Even in this challenging economy, U.S. businesses cannot afford not to host wondrous holiday parties for their employees. Read article.
Throughout the years, the employees at ScanMyPhotos.com are treated to several extraordinary gatherings. They are the reason we just celebrated our twentieth year in business!. Our customers around the world and throughout the U.S. are afforded uncompromising professionalism because we know how to treat our staff. They are the reason for our success and always come first.
4 Day ScanMyPhotos.com Holiday Party in Las Vegas
Forget giving your employees a turkey, smart businesses are again going all out with over-the-top holiday parties
The most recent adventure was a four-day event including private suites at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, full access to our private penthouse Mandalay Bay Penthouse Hospitality Suite. dinner events at THE Hotel’s Mix Lounge and Restaurant, The Wynn, Bellagio, House of Blues, private parties at Eyecandy and Charlie Palmer’s Restaurant at The Four Seasons, stretch limo bus tour of The Strip, helicopter ride above The Strip and private tour of last year’s host hotel, MGM Resort’s Skyloft Suites and so much more.
To everyone at ScanMyPhotos.com, thank you for your extraordinarily over-the-top dedication and friendship over these past twenty years.Â
Overview
- Three nights deluxe 550 square foot room accommodations with Strip view atop Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (MB)Â
- Wynn Las Vegas Sunday Champagne Buffet Brunch
- Private stretch Limousine tour along the famed Vegas Strip
- Full 24-hour private elevator access to your exclusive Mandalay Bay (MB) 2,300 square foot mega-penthouse Hospitality Suite, featuring three 65″ Plasma TVs, a giant, stocked bar, food and dessert stations, and surprise entertainment.
- The gourmet evening dining experience at the 5-Star Mix Restaurant with the best view of The Strip, atop THEHotel
- Bellagio Buffet
- Group movie screenings
- Chartered twilight helicopter tour above the Vegas Strip
- World Famous House of Blues Las Vegas Restaurant dining experience
- Evening appetisers and cocktails at THEHotel suite, Eyecandy Sound Lounge and at Charlie Palmer Steak Restaurant at The Four Seasons
- Mega-Chocolate Fountain Dessert Vegas Experience served in your penthouse MB Hospitality Suite
- Much, much more…
Your adventure begins as you arrive at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and receive your guest keys to your home for the next four days. Your 550-square-foot deluxe room accommodation is the perfect blend of comfort and style, with artfully designed plush furnishings. The view is pretty freekin’ sensational, too. Your Strip view room has guaranteed, unobstructed sweeping views of the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip.
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Fun Facts:
On December 31, 1996, the Hacienda was imploded to make way for Mandalay Bay. The working title for the $950 million resort and casino was “Project Paradise”, officially replaced with Mandalay Bay in 1998.
During construction engineers discovered vertical movements and particularly differential movements (‘dishing’) between the tower core and the wings. The tower core was sinking at a rate of ½ to 3/4 inches per week and the wings were sinking at a slower rate causing differential distortion between the column bays. If these movements were not stopped structural damage would occur. Construction was halted while a solution was developed and implemented. The solution proved to be the installation of micro-piles (formerly marketed as ‘Pin Piles’) filled with grout 200 feet deep below the structure each capped with a hydraulic jack to stabilize the structure at the desired vertical height to carry the weight. Since then, there have not been any reports of this problem recurring. If it does, hopefully, it will be after November 9th.The gold coloring of the hotel is a result of gold leaf used on the windows. The resort opened on March 2, 1999, with actors Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, and John Goodman headlining a parade of Harley-Davidson motorcycles through Mandalay Bay’s front doors to celebrate the grand opening.The convention center was added in January 2003. When it opened, it was ranked as the fifth largest in the United States. It also offered the largest unobstructed ballroom in the country, at 100,000 ft.
In 2004 a new 43-story tower was opened with 1,120 suites, called THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. The hotel contains 1,117 one-bedroom suites, each at least 750 square feet. The top floor of THEhotel is a restaurant and bar called Mix.
Mandalay Bay is connected to Luxor by both a monorail and shopping mall called Mandalay Place which also features restaurants, including the recently closed Rumjungle which hosted one of our ScanMyPhotos.com 2009 dining experiences.
Mitch and Carl are hosting a cocktail party for you and your guests at 5:30 p.m. at THEHotel, complete with cocktails (for those above 21) and appetizers in their suite.
The afternoon and evening are yours to explore and enjoy Vegas, baby!
