Making the Biggest Splash

Spring has yet to arrive but you better have your beach body ready soon: Vegas' pool/dayclub season kicks off Friday.

If you're into that scene, you can expect a lot more competition for your time this year. Established pools such as the Palms plan to be more aggressive in snagging a bigger share of the pool party pie, while new pools are expected to open by May.

The Palms pool opens Friday , a couple of weeks earlier than usual, notes Melanie Salas, project manager for Nine Group.

Consider it a warm-up to the property's popular Ditch Fridays pool party, which officially starts its fourth season May 7. If you go to the Palms pool before that, you still will be treated to entertainment on the weekends and locals won't have to pay a cover charge, Salas says.

Expect this year's pool season to be bigger and better, she adds. Palms is extending Ditch Fridays hours to 7 p.m.; adding Skinny Dip Tuesdays when guests can swim at night; and extending hours on Fridays and Saturdays, when guests can enjoy poolside music and entertainment -- but no swimming -- from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Salas says.

"We're going to be more aggressive this year than ever," Salas says.

Last year, the Palms focused on big-name DJs, short performances and events where guests could get involved. Things will be similar in 2010, Salas says.

Though pool parties have been springing up in local resorts for the past five years, it doesn't seem to be reaching a pinnacle. Some people now plan their vacations around a pool party/dayclub season, says Steve Zanella, vice president of marketing for MGM Grand.

MGM Grand's Wet Republic is scheduled to open March 12.

Opened two years ago, Wet Republic continues to build on the previous years' successes, Zanella says, in an effort to perfect the offerings and best meet customers' needs.

"The pool scene has really become the dominant factor in the summer now," Zanella says.

Liquid topless pool will open at Aria sometime this summer. Perhaps the most anticipated pool opening is Encore Beach Club at the Encore.

The 60,000-square-foot venue, on the Las Vegas Boulevard side of Encore, will feature three pools, a nightclub, double-decker air-conditioned cabanas, a gaming pavilion and other amenities. Switch restaurant also will be integrated into the area.

The project will cost more than $70 million once construction is completed. It is on track to open Memorial Day weekend, says Sean Christie, managing partner for Las Vegas Nightlife Group.

The climate control features mean that the pool can stay open about 10 months of the year.

"Our intent is to develop the best pool and nightclub in the city" Christie says. "I believe we are doing that."

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.