Bellagio is about things that are good for the soul -- fine dining, gardens, flowers, art and fashion. The goal, from the outset, was to create a hotel that would exemplify absolute quality while emphasizing romance and elegance -- romance in the literary sense -- a place of ideal beauty and comfort; the world everyone hopes for, as it might be if everything were just right.

A dreamy notion, to say the least, but a notion compelled by today's extremely competitive world leisure market. Folks just plain expect more these days. The old concepts of resort attractions are just that, old.

In order to become synonymous with beauty and elegance, Bellagio must address its guests' higher sensibilities. It must be more than just the best place to stay in Las Vegas. That, perhaps, had already been achieved with The Mirage.

Bellagio had to be distinctive enough to surpass the expectations of discerning individuals not easily fooled by advertising or hype. In a cynical world, creating a place of special elegance, quality and distinction is a difficult feat.

There are few places in the world so exceptional they don't require superlatives. Such places are best described with the simplest of words. Bellagio is such a place.

Bellagio offers deluxe guest rooms and suites featuring sweeping vistas of the resort's lake, surrounding mountains and Las Vegas skyline. Each room is elegantly appointed with custom European-style furnishings, fine art and conveniences such as computer and fax accessible data ports, multiple telephone lines and a convenient mini-bar.

Special attention was paid to the guest room bathroom design. Italian marble floors and surfaces along with plush robes and soaking tubs were incorporated into the bathroom design as bathroom amenities truly enhance a vacation. From the moment a guest enters their accommodations, they feel wrapped in comfort and luxury.

In order to fulfill its goals, Bellagio's restaurants had to run the gamut from gourmet

five diamond dining to easy informal meals. Food lovers no longer have to go to Paris for the best meals. Several of the finest restaurateurs were invited to bring their chefs and managers along with their invaluable expertise to the Bellagio experience.

There are four James Beard award-winning chefs at Bellagio including Nevada's first James Beard award recipient, Julian Serrano. Additionally, Bellagio features one James Beard award-winning restaurant. Never before has such an exceptional collection of chefs and restaurants been assembled under one roof.

When looking at the finest dining establishments in America, the number one restaurant in New York City is Le Cirque owned by the Maccioni family whose patriarch is Sirio Maccioni. Sirio, his sons and his wife agreed to join Bellagio. Once the Maccioni family joined in, the restaurant community knew Bellagio was serious.

One of the finest restaurants in Boston is Olives, the talk of San Francisco is the world- renowned seafood restaurant Aqua and the versatile Jean-Georges Vongerichten is internationally known for his work in New York, London and Hong Kong. They all were invited to Bellagio.

Some of the finest Executive Chefs and Pastry Chefs in the world were also sought out including Julian Serrano and Jean-Philippe Maury.

With the approval of his family, one of Bellagio's premier restaurants was named

for the greatest painter of the twentieth century, Pablo Picasso. It had to be a totally unique experience, reflective of his preeminence.

Taking its inspiration from the villages of the Mediterranean, Picasso is a rough-hewn restaurant with a beam and brick ceiling and gesso-covered burlap walls. Some of the great master's colorful and delightful paintings, as well as his ceramics, tiles and sculpture were incorporated into the restaurant's décor. Claude Picasso, the son of Pablo, designed the carpet and the furniture for the restaurant. This environment is the perfect setting to enhance the experience of renowned chef Julian Serrano's magnificent Mediterranean food.

The wonder of Picasso has been internationally recognized. The restaurant received the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award in 2002 and 2003, one of only two Las Vegas restaurants to receive this coveted award.

At Picasso, guests eat indoors surrounded by the works of Pablo Picasso or enjoy a cocktail on the outdoor patio along the water's edge. There is no other place in the world where people can do that unless they go to the Picasso museum in Paris with a box lunch and sit down on the floor. And they probably can't do that. The security guards might object. Besides, there are no windows in the Picasso museum.

Place your bets and get ready for action on the most opulent casino floor in Las Vegas. Whether you are interested in serious or light-hearted play, Bellagio offers an ace array of table games to satisfy. Hands down, the most alluring energy around!

