Las Vegas Business Press : The cool, cool, cool of the Sixties

The cool, cool, cool of the Sixties

A Striker vacation offers the best of the Rat Pack and more

BY SARA CURETON

You can always feel comfortable if you know a guy who knows a guy. In Las Vegas, the guy to know may be Steve Striker and he says he knows everybody.

In less than a decade, Striker has built an empire around maximizing the Sin City experience solely through word-of-mouth advertising. President of Striker VIP, he has propelled his name and image into a brand, including his own collection of cigars. They are essential negotiation tools.

Striker says he has made his VIP company by hosting an elite clientele at the best clubs, the most reputable hotels and the most popular shows. His commitment is to delivering an unforgettable experience. "Anyone can create the hype and the image. I create the lasting impression," Striker says.

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Concierge par excellence Steve Striker can fix visitors up with high-powered firearms like these at the Las Vegas Gun Range.

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Stricker himself, raising a glass at Rao

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A Lamborghini Gallardo

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Striker VIP President Steve Striker with Las Vegas Gun Range co-owner Mike Morrissey

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One of the Maverick Helicopters flying machines that takes Striker VIP guests over the Strip

Striker tries to make a lifetime of dreams come true in just a few days. The events can begin as simply as a trip to the spa or as sophisticatedly as a high-throttle glimpse from the co-pilot's seat of a fighter jet.

UP, UP & AWAY

Most tourists see the sights of this desert idyll in a compact rental car and their view is skewed by the idle fumes of exhaust from the rest of the herd. "This is an adult Christmas tree right here," Striker said, admiring a bird's-eye view from a state-of-the-art helicopter.

He shows his guests a breathtaking perspective of the neon lights from 800 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard, courtesy of Maverick Helicopters nocturnal tours. The Striker VIP preferred partner operates daily until 10 p.m.

Traveling in style is not just for those brave enough to leave the ground. Rent-a-Vette Exotic Automobile Rentals ensure that VIP visitors put the pedal of the finest metal to the test, on road-rally adventures from Red Rock to Lake Las Vegas. A popular choice is the Lamborghini Gallardo.

"VIP is VIP," Striker explained. "Anybody can take a taxi."

From West Harlem to the Las Vegas Strip is Rao's at Caesars Palace, whose legendary meatballs -- and the notorious wait for a table -- made the trek across the Mississippi. "Impossible" is not in Striker's vocabulary and being on first-name basis with restaurant management almost guarantees a poetically lit table overlooking the pool.

VELVET ROPES & SUBMACHINE GUNS

Striker's dream vacations are not all rest and relaxation. The perfect way to wring the remaining adrenaline out of any bloodstream is to unload a round or two of ammo from an Uzi into a paper target or onto your own souvenir shirt. The Las Vegas Gun Range & Firearms Center hosts a collection of world-class weapons that pack a powerful punch into a Striker-style adventure.

Striker also promises to ease the path past the velvet rope. But the number one goal of the luxury service provider is to promote the increasingly divergent spectacle that begins at Hoover Dam and now stretches to the wine country of Pahrump. "I want to focus on Vegas," Striker said. "It really is the hub of entertainment right now."

Working with what he calls the best the city has to offer, Striker does not discount services. He is a firm believer in paying for the highest quality products and experiences. "If you can dream it, you can do it," he said. "But it's going to cost you."

A RING-A-DING TIME

What is the secret of Striker's success? Is it the confidence that oozes from the cuffs of his exclusively tailored suits? Is it the genuineness in his connections with his clientele and the local hospitality community?

Striker tries to emulate the cool that's been absent from the local scene since before the implosion of The Dunes. "I'm trying to bring the Rat Pack back," he said. "This town is rolling at such a rapid pace; I want to slow it down. I want to bring back elegance and sexiness."

The Striker brand is in the works to infuse that old-school vibe into both familiar and innovative products, appealing to the young and old alike. Expect to see the signature Striker crown logo in a jewelry line, a designer clothing line to include men's footwear and to even sip the rush of a Striker experience in Jetset energy drink, set to be distributed by the Safeway chain. Providing top-notch personal security for Hollywood A-List is no problem, either.

"I'm everything you'd ever want to be in a nutshell," he asserted. "We overshoot the expectations by 100 percent."

scureton@lvbusinesspress.com | 871-6780 x394

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