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American Morning
Shopping as Diversion to Gambling in Las Vegas?
Aired June 15, 2001 - 09:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: A Las Vegas vacation is about gambling and the night life. But lately, another diversion has been growing in popularity.
CNN's travel correspondent Gail O'Neill explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GAIL O'NEILL, CNN TRAVEL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): World famous for its flash and the prospect of instant cash...
UNIDENTIFIED GAMBLER: Yes!
O'NEILL: ... today, Las Vegas is gambling on a yet another attraction: shopping.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's beautiful to see the epitome of consumerism. It's what money can do. It's an experience.
O'NEILL: And as far as amenities go, the sky's the limit.
Inside the Venetian Resort, a replica of Saint Mark's Square transports visitors to the Italian city, right down to the Venetian glass for sale in this boutique.
And in another: masks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is what they wear at the carnival that they have.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my God, that's gorgeous.
STEFANO RIPAMONTI, RIPA DE MONTI: I must say that the reaction we have from the people has been fantastic. Many reminisce about their trips to Venice on their honeymoon 20 years ago.
O'NEILL: And for high rollers, at the Bellagio resort.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here's a natural-colored sapphire suite, beautiful earrings, bracelet and necklace, which retail for about $800,000.
JIM BORSACK, EL PORTAL: People come here and they would spend $400 on a piece of luggage or a handbag from us, whereas back home, they may want to think about that. And this is Las Vegas.
That's maybe a little bit of an issue back, you know, in Iowa. But in Las Vegas, it never seems to be a problem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'NEILL: Apparently, that attitude of "let it ride," doesn't stop at gaming tables in Vegas, as visitors also get caught up in the joy of shopping.
KELLEY: Yes, well, if you're at machines and at the slots and at the stage shows, who's shopping? Who's got that kind of time?
O'NEILL: Vegas is not just for the gamblers anymore. In the early days, the prevailing mindset was keep the visitors in the casinos all day and all night. But once the city evolved as a convention and vacation destination, suddenly there were a lot of nongamblers in the town who had nothing to do.
Luxury shopping was added as a diversion to satisfy that untapped market. And the success has been tremendous.
KELLEY: Yes, that's the what we hear. How about tomorrow? Where are we going tomorrow, in addition to Vegas, on the show?
O'NEILL: Tomorrow, viewers tune in at 6:30 and 11:00 eastern time. We'll be taking them to Southeast Asia on an around-the-world shopping spree. We'll also go to a boutique just outside of Chicago that is a dream for American girls.
And in fact, if viewers tune on to our Web site right -- if they log on CNN.com/travel -- they can go to this boutique that's a dream for many American girls.
KELLEY: And with your dream job -- Gail O'Neill, thanks very much.
O'NEILL: You're welcome.
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