Jason Gastwirth has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. In his new position, Jason will oversee the areas of casino marketing, slot marketing, property marketing, hotel sales, brand & revenue development, e-commerce, entertainment and sponsorship for the 1,300-room resort destination.

“We are excited to have someone as accomplished as Jason onboard,” said Palms owner George Maloof. “He is a great addition to the Palms team.

“I’m truly pleased to have Jason at the Palms,” said Palms President Paul Pusateri. “Having worked together in the past, he has always demonstrated his extraordinary abilities as a leader, and his keen instincts will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow our marketing efforts across our hotel, gaming and entertainment divisions.”

Gastwirth brings over 10 years of senior level management experience to the Palms. Prior to his new position, Gastwirth served as Vice President, Casino Marketing and Corporate Entertainment of The Venetian/The Palazzo/Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Gastwirth graduated with honors from Harvard University and went on to earn his MBA from Stanford University. He started his career with Booz Allen Hamilton where he advised senior executives of Fortune 500 companies across various industries on growth strategies, staffing optimization and mergers/acquisitions. From there he joined Gap Inc. in San Francisco as Senior Manager of Strategy, initiating strategies to fuel top-line and earnings growth outlet stores associated with Gap Inc.’s three major brands.

Defeats Erik Seidel at the Final Table to Claim the $500,000 First-Place Prize and Becomes the First Woman Champion;

Annie Duke triumphed against the crème de la crème of the poker world to win the 6th Annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship presented by GoDaddy.com, the world’s largest domain name registrar, at the Caesars Palace Poker Tournament Room. Duke defeated Erik Seidel, who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets and ranks 9th all-time money list, in the tournament’s best-of-three finals to claim the championship and the $500,000 first-place prize. Seidel takes home $250,000 as the second-place finisher. The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is taped for broadcast on NBC over six consecutive Sundays beginning April 18 (Noon – 1PM ET).

“I’m so excited to win such a prestigious event and join the likes of Huck Seed, Chris Ferguson and Phil Hellmuth as Heads-Up Champion,” said Duke, who became the first-ever woman to win the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. “I came into this tournament really focused and it feels great to finally break through in this event.”

In five previous NHUPC events, Duke had never made it past the second round and had only advanced out of the first round once. On her way to the finals, she defeated several top players, including Andy Bloch, Darvin Moon, Paul Wasicka, Jerry Yang and Dennis Phillips. Duke’s dramatic come-from-behind victory against Wasicka in the third round was one of the most compelling matches of the weekend.

The single-elimination competition began Friday, March 5 and continued through Sunday, March 7, when a best-of-three championship match determined the winner.

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship features 64 top poker players competing in a series of heads-up (one-on-one matches of No Limit Texas Hold’em) matches to determine the best heads-up poker player in the world. This tournament has a unique, single-elimination, bracket-style format modeled after college basketball’s championship tournament, except that the finals are the best of three.

The brackets are set during the tournament’s draw party held at PURE Nightclub the day before the Championship begins.

BRINGING BACK THE MUSIC’
At The Las Vegas Hilton Showcasing Today’s Top Tribute Bands

In the ‘70s, as the youngest major record label chief in the recording industry, Atlantic Records president Jerry Greenberg signed and/or worked with some of the biggest pop and rock legends of all time—including The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Foreigner, Genesis, Yes and AC/DC.

Now, he gets to revisit his past and share classic rock with thousands of new fans with the exciting new Wednesday night series Jerry Greenberg Presents Bringing Back The Music www.lvhilton.com/Play/Entertainment , a weekly showcase featuring bands that cover the rock classics. Some of the top tribute bands in the world perform in the historic Las Vegas Hilton Showroom, the venue that Elvis performed in years ago when the hotel was known as The International!

Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets are available for a very reasonable $12-19, plus tax and service charge.

On March 3, an incredible 1,600 fans showed up to hear the popular Queen tribute band Queen Nation. Other bands that have performed recently include Led Zepagain and the Pink Floyd tribute band Which Ones Pink. The weeks ahead will feature performances by The Wholigans (March 10), the Aerosmith tribute band Aeromyth (March 17) and Bonfire, which plays the music of early AC/DC (March 24).

