Above Rest David Siegel’s passion for his massive resort enterprise pales in comparison to his association with the Miss America Organization
With 28 vacation locations throughout the U.S., it’s hard to believe a visionary like David Siegel could pick one of his properties over any other. He talks about them all with such zeal and charisma that you’d think he was describing his own children. If that’s the case, then the new Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate Resorts is this father’s favorite son.
The Towers stand at 52 stories overlooking the Vegas strip, and is a one-of-a-kind venture in the most entertaining city in the world. The Planet Hollywood-Westgate partnership means that the Towers are the only timeshare property attached to a hotel and casino in all of Las Vegas. While the opening took place in January, the Towers are still growing. By the time that David’s vision will be finished, the resort will feature 1,200 villas and 28 penthouse condos. All in all, the project will cost nearly $1 billion.
But David’s story isn’t just about the money that he spends on his empire, which he started from his own garage. The Siegel family and Westgate company are well known for their philanthropy as well, and that’s why if he seems to speak about his properties with passion, then anything describing his flair for the Miss America Organization would be an understatement. He’s a longtime contributor to the MAO scholarship program, which is, of course, the largest of its kind in the world. That’s why when it came time to open his new Planet Hollywood Towers resort, David wanted the 53 girls he treats like daughters on hand to mark the occasion.
On January 28, David was joined by Miss America 2009 Katie Stam and the 53 state and territory delegates that competed in this year’s Miss America competition as he cut the ribbon and opened his newest palatial resort. Afterward, he spoke with Pageantry and explained his vision.
sorts brand with such a unique and state-of-the-art resort? David Siegel: For the last 50 years, I have visited Las Vegas on a regular basis. Not to gamble but to just enjoy the uniqueness of the city. In 1980, my parents celebrated their fifty-year wedding anniversary in Vegas and were given the key to the city by the mayor. Thirty years later almost to the day, I was given the key to the city by the current Mayor Oscar Goodman at my grand opening.
PM: As the newest star-of-the-strip, what sets Westgate Towers apart from anything else?
DS: The official name of Westgate Towers is Planet Hollywood Towers-Westgate. It is the newest icon on the Las Vegas strip. It is 52 stories of blue glass directly across the street from the $9.5 billion City Center right in the center of the strip.
PM: What amenities will someone experience while visiting the Westgate Towers Resort in Las Vegas?
DS: What is unique about the Westgate Tower is the convenience of being attached to the one 170 store Miracle Mile Shops and the convenience that you only have to go 30 feet from the elevator to one of the best swimming pools in Las Vegas. Our lobby is spacious and very modern and our personalized check in service is unlike anywhere else in Las Vegas. The views from our accommodations are breathtaking and the best in Las Vegas.
Pageantry magazine: The new Westgate Towers in Las
Vegas is setting a new standard of excellence within the city.
What was your inspiration in expanding the Westgate Re-
PM: The grand opening was an event in itself with the
Mayor of Las Vegas Oscar Goodman attending and Miss
America 2009 Katie Stam performing the ribbon cutting,
please tell us about the event and the celebrity atmosphere
of the ceremony.
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