Cab, limo drivers get holiday party

The ninth annual Coast Casinos Las Vegas cab and limo drivers holiday party was held at The Orleans, Dec. 13.

"Any group that would brave the Las Vegas traffic for a living every day, deserves a party," said Ellen Ziegler, corporate public relations specialist for Coast Casinos.

The festivities were held in the Mardi Gras Ballroom where the Coast Casinos treated approximately 4,200 out of the city's 7,000 cabbies, limo drivers and dispatchers to prime rib, an open bar and live music among other treats.

"The whole thing is so generous and every year it grows and grows," Ted Dunn, a cab driver for Western Cab Company, said.

Dunn has been in the cab business for 21 years, and said it is a treat that a business in town throws them a Christmas party, because that is likely the only big holiday party they will be invited to.

"We think they are one of the under-appreciated groups in Las Vegas who would not otherwise be recognized," Ziegler said. "I think most consider it to be the party of the year, because this is probably the only holiday party many of them will attend."

Dunn agreed that the cab and limo workers don't often get such recognition.

"It's a chance for the drivers to get together and drop the animosity between cab and limo drivers and just have a good time," Dunn said. "We all look forward to this party every year."

Each driver in attendance received a certificate for two free buffets and a voucher for two free show tickets, worth about $125 combined.

"The Coast really does try to be positive," Dunn said. "There was a serviceman there in uniform as a driver's guest, and they took care of him, they treated him very well, they gave him the certificates, too, very positive."