Wrangler National Finals Rodeo superstar Luke Brown is back at family friendly Tahiti Village on Saturday, Dec. 7. Join us from 12:30-2 p.m. and watch Luke demonstrate the skills that have made him a 12-time NFR qualifier, a three-time average champion and the winner of more than $2 million in career earnings. He will sign autographs and pose for photos in addition to performing a roping demonstration.
Luke competes in team roping on the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo circuit, and is in Las Vegas for the NFR’s annual December visit.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the great Luke Brown at Tahiti Village’s Manihi Isle. It is conveniently located between the pool and lazy river. There will also be a drawing for a pair of Durango boots to be given away at the end of the meet and greet.
We hope to see you here at Tahiti Village, Las Vegas’ favorite tropical resort paradise.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving at family friendly Tahiti Village, Las Vegas’ favorite tropical resort paradise, we take this opportunity to tell you, ahead of the biggest eating day of the year in America, that our spacious Bora Bora and Royal Tahitian guest suites come with full kitchens and large ovens. So if you’re visiting us over the Thanksgiving holiday and would rather cook your own turkey than eat out, you’re in luck!
In the meantime, here are some interesting and surprising facts about America’s favorite sacrificial lamb, the turkey.
DID YOU KNOW?
Turkeys can exhibit more than 20 distinct vocalizations, including the distinctive male gobble that can be heard a mile away.
Turkeys recognize other turkeys by their distinctive voices. No two sound alike.
Turkeys have their own internal GPS. They have the ability to learn precise details of even the largest habitat.
Wild turkeys (the bird, not the beverage) can reach the old driving speed limit of 55 miles per hour in flight. Due to selective breeding (for obvious fattening reasons), domestic turkeys are ill-suited for lift-off and unable to fly.
Turkeys can run up to 25 miles per hour. Fast, but not fast enough to evade their dinner table fate.
Founding father Benjamin Franklin is said to have proposed to make wild turkeys the symbolic American bird instead of the bald eagle. Who knows? If he had gotten his way we may have all been eating bald eagles for Thanksgiving.
Male turkeys will attack their reflection in mirrors or windows.
The red dangly appendage under a turkey’s chin is called a wattle. The red flappy thing atop the beak is called the snood, which can change color with the bird’s mood.
Turkey meat in and of itself does not make you sleepy. More likely your post-dinner lethargy is caused by the over-consumption of carbs and alcohol.
Turkeys have two stomachs and no teeth. How did they evolve to have an extra tummy? Lacking the chompers to break down food, turkeys developed an extra stomach to aid in digestion.
There is an organization called the National Turkey Foundation. No one knows what it does precisely, but apparently one of its missions is extracting pertinent turkey data that can be shared with journalists looking for pertinent turkey data. Like this: According to official National Turkey Foundation research, the vast majority of people (88 percent) eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
If you’re staying at Tahiti Village Resort & Spa in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving and planning to cook your own bird, we are pleased to share the following tips for a juicy and flavorful turkey from renowned celebrity chef Jason Diaz.
CHEF JASON’S COOKING TIPS
Chef Jason Diaz
Brine the turkey at least 24 hours in a mixture of salt and sugar (equal parts), lemons, oranges and herb sachet (I like to use sage, thyme and whole peppercorns).
Rub compound butter made with unsalted butter, garlic and herbs under the skin of the bird and on the skin prior to roasting to infuse flavor and also help to keep the bird moist.
Baste the turkey during the roasting process to help ensure that the bird stays juicy.
One thing most people tend to do is overcook turkey, leaving it dry. Poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. I personally like to pull it out of the oven at around 160 degrees and allow it to rest. The carryover cooking process should take it to 165 degrees.
Tahiti Village Resort in Las Vegas is pleased to serve our new official fall drink, the Fall Fashion! Created by executive chef Jason Diaz, the Fall Fashion is a delicious variation on the Old Fashioned and includes bourbon and simple syrup.
Enjoy the Fall Fashion throughout the fall and winter seasons exclusively at 17˚ South Booze & Bites, Tahiti Village’s onsite bar and restaurant. Be sure to book a fall visit to sample Jason’s creative twist on his favorite drink. Or you can easily make the Fall Fashion in the comfort of your home.
Here’s how, courtesy of Jason himself.
INGREDIENTS
“I start out by making the simple syrup. I use brown sugar instead of white sugar because it has a deeper flavor, then add cinnamon sticks, whole clove, peppercorns, cherry and orange zest. I let this mixture steep for about 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to release and creates a solid base full of warm, fall-inspired flavors.”
