{"id":6697,"date":"2024-05-14T22:31:38","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T05:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/?p=6697"},"modified":"2026-08-30T20:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T03:41:24","slug":"a-trailblazer-and-history-maker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/a-trailblazer-and-history-maker\/","title":{"rendered":"A Trailblazer and History Maker"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chic<\/span><\/div>
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This article was printed in<\/em>
\nChic Compass Magazine - Issue 18<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"In<\/span><\/div><\/div>

In a city known for demolishing its classic resorts, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino still stands tall.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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A Trailblazer and History Maker<\/h1>\n

Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Turns 55<\/p>\n

BY HEATHER TURK \/ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WESTGATE LAS VEGAS RESORT & CASINO<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Celebrating its 55th anniversary on July 2, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino may have had a few name changes since its days as the International Hotel and the Las Vegas Hilton, but there\u2019s no doubt the off-Strip property has become one of Las Vegas\u2019 most iconic resorts.<\/p>\n

A star in its own right, the legendary property has welcomed countless celebrities ever since Barbra Streisand opened its showroom in 1969. Although best known for being the theater where Elvis Presley performed 636 consecutive sold-out shows spanning seven years, the list of artists who have performed inside the International Theater over the decades reads like a \u201cWho\u2019s Who in Entertainment,\u201d according to Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino\u2019s Vice President of Public & Community Relations, Gordon Prouty. Johnny Cash, Wayne Newton, Suzanne Somers, Ann-Margret, Liberace, Tina Turner, and Reba McEntire are just some of the many names who have performed on the International Theater\u2019s stage, with Liberace being the first Las Vegas performer to ever \u201cfly\u201d onstage. Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s \u201cStarlight Express\u201d was also staged inside the International Theater from Sept. 14, 1993, until Nov. 30, 1997, marking the first permanent production of a legitimate musical theater show in the Entertainment Capital of the World\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the best stories I\u2019ve heard over the years come from team members and their recollections and memories of some of the entertainers and celebrities who have performed here or stayed here,\u201d Prouty told Chic Compass. \u201cThings like Elvis giving a team member a car, or Liberace walking with a team member and holding his umbrella over her head when it was raining and he saw her running to the entrance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"A<\/span><\/div><\/div>

A vintage photograph of Elvis Presley heading to perform at the International Theater. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Several movies and TV shows have been filmed at the property over the years, including the James Bond classic \u201cDiamonds Are Forever,\u201d \u201cIndecent Proposal\u201d and \u201cRoseanne.\u201d Scenes from the Emmy Award-winning \u201cBehind the Candelabra\u201d were also filmed in the resort\u2019s opulent Verona Sky Villa, which at 15,400 square feet is one of, if not the, largest hotel room in the world.<\/p>\n

Today, Westgate Las Vegas continues to acknowledge its rich entertainment history while simultaneously adding to its legacy. Last July, the resort welcomed \u201cMy Brother Elvis\u201d to its entertainment lineup, a monthly event Prouty hosts that takes Elvis fans on a backstage tour of the International Theater. As cool as it is to walk into Elvis Presley\u2019s dressing room and drink from the water fountain he once drank from, the highlight of the evening is when guests get to sit on the International Theater stage and listen to Presley\u2019s stepbrother, David Stanley, tell stories about what it was like growing up with and later working for The King of Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll. Stanley also takes a few questions from guests, guaranteeing that every \u201cMy Brother Elvis\u201d experience is unique.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"July<\/span><\/div><\/div>

July 31 marks the 55th anniversary of Elvis Presley\u2019s first of 636 consecutive sold-out shows inside the International Theater. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

History continues to be made inside the International Theater, as last September, Barry Manilow surpassed Elvis Presley\u2019s record for the most performances on the International Theater stage. Returning June 13 through 15, Manilow\u2019s \u201cThe Hits Come Home!\u201d remains one of Las Vegas\u2019 best residencies. The toe-tapping production features the singer-songwriter performing his catalog of timeless hits, including \u201cMandy,\u201d \u201cLooks Like We Made It,\u201d and \u201cCopacabana (At the Copa).\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"It\u2019s<\/span><\/div><\/div>

It\u2019s easy to become a Fanilow after seeing Barry Manilow\u2019s \u201cThe Hits Come Home!\u201d Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Manilow isn\u2019t the only big-name act that currently calls the International Theater their home away from home. Both Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and legendary funk group Kool & The Gang kicked off their own residencies inside the venue last October, with Kool & The Gang scheduled to return to the International Theater stage on May 24 and 25.<\/p>\n

While Westgate Las Vegas is home to several other can\u2019t-miss acts\u2014including magician Jen Kramer, who holds the honor of having the longest-running residency by a female magician in Las Vegas history\u2014the property hasn\u2019t been around for nearly 55 years based on its entertainment lineup alone. The resort also boasts some of the city\u2019s best restaurants, including arguably the most beautiful Benihana in the world. Fresco Italiano is another primo dining pick deservedly rated as one of TripAdvisor\u2019s top Italian restaurants in Las Vegas. Its ricotta-stuffed eggplant appetizer is absolutely scrumptious, and its Roasted Half Chicken Marsala is, as one of the restaurant\u2019s servers recently described, \u201cthe chef\u2019s kiss.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Fresco<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Fresco Italiano serves impeccable Italian cuisine nightly for dinner. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

