Guys in business suits and guys in Star Trek costumes. What do the two have in common? The Las Vegas Hilton.

Before I elaborate, it should be noted that the hotel has new owners who are dumping a lot of money into improvements and changes into the joint. The casino is getting a makeover as is the front entrance and lobby. New restaurants and room remodels are also on the "to do" list. The point being, until they finish what they are doing and I can get back in to take a look at the end result (sometime in 2006), be aware that the material you are about to read may not be 100% accurate and you may have to out-manuever a construction crew when you're checking in.

Okay, notes over... back to the review.

Back when it was called The International the Las Vegas Hilton was the home of Elvis Presley, a fact trumpeted by the large bronze statue of him that is usually being passed without a glance by stone-faced businessmen on their way to the Las Vegas Convention Center next door. That’s the main crowd that haunts these halls – guys in suits and/or khakis with badges identifying them as the sales rep for whatever company happens to be hawking their latest wares at whatever convention happens to be in town.

They seem to fit in with the main part of the hotel and casino, featuring acres of marble, tons of crystal chandelier effects, and plush furnishings. These parts of the hotels are very classy, reserved, and tasteful.

Then you've got the Spacequest Casino, a strange and oddly entertaining room resembling the interior a science fiction space ship if said vessel had a casino in its cargo bay. There are lasers flashing above and lots of high-tech looking gizmos surrounding the slot machines that are activated by passing your hand through a light beam instead of pulling a handle. This area acts as the entryway to “Star Trek: The Experience,” the hotel's much hyped virtual reality ride.

These areas of the hotel seem to draw a slightly younger crowd that seems to include a lot of people that you probably shouldn’t anger by professing a preference for James T. Kirk or Jean-Luc Picard. And if you don’t know what that means, stay out of this area completely. You’ll be safer.

The two areas of the hotel make strange bedfellows but Las Vegas is a strange town so what the heck, right? Well, yes but the downside is the two crowds don’t mix well together and if you’re not a member of either crowd then it’s easy to feel like you shouldn’t be there. I kept feeling like someone was going to try to sell me something or quiz me on my knowledge of Borgs.

The casino seems to be more popular with the table games crowd – I couldn’t get near a blackjack table but had my choice of slot machines. I didn’t win squat on any of them but I was sitting right next to a woman who won $5,000. I was happy for her. No, really.

The rooms are quite nice. Nifty touches like built-in marble desks under the windows set the rooms apart from the rat pack, although it would’ve been nicer with a higher chair so I didn’t feel like I was a kid sitting at the grown up table without a booster chair.

Each standard room comes with: one or two beds: a couple of comfy chairs: a large armoire with dresser drawers for extra storage; a television equipped with wireless Internet and pay-per-view movies; high-speed Internet access for a fee; hair dryers; irons and boards; and a big closet and dressing area with full-length mirrors.

In my room everything was clean and the furnishings, carpeting, and draperies were in great shape. It also came with its very own ghost but perhaps that’s a story for another time.

Part of the big draw for the LV Hilton is the massive scope of what is included onsite, which is important since it’s a bit of a hike to the next nearest, well, anything. There are a ton of restaurants, your choice of nightclubs, bars, and lounges; a big showroom featuring a variety of big name entertainers; lots of stores and shops hawking everything from perfume to toys; a big video game arcade for the kids; a beautiful pool deck that includes a fine spa and tennis courts; and the aforementioned Star Trek deal. Check the related reviews for more details.

It’s also home to a station on the Las Vegas Monorail system so getting to and from The Strip is much easier now.

Prices have been coming down at the Las Vegas Hilton. I've seen advertisements for mid-week, slow periods as low as $44 per night. This is also a unique hotel in that it’s sometimes easier to get a cheaper room on the weekend than a weekday, since the convention crowd usually only hits Monday through Friday. The downside is that even small conventions that don’t affect rates at hotels in other areas will drive prices sky-high here.

Service was professional and courteous but not quite as friendly as I have experienced at other places.

The Las Vegas Hilton offers very nice accommodations, often at reasonable prices, which of course makes it worth considering - especially if you’re fond of “Hi, My Name is…” badges or Tribbles.

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