our guests the new luxury rooms along with an elevated service experience in both towers.”

Spacious guest rooms, starting at 550 square feet, will offer a modern, luxurious decor incorporating new technological advances found at other Strip hotels, including 42-inch flat panel, high-definition television screens, convenient media hubs with multiple outlets for easy connectivity, and bedside docking stations with iPod capabilities.

An innovative application for iPad/iPod Touch devices will offer guests direct accessibility to communicate with room service, housekeeping, reservations and front desk services.

The opening of the Octavius Tower marks the completion of the $860 million Caesars Palace expansion.

BikeFest: Another way to do Las Vegas

by McLean Robbins on

Just when you thought Las Vegas wasn’t crazy enough … BikeFest roars into Las Vegas on September 30th, bringing events including wet t-shirt contests and the World’s Strongest Biker competition to The Strip.

More than 30,000 bikers will roar into town during this three-day annual event. Highlights of the fest include the eighth annual Artistry in Iron competition featuring some of the world’s most famous custom bike builders, Mr. and Miss Las Vegas BikeFest Competition, the BikeFest Bikini Contest, a Custom Bike Show, the “Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth” and a Poker Run, where the bikers will roar en masse down the Las Vegas strip.

[Flickr via ♀Μøỳαл_Bгεлл♂]

Five days, five diamonds at The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas

by McLean Robbins on

We’re not normally ones to report on PR stunts, but when the prizes are diamonds … well, we can’t resist. Las Vegas‘ The Venetian and The Palazzo are celebrating the honor of being named AAA Five Diamond resorts with a five-day scavenger hunt taking place this week.

Each day, guests and visitors will search and win prizes, hoping to ultimately find one of the diamond pendants hidden each day in the resorts.

From restaurants and lounges to the resorts’ amenities and attractions, the ‘Five Day, Five Diamond Scavenger Hunt’ will test guests’ knowledge of the world’s largest resort complex. Contestants must follow The Palazzo on Twitter at @PalazzoLasVegas and The Venetian at @VenetianVegas to receive the resorts’ clues posted daily. To enter, contestants must take a self-photo with the diamond and properly include the resort’s Twitter username and the #5day5diamond hash tag.

Winners will be randomly selected each day and announced via Twitter. Possible prizes available to win include a two night stay at The Venetian or The Palazzo, show tickets to one of the resorts’ acclaimed shows, dinner for two, a private gondola ride, a gift certificate to The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at The Palazzo and an 18 karat white gold pendant with round white diamonds and white diamond center stone from jewelry designer Simon G..