Tourism

Visitor volume decline narrows, but average daily room rates plummet further

Convention attendance and average daily room rates plummeted in March, and gamblers held onto their wallets, according to statistics released last week by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the state Gaming Control Board.

15 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Las Vegas-based Allegiant sets sights on – no kidding – Cuba

People who know anything about Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air know it is an airline that marches to a different beat. So why should anybody be surprised that Allegiant’s newest destinations will be places where few Americans have ever been?

15 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Southwest in holding pattern for growth in Las Vegas

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly is shown at the Fremont Street Experience on May 6.

Although local resorts are seeing a glimmer of recovery from the foul economy with booking windows expanding, the busiest airline at McCarran International Airport isn’t seeing the same trend.

15 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Gibbons names state tourism director

CARSON CITY – After a vacancy of eight months and a move to abolish the job, Gov. Jim Gibbons has selected a new director for the state Commission on Tourism.

12 May 2009
By Cy Ryan

Tourism workers rally to invite visitors to Vegas

Hundreds of casino and resort employees gathered Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center to call attention to Americans whose jobs depend on travel.

12 May 2009
By Kyle B. Hansen

Room rates to rise from rock bottom

The Strip’s largest casino operator last week reported an uptick in room bookings and fewer convention cancellations. MGM Mirage executives said demand for the company’s hotel rooms is high enough to warrant an increase in room rates, which have plummeted during the downturn. Raising rates in the coming weeks will help profit margins and could lead to a minor business rebound in 2010, they said.

11 May 2009
By Liz Benston

Randall Walker, Clark County aviation director

Clark County Aviation Director Randall Walker is shown in the baggage claim area of McCarran International Airport.

Anyone who keeps a close watch on Southern Nevada’s economy knows that one of the key indicators is activity at McCarran International Airport.

8 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Is train wreck ahead in high-speed transportation battle?

A rendering shows a DesertXpress train, which is expected to reach a top speed of about 150 miles per hour and travel between Victorville, Calif., and Las Vegas.

The Federal Railroad Administration may be overseeing a huge train wreck in Southern Nevada. Last week, the agency conducted a public hearing on a draft environmental impact statement on a high-speed train proposal developed by DesertXpress, a privately held company backed by Sig Rogich and Tony Marnell.

8 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

LVCVA committee studies draft of R&R ad contract

A Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority committee has begun developing a new advertising and marketing communications contract with R&R Partners that includes a list of provisions that indicate the relationship will get more scrutiny than it has in the past.

8 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Tourism leaders wary of pandemic panic

Dispensers holding hand purification lotions greeted the estimated 45,000 conventiongoers walking the floor of the National Hardware Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center this week.

8 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Local deals plentiful as tourism industry gears for ‘Staycation II’

People take in the fountain show in March at the Bellagio. A new Web site, stayandplayhere.com, targets Clark County residents looking for inexpensive "staycations." In addition to deals in Las Vegas, for those wishing to get out of town, there are bargains listed in Mesquite, Laughlin, Boulder City and Primm.

With school out in a month and self-imposed deadlines to book summer travel rapidly closing in, some economists say it’s looking more and more like summer 2009 is going to be Staycation II. Or a naycation.

5 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Viad reports 91 percent decline in earnings over last year

Viad Corp, parent company of Las Vegas-based convention services contractor GES Exposition Services, showed a 91 percent decline in earnings over last year as a result of the rugged economy, company officials said today.

1 May 2009
By Richard N. Velotta

Panel puts $3 million back in state's tourism budget

A legislative budget subcommittee has agreed to add more than $3 million to the state’s tourism budget to beef up marketing and advertisement spending in the coming two years.

30 April 2009
By Cy Ryan

Among swine flu’s unknowns: Impact here

It was as if we had made the cosmic mistake of asking what more could go wrong for tourism. Ah, yes -- swine flu. Just what tourism needed. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority declined to comment.

28 April 2009
By Brendan Buhler

Allegiant profits, Southwest swoons in first quarter earnings

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent company of Allegiant Air, has defied the gravity of the slumping economy by being among the few U.S. airlines to post first-quarter profits.

24 April 2009
By Richard N. Velotta
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