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In 1971 when Hilton acquired the International as it was then known, they bought the worlds largest hotel (with 1,512 rooms) for a price of $54 million. At the time, and for the next years the Las Vegas Hilton became known as the place to be if you were a high-roller. In recent years however, newer, more glamourous resorts on the Strip have opened, and the gloss of the Hilton has been reduced. When Park Place Entertainment, a spin-off from Hilton, announced the sell-off of the property in July 2000 for $365 million, they felt they were ridding themselves of an eye-sore.
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I'm not so sure. At $365 million the new owner (Ed Roski Jr - also part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings) has got a bargain - a 3,174 room resort (that despite being just over 30 years old has been kept up-to-date reasonably well) for less than a third of the typical price of building a new one. Roski plans heavy investment to attract a different kind of punter - people visiting the Convention Center next door; a younger, trendier crowd and of-course Star Trek fans.
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For by far the most impressive feature of the current Las Vegas Hilton is the Star Trek Experience. Opened in January 1998 at a cost of $50 million the Experience offers a 3D Motion Simulator ride (similar to the Back to the Future ride at Universal Studios in Orlando - although here you ride in a Federation Shuttle rather than a De-Lorien car!) as well as a Star Trek Museum - featuring the 'history of the future'! The ride commences on board the bridge of the USS Enterprise D, complete with a briefing from Commander Riker. Outside you can eat at Quark's bar, and wander the Deep Space Nine promenade. Definitely worth a visit - even if you're not a Trek Fan!
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Vital Statistics:
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| Year Opened |
1969 (as the International, bought by Hilton in 1973) |
| Number of Rooms |
3,174 |
| Web Address |
http://www.lv-hilton.com |
| Phone Numbers |
702 732 5111 or 800 732 7117 |
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