PREPARATION
“I muddle the cherry and orange slice in a glass, add the simple syrup, bitters and two ounces of bourbon, stir until well incorporated, and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass.”
NEXT
“Enjoy!”
The Fall Fashion is the latest in our line of official Tahiti Village drinks. You will also enjoy the zesty Tahitian Mary and the subtly sweet Tahitian Sunset.
TAHITIAN SUNSET
This delightful drink captures the tropical essence of Tahiti Village. Featuring refreshing Bacardi Lime rum and a mix of proprietary ingredients, the Tahitian Sunset is the perfect drink to enjoy by the pool, at the lazy river, on your balcony – or anywhere!
TAHITIAN MARY
The Tahitian Mary is more than a match for any Vegas hangover. It contains house vodka, green olives, lime and lemon wedges, bread and butter pickles, a celery stick, tajin and bacon. Yes, bacon! It is garnished with jalapeño peppers pickled in-house and flavored with homemade Bloody Mary mix. How we manage to get it all in the stylishly salted glass is beyond us.
Try them all on your next visit to family friendly Tahiti Village, Las Vegas’ favorite tropical resort paradise!
Family friendly Tahiti Village, Las Vegas’ favorite tropical resort paradise, is home to 50,000 happy vacation owners who return year after year to enjoy our relaxing lazy river, tropical beach pool, two 24-hour hot tubs, condo-style accommodations, convenient amenities, numerous onsite activities, and tempting menu choices at 17˚ South Booze & Bites.
In our new monthly feature on the Tahiti Village blog, you will meet a Tahiti Village owner who has embraced vacation ownership and discover the reasons our Polynesian-styled resort on the south end of the world famous Las Vegas Strip is like a second home. We’re sure you’ll relate!
For this, our premier owner profile, we present Saundra Dexter , an original Tahiti Village owner from Minnesota.
When you live in the coldest city in the contiguous United States, as Saundra Dexter does, visiting tropical Tahiti Village Resort & Spa in sunny Las Vegas is like going from an icebox to an oasis.
Saundra is one of the 6,000 or so inhabitants of International Falls, Minn., the so-called “Icebox of the Nation” where the temperature dips below freezing more than 100 days a year.
So it always time to rejoice when she and her husband, Sandy, pay their twice yearly visits to family friendly Tahiti Village in Las Vegas.
Out Of The Cold
“We absolutely love it here,” Saundra says of Tahiti Village, Las Vegas’ favorite tropical resort paradise. “It’s just beautiful. Everyone’s so kind, and I like being away from everything yet having access to it all. We met a guy on the shuttle last night. He was staying at another resort and said he hadn’t slept in three nights. I said, `Honey, trust me. You’ll sleep here.’ That’s what I like about Tahiti Village. It’s peaceful; you can go into Vegas if you want to and still get away from the hustle and bustle. It’s like being away from everything yet having access to everything.”
Owner Saundra Dexter poses by the waterfall inside the Tahiti Village pool on a recent visit.
Original Tahiti Village owners, the Dexters bought into vacation ownership here at Tahiti Village in 2003, three years before our grand opening. “It was just a lot of gravel,” Saundra says. She, Sandy and their two children were visiting Las Vegas and staying at Circus-Circus when they came across a vacation ownership booth in the casino.
“They asked us to take a tour. We said, `Sure, who not?’”
Vacation Ownership
The following day they visited Club de Soleil, a sister Somerpointe Resorts property that had an architectural model of the proposed Tahiti Village property.
“They showed us where it would be,” Saundra says, “and we bought the Bora Bora sight unseen. Later on we bought a second Bora because we have two children, and when we pass each of them could have their own. Then we made it two Royal Tahitians to get the most out of our time. With two Royals we can do a week in a Moorea and a week in a Bora. I could have four weeks if I wanted.”
For the Dexters, it has been nothing but good times ever since. Before they became Tahiti Village Vacation Club members, they rarely if ever left International Falls. As owners of Sandy’s Place, a 38-seat mom and pop restaurant, time away was almost nonexistent.
“When you own a restaurant you don’t take vacations,” Saundra says, citing all the responsibilities on her plate. “I cook, I waitress, I do the books.” If she doesn’t do it, it may not get done.
Vegas Calling
After years of staying close to home, Sandy made a corporate decision for the both of them. “He finally said, `We are buying a condo so it will force you to go on vacation’.”
