Looks like Expedia has leaked out some extra photos of the rooms at Encore, the companion resort to Wynn Las Vegas.

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll/qscr=dspv/htid=2223789 (click on 'Photos' on the left)

We get to see the entry way, bathroom and most interestingly, the sitting area. You can see in photographic detail how the 'suite' is divided - a wall with a cut-out for a TV that swivels between the two rooms.

Thanks to reader JK for the find.

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This show was recorded live at The Palms in Las Vegas on August 16th, 2008. Our guest was Palms owner George Maloof.

http://www.vegasgangpodcast.com

Thanks to everyone that attended - we had a great time and I hope you did too.

There's also a video of our segment of the show here:
http://www.sparkyofvegas.com/Vegas_Gang_Palms.html

I have some photos to post as well, as soon as I can get to it. I'm in the late beta stages for my iPhone application, 'Vegas Mate', trying to get it ready for sale very soon.

Thanks to The Palms, George Maloof and Steve Friess, all of whom contributed to make the event what it was.

Also, a special set of thanks to my co-hosts, some of whom I had not yet met in person. It was a thrill - I wish we could do the show live all the time - it was great.

Updated: Photos posted, including new rooms at The Mirage:
http://www.ratevegas.com/photo/gallery/august2008 (yes, I know the photo gallery has some bugs like duplicate images and navigation problems - I need to get to fixing them one of these days).

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Here's a quick summary and highlights of my nine-hour adventure in Las Vegas for Podcast-a-Palooza.

Enjoy!

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Mike Ch is back with another Strip Walk.

This time he hits both ends of the Strip with Luxor, Echelon, Encore, City Center and more.

Photos are here: http://www.ratevegas.com/photo/gallery/august2008

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Mayor Oscar thinks that the NFL should put all the Monday night games as well as the Super Bowl into a new stadium in Las Vegas. Yeah. Right.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/12/80000-seat-football-stadium-mayors-wish-list/

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A very interesting story from the LV Sun that covers how the timing of reporting can skew gaming win figures:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/gaming/2008/aug/11/timing-gaming-earnings-can-skew-numbers/

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Vegas Gang #14 is online: http://www.vegasgangpodcast.com

This time we feature:

* Echelon Work Stoppage
* LVS and MGM Financials / City Center Financing
* Steve Wynn in the New York Times
* Mirage Renovation

Feel free to comment below.

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Regular reader Jeff from OKC wrote in to describe what seems to be a dwindling number of hotel and airfare packages available from the mid-west to Las Vegas.

Is this happening in other areas and how severe is it? As smaller carriers shut down or cut back on flights, how is that impacting the flow of people into Las Vegas in a time when it needs more visitors, not less? These are often subsidized, at least in part, by gaming companies - are these subsidies drying up?

As Jeff said, it seems like the worst time for it to be harder to get to town.

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The RJ posted a story in which they confirmed tips they had been sent regarding City Center construction workers having alcohol before they entered the job site.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/26371359.html

Perini, the site's main contractor, has a zero tolerance policy regarding alcohol and drugs.

Construction safety has been highlighted at City Center due to the number of construction deaths since the project began.

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Another development in the saga of the Tropicana and Columbia Sussex. This time, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has recommended that the Las Vegas Strip casino be taken over by an unlicensed group of trustees as it progresses through bankruptcy.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/06/unlicensed-board-clears-hurdle-control-tropicana/

What's interesting is that they are not licensed employees and that they say that CoSux head Bill Yung is no longer part of the decision making process.

This decision, as well as the recent stoppage at Echelon and other Las Vegas issues will be topics on tomorrow's Vegas Gang.

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Here's a story from the Sun on today's reporting from MGM Mirage on their second quarter:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/05/mgm-2q-profit-drops-69-percent/

Some properties, such as Bellagio, didn't do as poorly as some might have guessed. Executives seemed bullish on the future.

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Here's yet another report where I sample some amazing food, nightlife, and the new Palms Place. Enjoy!

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Just a reminder that the Vegas Podcast-a-palooza is coming up in less than two short weeks at The Palms, right off The Strip.

Including Five Hundy By Midnight, The Strip Podcast and the Vegas Gang, along with special guests Carrot Top and George Maloof, this should be a ton of fun.

We'll also have some giveaways and a question and answer period for the show producers.

Attendance is free and all the details are here:
http://www.vegaspodcastapalooza.com

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The New York Times has a long story on Steve Wynn, Las Vegas and gaming in Sunday's paper. It doesn't break new ground for anyone familiar with Wynn or the industry, but it's interesting. The highlight for me was reading that Steve is irritated by the sound of rushing wind in the elevator shafts. The writer must not be familiar with the old DI. She makes it sound like Steve Wynn bought the homes around the property in order to build a golf course. Yes, he did, but the DI always had a golf course.
Read the story here:
The Chips Are Down in Vegas, but Steve Wynn Is Betting Big

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