W Las Vegas Residences Lounge Takes Film Festival By Storm

W Las Vegas Residences Lounge Takes Film Festival By Storm

Parties, Poker and Premieres Turn the Exclusive Lounge into the Hottest Spot in the Snow

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences captured the attention of celebrities and tastemakers as the W Las Vegas Residences Lounge became the place to see and be seen at the 2006 film festival in Park City, Utah. Those in the know clamored to gain access to the exclusive gathering spot perched at the top of the Village at the Lift.

Throughout the festival celebrities were given a sneak peek of the highly anticipated W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences, even before residences go on sale to the public in Spring 2006.

Poker Invitational Draws Pros and Personalities

The lounge played host to the first-ever W Las Vegas Poker Invitational, where 50 celebrities and professional poker players battled until the wee hours of the morning all in an effort to snag the top prize, a fully furnished condo worth $700,000. The coveted spots were filled by Dave Navarro (who was cheered on by wife Carmen Electra), Anne Heche, Gina Gershon, Shannon Elizabeth, Danny and Chris Masterson, Laura Prepon, Lance Bass, DJ AM, Joe Reitman, Gregory Smith, Justin Baldoni, Kevin Smith, Emile Hirsch, Joel and Benji Madden and more as they competed against poker pros including Phil Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon and Phil Laak.

World Poker Champion Phil Hellmuth won the tournament in dramatic fashion, ultimately beating out the host of the event, Reagan Silber, at a final table that included Annie Duke (finishing 4th), Shannon Elizabeth (5th), Gina Gershon (6th), Julie Yorn (7th) and Chris Masterson, who placed 3rd. Hellmuth celebrated his victory by immediately applying his studio condo grand prize as a down payment on a $2 million penthouse at the W Las Vegas.

Parties and Premieres

The W Las Vegas Residences Lounge was the location for the hottest parties in Park City while also providing an important location for some of the most talked about films of the fest to conduct press interviews and host after-premiere celebrations.

Amanda Scheer Demme, who has signed on to create a nightclub lounge at the W Las Vegas, played host along with Scott Sartiano and Richie Akiva for the festival's most exclusive bash. DJ AM and DJ Frankie whipped the celeb-filled crowd that included Paris Hilton, Eve, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Shannon Elizabeth, Jack and Kelly Osbourne and other notables into a frenzy until 5 am.

The next day, football fans gathered to watch NFL players and mingle with friends. Spotted in the crowd: Robert Downey Jr., Susan Levin, Paris Hilton, DJ AM, Chazz Palminteri, Guy Pearce and more.

Other celebs visiting the lounge during the days and nights of the festival included Josh Harnett, Scarlett Johansson, Lucy Liu and Matt Sorum, for the after-premiere party of the picture "Lucky Number Slevin." At a press event for "Friends With Money," Jennifer Aniston promoted her new movie with co-stars Scott Caan and Catherine Keener. Winona Ryder, Wilmer Valderrama and Joseph Fiennes were on hand at a dinner celebrating the film, "Darwin Awards."

About the W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences

The W Las Vegas will embrace the stylish, signature comforts W is renowned for, including striking architecture, innovative restaurants and nightlife and a destination spa. The project will include a significant component of condo- hotel and residential units, offering owners poolside cabanas, studios, or one- and two-bedroom condominiums with the world-class amenity of an attached W Hotel and Casino. Owners will have full use of the property's facilities and amenities, as well as access to maid service, 24-hour room service and concierge services. Units will go on sale to the public in early 2006.

About W Hotels

The first W Hotel opened in New York in December 1998. There are now five hotels in New York City and 20 hotels in the U.S. and abroad. Recent openings include W's first property in Latin America, W Mexico City, which opened in December of 2003, W's first property in Asia, W Seoul -- Walkerhill, which opened n August of 2004 and its first property in Canada, W Montreal, in October of 2004. Residence properties have been announced for Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Scottsdale and Hoboken. In addition, there are several more W Hotels in development in the city and resort destinations around the world. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. owns the W Hotels Worldwide brand, and is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world.

About Edge Group

Edge Group, LLC is a development and investment company formed in 2004 by principals Trevor Pearlman, Reagan Silber and Adam Frank to focus on real estate and gaming primarily in the Las Vegas market. Edge Group is the parent company of Edge Resorts LLC, which has formed a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to build The W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences. Edge Resorts owns 75% of the venture; Starwood owns the remainder and will manage the hotel.

Source: W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences

CONTACT: Katie Cray, +1-212-253-4646, kcray@bncpr.com, or Jennifer
Green, +1-310-854-4789, jgreen@bncpr.com, both of BNC; or Maggie Feldman of
Kirvin Doak, +1-702-737-3100, mfeldman@kirvindoak.com, all for W Las Vegas

-------
Profile: intent