And it worked, Saundra says. “If I have the weeks to use I’m not going to lose them. We’re definitely going!”
The Dexters typically split sides with their two grown children, who take the Moorea while mom and pop get dibs on the larger Bora Bora.
“That way we can all be together yet still have our own space,” says Saundra, who brought the entire Sandy’s Place staff to Tahiti Village as a Christmas bonus (“they had so much fun”) and her mother and sister on another visit. It was not only their first trip to Las Vegas, but her sister’s first time on an airplane.
“It’s very nice to be able to bring your family and friends to Las Vegas without it costing a huge amount,” she says.
Outdoor Dining at 17° South
As a restaurant owner, Saundra naturally compares other eating establishments to her own. She enjoys the tropical ambiance and spacious patio dining at 17° South Booze & Bites, Tahiti Village’s popular onsite restaurant.
“I love that it opens up to the outside, especially when we’re here over the holidays and the temperature is in the 50s or 60s,” she says. “We can’t eat outside at home in December, so it’s a nice treat.”
As original owners, the Dexters have witnessed numerous positive additions to the property over the years, including 17˚ South, an adults-only hot tub, comprehensive room renovations, a complete lobby remodel, a coffee and snack bar addition to the Wiki Wiki gift shop, and most recently an all-new game arcade in Tower 1.
“We’re always excited to see what they’ve done since the last time we were here,” Saundra says. “It’s one of the things that keep us coming back, in addition to the resort staff and management. Everyone is so nice.”
Sandy, a former U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam, plays golf when he comes to Las Vegas, and the Dexters always see the sights, including the Fremont Street Experience, the Bellagio Fountains and Red Rock Canyon.
“We always have to go to Fremont Street to see the lights.”
But mainly, Saundra says, “we like to kick back and relax. It’s just so peaceful.”
Thank you, Saundra! We truly value your ownership.
Tahiti Village
Escape to paradise at family friendly Tahiti Village Resort & Spa, Las Vegas’ premier tropical retreat. Situated on 27 acres at the south end of the world famous Strip, Tahiti Village offers a welcome respite in a gorgeous island setting. With three residential guest towers surrounding a lushly landscaped courtyard, Tahiti Village has numerous desirable amenities and attractions.
Guests can lounge by a sandy beach pool, float down a relaxing lazy river, or unwind in guest suites offering uncommon space, convenience and privacy. Each of Tahiti Village’s three unit configurations has separate bedrooms, with the one-bedroom Bora Bora and two-bedroom Royal Tahitian featuring full kitchens, washer-dryers, steam showers, jetted tubs and private balconies. The Bora Bora and one-bedroom Moorea can accommodate four people, while the deluxe Royal Tahitian – a combination of the two – can sleep eight.
The resort also offers enticing food and drink options at 17° South Booze & Bites, our onsite bar and bistro, and Wiki Wiki convenience store-gift shop with an adjacent food and beverage counter.
Whether you’re staying for a week or a weekend, Tahiti Village has everything you need for the time of your life.
We’ve always believed it, but now we can actually say it.
Tahiti Village is the Best of Las Vegas!
We sincerely thank Las Vegas Review-Journal readers for voting us Best Family Friendly Hotel and Best Strip Hotel Pool in the newspaper’s 38th annual Best of Las Vegas contest.
BEST FAMILY FRIENDLY HOTEL
We truly appreciate all the voters for naming Tahiti Village Las Vegas’ number one family resort destination. We have been catering to families on the south end of the world famous Las Vegas Strip since 2006. They enjoy our spacious, condo-style suites and numerous kid friendly activities.
Tahiti Village’s heated, 250,000-gallon tropical beach pool sits like a gleaming jewel at the center of our property. It is surrounded by fashionable palapas and Tahitian torches. Visitors enjoy aquatic activities like volleyball, poolside movie nights, live music and weekly summer visits from our very own mermaid!
The Tahiti Village pool area also boasts a heated lazy river that features four waterfall features and contains more than 185,000 gallons of water. At 1/8th of a mile, it is one of longest lazy rivers in Las Vegas.
We are truly honored to receive this recognition. We will do our utmost to justify the faith of all the people who casts votes on our behalf. Thanks again!
Book a visit today and discover why Tahiti Village was voted Best of Las Vegas!
Tahiti Village team members celebrate our Best of Las Vegas wins in the Best Hotel Pool and Best Family Friendly Hotel categories. They are, left to right: Nader Mossavi, Director of Food and Beverage; Chris Breed, Vice President of Nevada Operations; Dave Campbell, Recreation Services Manager; Felicia Brizuela, Front Desk Manager; Tom Hadjis, General Manager; Kevin Konie, Chief Engineer; Richard Rodriguez, President. Great job, everyone!