Recommendation: Enjoy a leisurely walking tour along the Vegas Strip, which offers a vastly different daylight experience before the evening lights transform the City of Entertainment into a golden palace of fun.
Las Vegas Strip Fun Facts:
The first casino to be built on Highway 91 was the Pair-o-Dice Club in 1931, but the first on what is currently the Strip was the El Rancho Vegas, opening on April 3, 1941, with 63 rooms. That casino stood for almost 20 years before being destroyed by a fire in 1960. Its success spawned a second hotel on what would become the Strip, the Hotel Last Frontier, in 1942. Organized crime figures such as New York’s Bugsy Siegel took interest in the growing gaming center leading to other resorts such as the Flamingo, which opened in 1946, and the Desert Inn, which opened in 1950. The funding for many projects was provided through the American National Insurance Company, which was based in the then notorious gambling empire of Galveston, Texas.
Several decades ago, Las Vegas Boulevard South was called Arrowhead Highway, or Los Angeles Highway. The Strip was reportedly named by Los Angeles police officer Guy McAfee, after his hometown’s Sunset Strip.
In 1968, Kirk Kerkorian purchased the Flamingo and hired Sahara Hotels Vice President Alex Shoofey as President. Alex Shoofey brought along 33 of Sahara’s top executives. The Flamingo was used to train future employees of the International Hotel, which was under construction. Opening in 1969, the International Hotel, with 1,512 rooms, began the era of mega-resorts. The International is known as the Las Vegas Hilton today.
The first MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, also a Kerkorian property, opened in 1973 with 2,084 rooms. At the time, this was one of the largest hotels in the world by number of rooms. The Rossiya Hotel built in 1967 in Moscow, for instance, had 3200 rooms; however, most of the rooms in the Rossiya Hotel were single rooms of 118 sq. ft (roughly 1/4 size of a standard room at the MGM Grand Resort.
On November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand suffered the worst resort fire in the history of Las Vegas, killing 87 people as a result of electrical problems. Mitch’s parents knew friends who were there and escaped wealthier – with about $20,000 each from a giant payout. It reopened eight months later. In 1986, Kerkorian sold the MGM Grand to Bally Manufacturing, and it was renamed Bally’s.
The Wet ‘n Wild water park opened in 1985 and was located on the south side of the Sahara hotel. The park closed at the end of the 2004 season and was later demolished.
The opening of The Mirage in 1989 set a new level to the Las Vegas experience, as smaller hotels and casinos made way for the larger mega-resorts.
In 2009, Mirage and it’s Beatle’s Love show hosted the ScanMyPhotos.com gang with OMG front-row seats. These huge hotel mega-facilities offer entertainment and dining options, as well as gambling and lodging. This change impacted the smaller, well-known and now historic hotels and casinos, like The Dunes, The Sands and the Stardust.
In 1995, following the death of Dean Martin, the lights along the Strip were dimmed in a sign of respect to him. This was repeated in 1998 in honor of the recently deceased Frank Sinatra. In 2005, Clark County renamed a section of Industrial Road (south of Twain Avenue) as Dean Martin Drive, also as a tribute to the famous Rat Pack singer, actor, and frequent Las Vegas entertainer.
In an effort to attract families, resorts offered more attractions geared toward youth, but had limited success.
The (current) MGM Grand opened in 1993 with Grand Adventures amusement park, but the park closed in 2000 due to lack of interest. Similarly, in 2003 Treasure Island closed its own video arcade and abandoned the previous pirate theme, adopting the new ti name.
In addition to the large hotels, casinos and resorts, the Strip is home to a few smaller casinos and other attractions, such as M&M World, Adventuredome and the Fashion Show Mall. Starting in the mid-1990s, the Strip became a popular New Year’s Eve celebration destination.
In 2004, MGM Mirage announced plans for Project CityCenter, a 66-acre (27 ha), $7 billion multi-use project on the site of the Boardwalk hotel and adjoining land. It consists of hotel, casino, condo, retail, art, business and other uses on the site. City Center is currently the largest such complex in the world. Construction began in April 2006, with most elements of the project opened in late 2009.
Your “Poker Face Vegas Adventure” begins at Wynn Las Vegas. Promptly arrive and meet the group at the Registration Desk no later than 12:30 p.m. for our dining reservations.
Wynn Las Vegas – The World Famous Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffet. Recommendation: Arrive early to tour Wynn Las Vegas and the adjacent Encore Hotel before brunch.
