Starwood, Aztar Discuss Venture With Michael Jackson, WSJ Says
Bloomberg News
October 23, 1998, 6:23 a.m. PT
Phoenix, Arizona, Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Starwood Hotels &
Resorts and Aztar Corp. have been approached by pop singer
Michael Jackson and business partner Don Barden about developing
a themed casino in Las Vegas, the Wall Street Journal reported,
citing several unidentified people familiar with the discussions.
Jackson and Barden are to meet on Nov. 10 in New York with
Starwood Chairman Barry Sternlicht to discuss the possibility of
buying the Desert Inn Casino, which Starwood aims to sell for
about $380 million, the unidentified people said. In separate
talks, Barden has approached Phoenix-based Aztar, which owns the
Tropicana casino in Las Vegas and other U.S. casinos, about a
potential joint venture or acquisition, the paper said, citing
unidentified people familiar with the talks.
Phoenix-based Starwood, the world's biggest owner of hotels,
said this month it's exploring ways to sell its 35 percent stake
in trade school operator ITT Educational Services Inc. to focus
on hotels and casinos. |