Family friendly Tahiti Village, Las Vegas’ favorite tropical resort, is celebrating the spooky season with tricks and treats for the little kids and discount food and adult beverages for the big kids.
HALLOWEEN PARTY OCTOBER 30
Our Halloween party is more about the fun and less about the fright, so be sure to join us at 17˚ South Booze & Bites in the Tahiti Village main lobby for a festive evening of food and drink, live music (including select Halloween jams) and prizes for best costume. So come dressed to impress and spend a couple of fun-filled hours with all the guys and ghouls.
TRICK OR TREATING OCTOBER 31
Halloween at Tahiti Village begins with trick or treating around the property and concludes with a Halloween Social at the Haunted Manihi Isle, where our little goblins will enjoy spooky snacks, play themed games and participate in a costume contest. We’ll begin passing out treat-or-treat bags, maps and goodies at the front desk at 3:30 p.m. Trick or treating begins at 4:30 p.m. for kids 11 and under and 5 p.m. for kids 12 and older. Unlike other Halloween attractions that try to stop your heart with terrifying shock tactics, our Halloween Social offers wholesome fun time for the entire family.
It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge two of our own for earning top honors at the 2019 Stars of the Industry Awards Gala Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. Chris Breed, Vice President of Operations for Soleil Management, won the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award. Dave Campbell, Tahiti Village Recreation Services Manager, took home the award for Management Professional of the Year.
Our Stars of the Industry Awards winners Chris Breed and Dave Campbell.
The event, sponsored by the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association and held annually in Las Vegas, celebrates exceptional professionalism and outstanding service of top individuals in the hospitality industry.
Chris joined the company in 2017 and served as Tahiti Village general manager until her promotion to Soleil Management VP of Operations in 2018. She is an active participant in our company’s community volunteer efforts and was appointed Vice Chairman of the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association in 2019.
“I was completely surprised to be chosen to receive this award,” Chris said. “The work that the NHLA takes on for the state is so beneficial. Assisting our emerging leaders through workshops, mentoring and networking is our responsibility, and something that I am personally passionate about and will continue doing as long as they will have me.”
Dave has overseen Tahiti Village’s recreation department since joining the company in 2016. He is responsible for putting in place many of the poolside activities and events our guests presently enjoy. Like Chris, Dave is also an enthusiastic participant in our company’s charitable events, particularly as they relate to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.
“Being nominated for this award was an honor itself, but to be selected is something I never would have thought possible as it relates to my career,” Dave said. “The NHLA is a great organization that provides individuals opportunities beyond their roles at work, and that is something I am grateful for. I have been working with young adults for over a decade, and I have learned two very important things:
Each day is something different that continues to shape the way I speak with individuals about work and their personal life.
If you have young adults on the team who are quick to voice their thoughts or introduce change, invest in them however you can. They are the ones saying, `Hey, I think this can be done better’ or `I don’t like the way this is going.’ These are the individuals who are taking the risk to stand out among their peers in a group that is quick to judge.
“I am humbled by this and will continue to pay it forward.”
In addition to Chris and Dave, we would also like to recognize our Stars of the Industry Awards nominees for their exceptional professionalism and outstanding service. They are:
Monique Makhlouf
Director of Learning and Development, Soleil Management
Category: Learning & Development Professional of the Year
Julian Ross
Director of Owner Services & Revenue Management, Soleil Management
Category: Revenue Management Professional of the Year
Thomas Gardipee
Front Desk Agent, Tahiti Resort Las Vegas
Category: Guest Services Professional of the Year
Nominees were selected based on their length of service, their outstanding service skills as well their community involvement. A winner was chosen in each of 20 categories. We congratulate all our winners and nominees – they are truly Stars of the Industry!
We congratulate our Stars of the Industry Awards winners and nominees.
Join us for a day of fun and tempting treats at our Food Trucks & Booze Festival Saturday, Oct. 26, at family friendly Tahiti Village, Las Vegas’ tropical resort paradise. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the north side of the property off East Arby Avenue. Our annual food truck event is always a great time and draws foodies from all over the city to our island-themed resort. You’ll enjoy delicious food, adult beverages and live music. If you’re inclined to get your face painted or pose for a caricature by our character artist, you can do that, too!