“Having 1,600 people come out on a Wednesday night to check out one of our tribute bands is amazing,” says Greenberg, whose company Mirage Tribute Bands produces the series. “It tells me that people are longing to hear their favorite classic rock music played by classic rock tribute bands! As someone lucky enough to work with some of the greatest rock groups of all time, I’m really excited to be associated with some of the best tribute bands that carry on their legacies. We’re giving fans nothing but the finest.”

Greenberg’s partner James Elliott at Mirage Tribute Bands adds, “”We are finding the best tribute bands that leave you feeling like you just saw the real artist, visually and sonically. “

Rick White, the VP of Brand Marketing and Entertainment at the Las Vegas Hilton explains, “Working with a music icon like Jerry Greenberg, and being able to present the timeless music of the classic rock era every Wednesday night in the legendary Hilton Theater is a very exciting proposition. We are also pleased to offer amazing dinner and show packages, featuring a five course dinner in the world’s largest Benihana restaurant, along with the great classic rock shows.”

For more information: www.lvhilton.com/Play/Entertainment <http://www.lvhilton.com/Play/Entertainment> .

Educates Staff About Overfishing

Carnevino Italian Steak House, B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco will host a screening of the international documentary about overfishing narrated by Ted Danson, The End of the Line www.endoftheline.com>. Debuting at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and playing in hundreds of cinemas, aquariums, and universities across the U.S. and the United Kingdom, Rupert Murray’s The End of the Line explores the inconvenient truth about the devastating effect of overfishing on the world’s ecosystems.

The first major documentary to reveal the extent of the crisis facing today’s oceans, The End of the Line warns that the current pace of fishing will deplete most edible fish stocks by 2048. But the film also offers a powerful call to action: urging diners, chefs and restaurants to choose sustainably sourced seafood over imperiled species. With 80% of the world’s fish stocks now fully or over-exploited, restaurants who replace critically endangered species such as bluefin tuna or beluga sturgeon with sustainable alternatives take big strides toward providing diners with ecologically responsible options.

The Batali Bastianich Hospitality Group is ahead of the curve when it comes to the sustainability of their restaurants. All three of the Vegas restaurants are Certified Green Restaurants™ and have implemented such steps as full scale recycling and composting, the elimination of bottled water, energy saving light sensors, water saving aerators, energy efficient hand dryers and even our very own Farmer’s Market!  Chef Batali believes in educating his staff, “Screening this film is a way to provide our chefs, the people on the frontline with the ability to make positive change, with the knowledge they need to make responsible choices.” The screening of The End of the Line will take place in the private dining room of Carnevino Italian Steakhouse. The 1pm screenings on March 10th and 11th are for Batali and Bastianich staff only, but the MIDNIGHT showing on the 10th is open to all industry people and press.

Sunday night Jackie Jackson of the Jackson 5 was spotted in the lounge at LAVO enjoying Calamari, Salmon and Shrimp Scampi.

Also dining at LAVO was Chase Daniel of the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.  After dinner the back-up quarterback headed up to a table in the nightclub.

Mother, Model, Designer, Consultant, CEO and The Image Enhancer®, Jacqueline P. Piper exemplifies the American “Dream”.  From her meager beginnings in 1989 with her first clothing line, Impressions to the launching of her latest endeavor, Girlfriends Meet | Up®, Jacqueline is known throughout the fashion industry as an innovative, trailblazer.

In 1994, equipped with courage, a vision, and a sewing machine she positioned herself as an entrepreneur with the establishment of Epifani One, a high-end boutique located in Dallas, Texas.  This venture allowed her to participate, sponsor, and design for numerous fashion shows, notable playwrights, and trade events, receiving favorable reviews. The next two years were exclusively devoted to designing, branding, and marketing her new line and boutique, Exposure Originals®, which absolutely took Dallas by storm.  By 1996, this line had established Jacqueline as a high-end designer appealing to the high maintenance woman with impeccable taste.

Catapulting her luxury, stylish brand into various trade and fashion venues, Jacqueline began to travel extensively throughout the U.S., thus leading her to relocate Exposure Originals® to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003. Her fashion brilliance and infectious persona, affords Jacqueline to never meet a stranger which has led to her latest venture, Girlfriends Meet | Up® a private social club for women with an exclusive focus on friendships; providing entertainment.

With over 22 years of hands on experience, her uncanny ability to translate style into a recognizable brand has proven her business acumen is both fashionable and profitable. From the back room of her mothers sewing room to the board room of Jacqueline Piper & Company, LLC

Fashionista Jacqueline P. Piper has proven through courage, in the land of the free and the home of the brave that the American dream can be attained – in stilettos!