Arrive hungry. Sixteen live-action exhibition cooking stations and a sumptuous array of extraordinary dishes make this ultimate all-you-can-eat experience one that will redefine your notion of buffet dining at the Best Buffet in Las Vegas.
Among the stations, which include Mexican, Southern, seafood, and Italian, make sure to score such favorites as jerk chicken, wood-fired pizza, honey-glazed pork, nice little salmon rolls, five kinds of ceviche, sweet Kansas City-style barbecue, and tandoori chicken. Desserts are superior to those at the other buffets in construction and taste, giving the impression that a pastry chef is active on the premises.
Don’t miss the mini floating islands, the unusual tiramisu, the excellent chocolate mousse and ice creams, and even a plate full of madeleines. And the champagne!
Vegas Limousine Strip Tour. You will be whisked away in the comfort of a giant limousine that will slowly drive down the entire Strip to take in the sights. Yes, it is ok to open the sunroof and yell at tourists.
Your luxury stretch Limousine arrives at the MB Portico, and we advance on a private elevator to your MB penthouse Hospitality Suite—exclusively just for you until Tuesday. Your access card key to this special top floor and 2,300-square-foot VIP party zone will be awaiting you. [You must be 21 and older to consume alcohol].
Screen an afternoon feature film on three 65″ Plasma TV’s in the MB Hospitality Suite. You have 24-hour access. This 2,300 sq ft penthouse is located on the “60th” floor and only accessible by private penthouse elevator. . Features include floor-to-ceiling windows, three 65″ Plasma HD TVs with full surround sound, a large stocked bar area, and a compatible docking station. The suite is so vast that you might not notice the bathroom amenities and imported stone floor surfaces. The stocked bar, beverages, snacks, hot appetizers, daily special menu, dessert items, coffee, Red Bull/Monster station are available for your non-stop use.
It’s going to be tough to step away for a few minutes, but please return to your private MB guest suite to prepare and dress in Vegas evening attire for one of the best dining experiences of your life (until our next time).
Meet in the MB Hospitality Suite for cocktails [for our guests above 21] and Hors d’oeuvres reception
Mix Restaurant at THE Hotel
Lounge and dinner reservations at Mix Restaurant, atop THEHotel (adjacent to MB). [Dress code: resort casual/evening attire].
Did You Know? Mix was named “Best Restaurant” by the Travel+Leisure Design Awards and has also been honored with a Michelin Star, a Mobil Four Star rating. AAA Four Diamond Award two years in a row.
And, it is Mitch and Carl’s favorite restaurant – partly because we are friends with the manager. With one-of-a-kind culinary creations it also is the city’s best view of the Strip.
Sunset is earlier (post-DST, so it gets dark at 4:45 p.m.). Mix is at the pinnacle of style and height of indulgence. I just hope they don’t notice Mitch eating with his fingers.
At the top of THEhotel, Mix is the vision of Alain Ducasse, the world’s most renowned chef. The restaurant features contemporary and classic French and American dishes with global accents and signature dishes from his Paris and Monte Carlo restaurants. At Mix, the setting is as much of the experience as the cuisine. Designed by Patrick Jouin. Adorned in white and silver, Mix features sweeping staircases, mid-century modern furniture, and a stunning 24-foot chandelier of 15,000 hand-blown glass spheres. And, yes, the food doesn’t suck.
Return to your MB penthouse Hospitality Suite to gather before enjoying the late-night club scene. Google the Vegas clubs for venue ideas, or just watch TMZ to see where all the other celebrities are hanging out.
The MB penthouse Hospitality Suite will be open 24/7 and stocked with everything you could wish for—except more Groupon city deals.
9:30 am – Promptly meet outside – in the front of MB Portico by the valet and taxi stand. If you are late, even if you were tied up and sleeping on a mattress on the roof of Caesar’s Palace or unknowingly married the previous night (“Hangover”), make sure you are there.
10:00 am – Buffet Bellagio (be hungry, be very hungry). The freshest ingredients are brought together in an exciting display of taste and talent at the superb Buffet Bellagio. The Buffet incorporates several live-action cooking stations and food quality and presentation not currently experienced in Las Vegas. You choose from – and grab it all – the best of Italian, Japanese, Chinese, seafood, and American cuisines.