The following Las Vegas food trucks will be attendance:
CROCK & ROLL
A popular purveyor of Crock-Pot-inspired entrees.
STRIPCHEZZE
Cheese heads from all over Las Vegas flock to this truck for savory grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese egg rolls.
ISLANDTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN
This popular truck offers a delicious, Hawaiian-style twist on Colonel Sanders.
MEOWEE WOWEE SHAVE ICE
This owner’s passion for cats and Hawaiian shave ice resulted in a feline-themed food truck that is parked right here at Tahiti Village.
If you’ve never been to Tahiti Village, you simply must experience a getaway to Las Vegas’ tropical resort retreat. Featuring a sand-entry beach pool, lazy river, condo-style accommodations, two 24-hour hot tubs, an onsite restaurant and spa, and shuttle service to the Strip, Tahiti Village has everything you need to relax, unwind and get away from it all. In-room amenities in larger one-bedroom and two-bedroom units include a fully stocked kitchen, washer-dryer, jetted tub, steam shower and private balcony for your convenience and enjoyment.
Don’t miss our Food Trucks & Booze Festival at Tahiti Village Resort & Spa! We’re a Tahitian-themed resort on the south end of the world famous Las Vegas Strip.
Chad Green’s Pro Mod vehicle with our Tahiti Village logo!
Two of the fastest straight line vehicles on Planet Earth and their adrenaline-fueled drivers will be at Tahiti Village Resort & Spa, Las Vegas’ favorite tropical resort paradise, for a meet and greet on Oct. 30. NHRA drivers Terry McMillen and Chad Green will chat with fans, sign autographs and pose for photos from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Guests can enter a free raffle for tickets to the Dodge NHRA Nationals, take home racing swag, and enjoy refreshing Meeowee Wowee Shave Ice.
Terry has competed on the NHRA circuit since 2007. He drives an 8,000-horsepower Top Fuel Dragster capable of reaching 330 miles per hour. He won the prestigious U.S. Nationals for the first time in 2018, and earned his first career win, in Las Vegas, in 2017.
Chad is a NHRA Pro Mod driver. His 3200-horsepower vehicle can reach speeds of more than 250 miles per hour. Chad made his NHRA debut in 2018, qualifying for all 12 national events and finishing fifth in the championship points to cap an impressive rookie campaign.
The event is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Tahiti Village front entrance beneath the porte cochere. Tahiti Village is located at 7200 Las Vegas Blvd. South and Warm Springs Road.
Family friendly Tahiti Village in Las Vegas is proud to be the hotel partner of Terry McMillen and Chad Green. We wish them the best of luck at the NHRA Las Vegas event. We encourage Tahiti Village guests and Las Vegas residents to stop by for the meet and greet. This will be Chad’s first visit to the property, and we have been hosting meet and greets with Terry on his twice yearly visits to Las Vegas since 2013.
He’s even been known to let fans sit in his Amalie Oil dragster, the Xtermigator!
Please join us in acknowledging our Soleil Management nominees for the Stars of the Industry Hospitality Awards Gala. The event, sponsored by the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association and held annually in Las Vegas, celebrates exceptional professionalism and outstanding service of top individuals in the hospitality industry. Each of the candidates from our Soleil Management Las Vegas properties – family friendly Tahiti Village, Tahiti Resort and Club de Soleil – has exhibited those requisite qualities in abundance. We are pleased to nominate them in their respective categories for this prestigious award.
They are:
Monique Makhlouf
Director of Learning and Development, Soleil Management
Learning & Development Professional of the Year
Julian Ross
Director of Owner Services & Revenue Management, Soleil Management
Revenue Management Professional of the Year
Thomas Gardipee
Front Desk Agent, Tahiti Resort Las Vegas
Guest Services Professional of the Year
Dave Campbell
Recreation Manager, Tahiti Village
Emerging Leader of the Year
Nominees are chosen based on their length of service, their outstanding service skills as well their community involvement. Many are nominated by their leaders, however many are also nominated by peers. Winners are determined through a voting process and kept top secret until the awards ceremony.
Based on the submitted criteria, a winner is chosen in each of 20 categories. Their identities are kept top secret until the night of the gala. The program lists every nominee and the slide show also shows each nominee, giving everyone the chance to recognize and thank these extraordinary people for their exceptional service.
The 9th Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Gala (SOTI) will take place on October 17 from 6-9 p.m. at Mandalay Bay. Best of luck to all our nominees.
Luke competes in team roping on the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo circuit, and is in Las Vegas for the NFR’s annual December visit.