AND FASHION SHOW AT EVE NIGHTCLUB

Holly Madison, star of the Las Vegas headlining revue Peepshow at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, will host the official U.S. launch of Adriana Fernandez Bikinis with a fashion show at Eve nightclub. Madison will walk the red carpet in a designer bikini before heading upstairs to Eve nightclub where the blonde bombshell will host the fashion show featuring 20 of the season’s hottest new looks by swimwear designer Adriana Fernandez.

Eve nightclub will also be giving away designer swimwear from Adriana Fernandez Bikinis to 20 lucky ladies in attendance. Friday, March5, Media Check-in at 11:30 p.m.

Red Carpet at midnight Fashion show at 12:30 a.m.

Working media is invited to cover the red carpet only. Media must RSVP to Leslie Thuet at Wicked Creative: 702.868.4545 / 702.339.3305. Eve in Crystals at CityCenter 3720 Las Vegas Blvd South, Suite 260 Las Vegas, Nev. 89109

Adriana Fernandez Bikinis is an international sensation with a presence in Brazil, Paris, Tel-Aviv, Barcelona, Milan, Buenos Aires. For more information, please visit www.AFBikinis.com

NASCAR Sprint Cup winner Jimmie Johnson celebrated his victory with dinner at LAVO inside The Palazzo on Sunday night joined by friends including fellow driver Brian Vickers and members of the Loews and Red Bull racing teams. The group enjoyed Damilon wine and Grey Goose and Red Bull cocktails along with the Seafood Plateau including Shrimp, Oysters, Clams, Lobster, Crab, Scallop and Tuna. They toasted his win before heading up to a VIP table in the nightclub where they danced to the sounds of DJ Vice who gave them shout outs throughout the night.

Actor, rapper and television personality Nick Cannon hosted the evening at Vanity nightclub inside the HRH Tower at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Dressed in a black fedora, undone bow tie and suspenders, Cannon arrived without wife Mariah Carey but was joined by hip-hop group RydazNrtisT, currently serving as the opening act for his wife’s North American tour. Arriving around 12:30 a.m., Cannon gave DJ Clinton Sparks a break from the turntables and took over the DJ booth for about an hour. The two took turns hyping up the crowd and creating the vibe. As a member of RydazNrtisT pulled out a camera, Cannon announced they were filming a music video and if anyone wanted to be in it, “to get closer and shake their sexy bodies.” The hip-hop group then jumped on stage, and along with Cannon, performed two of their hit songs. Following, Sparks returned to the DJ booth and worked his magic on the turntables as Cannon sang along. Cannon finally called it a night at 2:15 a.m.

Saturday night Kim Kardashian celebrated the launch of her new fragrance at TAO Las Vegas. Kim arrived with her mom Kris Jenner, KISS-FM’s Ellen K and Jonathan Cheban and Simon Huck from SPINdustry, the new E! special Kim produced. After strutting down the carpet in black Christian Louboutin’s, Kim and the group enjoyed Asian specialties in the restaurant before heading up to a VIP table on the dance floor. DJ Vice announced Kim’s arrival and she was greeted by screaming fans who clamored to get close to her while a neighboring VIP table sent over a bottle of Cristal. After being presented with a cake in the shape of her perfume bottle by Gimme Some Sugar, the always gracious star headed to the dance floor where she met and took pictures with fans. Pierre Thomas and Lance Moore who play for the New Orleans Saints with Kim’s beau Reggie Bush stopped by the table to congratulate her on the launch of her perfume. She danced on the catwalk to the sounds of DJ Vice and even tweeted, “OMG look at my cake! Thank u @taolasvegas.”

Also spotted at TAO Nightclub was Jay Cutler, quarterback for the Chicago Bears, drinking Dom Perignon and vodka/Red Bull cocktails. Fellow NFL players Thomas and Moore dined at TAO before hitting the nightclub for a VIP table of their own.

At LAVO, Hunter Parrish of Showtime’s Weeds dined with a group of friends. Pitchers of LAVO’s Pomegranate Lemonada specialty cocktail accompanied a meal that included the Kobe Meatball, Sea Bass and Kobe Steak. The group checked out the nightclub after dinner.

Shaun Sipos of the CW’s Melrose Place was also spotted dining at LAVO with a friend, enjoying Veal Chop, Filet and Lobster along with Cabernet before heading to see Jersey Boys.