The spa at Westgate Las Vegas is also one of the city\u2019s best-kept secrets. Located on the resort\u2019s spacious pool deck, Serenity Spa by Westgate features eight cozy treatment rooms and separate men\u2019s and women\u2019s whirlpools and saunas to enjoy before or after a treatment. Couples looking to unwind together can book a variety of side-by-side massages, like the soothing Aromatherapy Massage that uses warm towels and body and massage oil blends made with unadulterated essential oils from TARA\u2019s Aroma Wellness collection to help relieve tension and leave guests feeling rejuvenated.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Serenity<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Serenity Spa by Westgate offers guests the ultimate relaxing retreat. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Although Westgate Las Vegas\u2019 amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, four tennis courts, and eight pickleball courts, are impressive, its extensive selection of hotel rooms is truly astonishing. Paying homage to the International Hotel, where each floor featured a Spanish, Italian, or French theme, Westgate Las Vegas offers several unique themed hotel suites.<\/p>\n

Its 3,096-square-foot Country Club High Roller Suite, for example, features a billiards table and a long solarium-like balcony that overlooks the city. Over the past year, the property has unveiled several more playful suites, including a Christmas Suite with three fully decorated Christmas trees. There\u2019s also a Plaid Suite with padded plaid walls and artwork featuring Elvis in a plaid jumpsuit, and an all-black Halloween Suite with hidden clowns behind closed closet doors and curtains (hi, Pennywise!) and a giant spider over the bed.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"It\u2019s<\/span><\/div><\/div>

It\u2019s impossible to feel anything but merry inside Westgate Las Vegas\u2019 1,500-square-foot Christmas Suite. <\/em>Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Westgate<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Westgate Las Vegas\u2019 1,000-square-foot Plaid Suite opened this past February. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Horror<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Horror fans are sure to have sweet dreams inside Westgate Las Vegas\u2019 1,160-square-foot Halloween Suite. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

While more themed suites are on the horizon, Westgate Las Vegas has plenty of non-themed hotel rooms, too, including 132 luxurious one-bedroom villas with a kitchen, a spacious shower, and a jacuzzi tub with multicolored lights. The resort also recently finished $70 million worth of room renovations in its East Tower, ensuring every hotel room offers guests an experience fit for a king.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Westgate<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Westgate Las Vegas\u2019 extravagant Verona Sky Villa has three king beds. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Westgate<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Westgate Las Vegas\u2019 400-square-foot Premier King Room, part of the property\u2019s recent $70 million East Tower renovation project. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

As Westgate Las Vegas gets ready to celebrate its 55th anniversary, several exciting giveaways and large events are in the works for the public to enjoy. The resort also plans to host a team member reunion to pay tribute to those it credits the property\u2019s ongoing success.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, we\u2019ve had outstanding entertainment, amazing restaurants, a variety of beautiful accommodations, the world\u2019s largest race and sports book, state-of-the-art meeting and convention space, and ongoing investments in property improvements, but our people make the difference,\u201d Prouty stated. \u201cWe have one team member, Angel Lopez Rosas, who has been here since day one and has always been an usher. We have three other team members who have been here more than 50 years: bellmen Earl Manson and Alonzo Langstaff, and Felix Morales, a server at Edge Steakhouse. We have more than 60 active team members who have worked at this property for more than 40 years, and they are all celebrated with their photo on the 40-Year Wall we have on property. Nearly 25 percent of our team members have been with us for 20 years or more, and they take great pride in providing the best possible guest experience and outstanding service. They really make the difference and are vital to our continued success.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Liberace<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Liberace and Barbra Streisand, two of the many A-list artists who have performed on the International Theater stage. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Wayne<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Wayne Newton performed more than 950 shows at the International Theater (then known as the Hilton Showroom) from 1987 to 1993. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Hear<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Hear Kool & The Gang perform their greatest hits when the band resumes their residency over Memorial Day weekend. Photo by Joshua Atkins<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Though<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Though Elvis Presley may have left the building decades ago, there\u2019s still a statue of him on display near the check-in area. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

With transportation options continuing to develop, including Elon Musk\u2019s Vegas Loop, which will soon have two Tesla tunnels at the resort, Prouty thinks the future continues to look bright for Westgate Las Vegas as the distinction between on-strip and off-strip fades away. Cami Christensen, Westgate Las Vegas\u2019 president and general manager who started as an assistant hotel manager at the Las Vegas Hilton, couldn\u2019t agree more.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Barbra<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Barbra Streisand performing at the opening night of the International Hotel in 1969. Photo courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\u201cI fully expect 55 years from now, the property will be celebrating its 110th anniversary,\u201d Christensen said. \u201cI\u2019ve been here for 23 years and always said this property has a special soul. It\u2019s a legendary place that has survived and thrived through all the changes and challenges we\u2019ve seen here in Las Vegas, and I fully expect that to continue in the years to come. It\u2019s exciting to think about what the next 55 years will bring.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more on Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino and its upcoming anniversary festivities, visit westgatelasvegas.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Celebrating its 55th anniversary on July 2, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino may have had a few name changes since its days as the International Hotel and the Las Vegas Hilton, but there\u2019s no doubt the off-Strip property has become one of Las Vegas\u2019 most iconic resorts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4138,4518],"tags":[4047,4045,4044,3628,4142,2797,4043],"class_list":["post-6697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issue-18","category-travel","tag-barbra-streisand","tag-barry-manilow","tag-elvis-presley","tag-heather-turk","tag-kool-the-gang","tag-liberace","tag-westgate-las-vegas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6697"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6715,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6697\/revisions\/6715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}