Las Vegas resort boosted by The Hangover

The resort plays a major part in the movie, the prime backdrop for the out-of-control shenanigans and as such is really shown off onscreen. We see the swimming pool, the front entrance, the roof, the elevators – all actual corners of the casino resort. However the suite in which those bad boys reside, “the Villa” is more of a Hollywood affair, a soundstage set inspired by one of the genuine suites, the Emperor’s Suite. Sure, there are differences between the showbiz version and the real one (there’s no grand piano or bar area), but there’s an extra storey and plenty of the flat screen TVs.

The Palace had hoped to benefit from the screen-time, ramping up a marketing campaign prior to the movie’s release. Included in this promotional drive, they set up Facebook and Twitter accounts, ran a competition offering overnight stays and looped the trailer on their website, even establishing The Hangover package aimed at film-loving revellers.

“We wanted to make sure if people were going to be talking about it, we wanted to make sure they had a place to do it,” reveals the Palace’s VP of marketing, Bonnie Gilmour. “People did what we thought they were going to do, which was come searching for Caesar’s Palace after seeing the movie.” However, even Gilmour was surprised by the impact. “We had to train our call centre on how to handle the incoming calls and figure out how we were going to play it,” she says. “We were a little surprised on how quickly the response came in.”

Debbie Munch, the VP of Las Vegas public relations for the resort’s parent company, Harrah’s has overseen many Hollywood invasions of the Palace from Iron Man to Oceans 11 and likens The Hangover effect to that of 80s Oscar-winner Rain Man. “People to this day call about the Rain Man suite,” she says, “even though we don’t have an official suite called the Rain Man suite. Now, they’re asking about The Hangover suite.”

Let’s hope they have deep pockets as prices for the Emperor’s Suite start at $2,500 a night, or simply opt for The Hangover package which is friendlier at $120 a night. Hit the Caesar’s Palace website here for more info.

[via Casino City Times]