If the luck of the draw and strategic thinking are your game, you'll want to indulge in blackjack or if you prefer to choose your own lucky numbers, roulette may be just what the dealer ordered! Whatever your passion, you're sure to find your game of choice at Bellagio. Other table game classics include craps, Caribbean Stud, Let it Ride® Stud Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Pai Gow Poker, Big Six, Three-Card Poker, and baccarat.

FIVE DIAMONDS. UNBEATABLE.

Enjoy an exciting game of poker in the privacy and comfort of Bellagio's luxurious Poker Room. With non-stop action and high and low limits, you're bound to find a perfectly suited hand. Popular games include Texas Hold 'em and 7 Card Stud. For your pleasure, the Bellagio Poker Room is also a smoke-free environment.

$500 + $40 buy-in No Limit Hold 'em tournament every Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Cirque du Soleil's Production of “O”

Bellagio started out as an extraordinarily ambitious project. But ultimately, for the resort to keep its promise, the entertainment had to be as spectacular as Bellagio itself. It had to produce an entertainment experience that people would talk about in Singapore, Rome, Hong Kong, London, New York and Buenos Aires.

Bellagio had the performance, the money and the ingenuity to create a theatre and a stage with every kind of technology. With a great piece of entertainment in this environment, the audience is taken to a place they've never been before. It is a journey that's not about thrill rides or motion simulators or virtual reality. It's about something far more powerful and deep. It's about the movement of the spirit and soul. It's about imagination.

Bellagio turned to colleagues from Montreal, the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. Just as with the hotel, it wouldn't be enough to simply put a new costume on a previous concept - even if that concept was heralded as one of the best shows in America, as is the case with Mystère at Treasure Island. Cirque du Soleil had to create its most ambitious project.

An international cast of synchronized swimmers, divers, acrobats, aerialists and characters was assembled to dazzle audiences in a magnificent theatre reminiscent of the Paris Opera House. “O” is a spectacle that promises to astonish audiences with its fusion of circus acts, modern theatrical effects, live music, dance and most of all, water.

Lounges at Bellagio

While Las Vegas has a long and colorful history of lounge entertainment, Bellagio's vision for the lounges was to define a new era. This concept included not only the performances themselves but also the designed spaces. Bellagio has strived to offer a wide range of sensorial approaches to lounges; from fast-paced excitement to elegant relaxation.

Among the highlights is the Fontana Bar at center stage on Bellagio's Casino Level where guests enjoy live entertainment and expansive views of the lake.

Caramel Bar & Lounge, Bellagio's latest creation, introduces a new taste to the Las Vegas nightlife scene. With no line or wait to get in, Caramel Bar & Lounge is a great choice for enjoying a cocktail before dinner or after an evening show or just as a late-night destination. Caramel Bar & Lounge's environment comes alive with music ranging from the Rolling Stones to the Beatles.

Then, there is the Petrossian Bar that was designed to become the ultimate meeting place. Here, guests may choose from an array of offerings from afternoon tea to the finest champagnes, Petrossian caviar and smoked salmon. Its lavish décor transports guests to another era marked by fantasy and indulgence.

Light at Bellagio

Light is a sexy but refined bottle-service nightclub based on the popular cocktail lounge in New York. Rich and vibrant fabrics of sateen and velvet drape the walls and ceiling creating an intimate and elegant atmosphere. Combined with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, Light offers guests a unique nightclub experience.

Shopping at Bellagio

Bellagio is like a symphony. It has movements. The secret to a great symphony is the texture, the variety, the depth of the movements of which it is made. Each of the movements has its own personality and wonderful moments within the framework of the symphony. But even though there are differences in those movements, what makes it a symphony is that all of them are part of the same score.

Retail shopping is part of Bellagio's symphonic production. Via Bellagio, a unique collection of upscale boutiques and shops, combines the timeless with the avant-garde, the simple with the extravagant.