Here is just one Googled Buffet Bellagio review:
The Bellagio Buffet redefines the culinary experience of a buffet. Foregoing the usual appetizer fare and giving into my carnivores appetite, I started with the carving station, covering my plate with slices of the leg of lamb, a slab of the venison, a slice of the Beef Wellington and a serving of the Kobe beef, not the Japanese variety, but a must-try nonetheless. The leg of lamb was savory, tender and cooked to perfection. The Beef Wellington’s crust was perfectly flaky and its tenderloin melted in my mouth. As satisfying as these selections were, I couldn’t resist the seafood fare. The salmon sashimi, Alaskan crab legs and apple-smoked sturgeon were enough to tempt me, but I couldn’t go without sampling the giant shrimp cocktail, the mix seafood ceviche and the Shrimp Louis. The crab legs were halved and the shrimp peeled, which made consumption no muss and no fuss, and the smoked sturgeon exploded with flavor. Other fare I tried before giving in to dessert was the Mongolian chicken, the grilled Mako shark in a delicious winter citrus compote, the make-your-own-pasta and sides of Caesar salad, polenta and au gratin potatoes.
Although all my entrees were excellent, the call of the dessert island was unmistakable – like a siren it called to me, and like Odysseus,I answered. Being an equal opportunity sugar fiend, I thought it best to try the entire array. My favorite and what almost spoiled me for the rest of the desserts was the [conglaise], a sophisticated version of a macaroon about which I have not been able to stop talking. It was larger than your usual macaroon, with a velvety consistency that comes from whipping the ingredients. The floating island was a creamy-dreamy sensation and the mango soup with the hint of the exotic enlivened my taste buds with the contrast between its sweetness and tartness. And if you want to know how good the bread pudding was, ask one of the gentlemen in my party who consumed my entire serving before I even had a chance to take a taste!
After The Bellagio, make sure to stroll along The Strip and visit Aria and the other new City Center attractions, including the very exclusive mall, where there are no shoppers – it’s too expensive but fun to walk in and play the: “to the nearest hundred dollars (or thousand), guess how much this is.”
You will meet promptly back at your MB penthouse Hospitality Suite. An afternoon television screening and surprise entertainment will also be on the menu.
The ultimate way to experience the Las Vegas “City of Lights” Strip is by sky…. by HELICOPTER. VIP limousine ride to the Atlantic Air Terminal at McCarran Las Vegas Airport for an exclusive, breathtaking helicopter ride above the evening Strip lights.
Tip: Bring your camera, drivers licence ID required (don’t worry, you won’t be asked to help fly).
Welcome aboard. Your ultra first-class luxury AS350 jet helicopter includes service comparable to a FIVE STAR HOTEL and includes VIP private check-in & champagne welcome greeting, pre-flight surround sound movie presentation, fascinating narrated helicopter tour with, yes, an FAA-certified trained pilot aboard a luxurious AS350 jet helicopter. As you rise above the City of Lights, you will see spectacular views of the dazzling Las Vegas Strip from the comfort of your jetcopter! This amazing helicopter tour flys over the megaresorts of the Las Vegas Strip from the New York-New York skyline to the Bellagio fountains and the never-fading light of the Luxor pyramid.
Dinner at the world-famous House of Blues Restaurant Las Vegas at MB
This is the ultimate dining experience. The House of Blues Restaurant pays tribute to the music and culture of Southern blues. Explore the eclectic mix of memorabilia and artwork throughout. The HOB serves Southern specialties, including Full Rack BBQ Basted Baby Back Ribs, Creole Seafood Jambalaya, and Pan-Seared Voodoo Shrimp. Other menu items include Cajun specialties, burgers, salads, and more.
Gourmet Vegas Chocolate Fountain Dessert Experience at your MB penthouse Hospitality Suite, which is accessible all night and until 12 noon on Tuesday.
The night is young, and you should enjoy it. Have fun exploring “The City of Entertainment.”
Early Morning – Catch a movie or view your favorite TV programs in your penthouse Hospitality Suite.
Breakfast. Meet the group at Red, White & Blue Vegas Restaurant at Mandalay Bay.
This is the ultimate American restaurant – plenty of choices and convenience. The menu features regional American early-morning breakfast fare, classic American comfort cuisine, and fresh-brewed La Colombe coffee.
11:30 am – Guest checkout from your room
Enjoy the rest of “2010 Poker Face Vegas Adventure.”
Thank you for joining us and helping to make this experience possible. Have a safe journey home.
Carl & Â Mitch