The retailers located along Via Bellagio have never before been located together. These designers can't be found in malls across the country. Giorgio Armani always puts his primary Armani line in a stand-alone store. Chanel and the great fashion designs of Karl Lagerfeld go in freestanding stores. Hermès, the great French designer of sportswear and leather goods goes in freestanding stores. So does Prada, the designer.

Yet Bellagio managed to bring them together for the first time. A stroll along

Via Bellagio allows guests to browse through exquisite collections at Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Chanel and the rare and extraordinary jewelry of Fred Leighton. Christian Dior will open their new boutique November 2003.

Given the popularity of shopping in Las Vegas, Bellagio offers a complete shopping experience. Superb jewelry, watches, gifts, works of art, elegant evening fashions and fine sportswear all are available in the shops at Bellagio.

The Fountains of Bellagio

Throughout the world great public spaces have been accented with wonderful fountains. When thinking of the many romantic places in Paris or Rome, London or Madrid, fountains immediately come to mind. The Fountains of Bellagio express the romantic spirit of the resort.

The result of collaboration with WET Design is the most ambitious water feature ever conceived in terms of choreographic complexity and scale.

At Bellagio, more than a thousand fountains dance in front of the hotel, enhanced by music and light. The display spans more than 1,000 feet with water soaring as high as 240 feet into the air.

A wide range of musical works has been selected for the fountain's shows, from classical and operatic pieces to popular music and songs from Broadway shows. Designers, musicians and performance artists were invited to choreograph the fountain to these differing musical selections. The result is a rich, dynamic collection of performances in water, each uniquely expressive in its interpretation. The performances range from delicate and whimsical to grand and commanding.

The Wedding Chapels and Terrace of Dreams at Bellagio

The Wedding Chapels and Terrace of Dreams at Bellagio offer an intimate setting for couples wishing to be married in an atmosphere of elegance and romance.

The two chapels were created in an effort to provide couples with elegant surroundings in which to share their wedding with family and friends. Both chapels are beautifully inspired by timeless European design with colorful stained glass windows that adorn the wall behind each altar. Ornate lamps and chandeliers of amethyst Venetian glass complement the gentle hues of cream, rose, peach, antique green and bride's blue found throughout the tapestries and fabrics of the chapels.

Terrazza di Sogno (Terrace of Dreams), an Italian balcony with toasted marble flooring and walls tinted a warm golden patina, is available for couples wanting the perfect outdoor wedding, vow renewal or commitment event. Couples overlook stunning views of a Tuscan landscape and a Mediterranean-blue lake with the Fountains of Bellagio soaring to the sky at the moment of the long-awaited first kiss.

An attentive staff specializing in personalized service enhances the exquisite atmosphere

of the chapels and the terrace. A professional wedding coordinator is appointed to each couple and can assist the couple in making arrangements including dinner reservations at Bellagio's gourmet restaurants, reserving guest rooms for the wedding party and contacting Bellagio Catering regarding the wedding reception.

Spa Tower

Building on its unrivaled reputation for luxury and service, Bellagio broke ground

April 2003 on its Spa Tower. In addition to 928 luxurious rooms and suites, the new tower will feature an expansion of the resort's elegant spa and salon, additional meeting and convention space, added retail and a casually elegant restaurant.

Las Vegas is the largest convention market in the world, and growing. Attending a convention or business function at Bellagio is just as elegant and comfortable as the experience of our vacation guests.

Featuring more than 125,000 square feet, the meeting facilities at Bellagio offer business travelers an extraordinary level of product and service in an unrivaled setting. To ensure that every meeting runs as smoothly as possible, each meeting room is equipped with speakerphones, data ports and the latest audiovisual equipment is available for presentations. A professional staff is on hand to deliver faxes, send mail and assist with word processing.

Committed to ensuring every event's success, a Convention Services and Catering Manager will oversee every detail and address any special needs that may arise.

For occasions that require an imaginative touch, MGM MIRAGE Events - a fully integrated event-planning company - is available to assist with props, graphic design, invitations, floral fashions and entertainment.

In addition to business amenities, many meeting rooms offer balconies with enchanting views of the pools and gardens. Impeccable service in the most exquisite of surroundings ensures that business at Bellagio is anything but usual.