Tourism - VEGAS INC

Legislature pressed into action on ‘revenue enhancement’

Hotel rooms in Clark and Washoe counties will be assessed a 3 percent tax under a room tax expected to pass today in the Legislature.

Nevada seems poised to enact its first significant tax increase since 2003, with the Assembly likely to approve a 3 percentage point hotel room tax increase today.

24 February 2009

By J. Patrick Coolican

Marriott moves forward on timeshares resort

Ground will be broken sometime this year on the third tower at Marriott's Grand Chateau on Harmon Avenue just east of Las Vegas Boulevard, and a fourth tower will be developed after that. This photo shows the property on Friday.

Hotel giant Marriott International Inc. officials say despite the economic slowdown, they’re proceeding with plans to double the size of Marriott’s big timeshare vacation resort near the Las Vegas Strip.

22 February 2009

By Steve Green

Bowling event bringing thousands to LV opens doors at Cashman

Competing at Cashman: Walter Ray Williams Jr. practices at the Cashman Center for the 2009 U.S. Bowling Congress Masters tournament on Feb. 9.

Cashman Center, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s “other” meetings and trade show venue, is officially on a roll. The 154-day U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championships began with its “Bowlfest” opening ceremonies last week, giving the city its first taste of what promises to be one of the largest — and longest — gatherings of visitors in Las Vegas history. Competition begins Feb. 21.

20 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

Volunteer group supports state parks we all should enjoy

In September my wife and I took a wonderful day-trip via U.S. 93 to a couple of our state parks. We started with the two-hours-plus drive to Caliente’s outskirts where, at an opening in Rainbow Canyon, State Route 317 emerges. About three miles in from U.S. 93 is the entrance to Kershaw-Ryan State Park. The park is only about a half mile off Route 317 in a steep narrow canyon.

20 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

Tourism industry can close book on dismal '08 figures

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has wrapped up its 2008 tourism statistics, a report most industry leaders may prefer to lock away in an underground vault so that it never again sees the light of day. Filled with negative numbers, the report paints a portrait of what the nation’s dismal economy has done to Southern Nevada’s leading industry: Visitor volume is down 4.4 percent to 37.5 million, occupancy rates are down 4.4 percentage points to 86 percent and the average daily room rate is off 9.8 percent to $119.19.

20 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

WestJet makes special offer -- promo code: "OBAMA"

President Obama is indirectly providing an economic stimulus package to tourists thanks to an enterprising Canadian airline.

18 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

LV suffers bloody nose when Wells Fargo gets black eye

Most hardworking laborers appreciate being recognized for their superior efforts on the job.

13 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

LVCVA ponders ad contract renewal

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is expected to consider whether it wants to extend its current advertising agreement with R&R Partners or open it up to competitors.

13 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

Marriott International reports fourth-quarter loss

Marriott International Inc., a big player in the Las Vegas hotel and timeshare resort industries, today reported a quarterly loss as the national recession weakened the travel industry and reduced occupancy and rates at Marriott properties.

12 February 2009

By Steve Green

Good stop, bad stop

OK, Nevada, we see you winking. President Barack Obama took a swipe at Las Vegas this week as an inappropriate place for corporate execs to meet. Now the president is talking about it. So are a lot of people. You can’t buy that kind of publicity. Does Nevada deserve a retraction? Or should Obama repeat the line a few more times?

12 February 2009

By Michael Mishak

Conventions not spared sting of slump

Jim Graham, left, of Swing America, and Rod Brekhus of Pumpmaster attend the World of Concrete convention, which filled less space this year than in previous years.

Estimates of lower attendance at four big conventions are clouding optimism that the big shows would give the Las Vegas economy a much-needed boost.

8 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

A one-man wrecking crew

Although much of the debate over Nevada’s next two-year budget has focused on Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposal to slash 36 percent from higher education, In Business Las Vegas reporter Richard N. Velotta reminded us that tourism, parks and gaming would also suffer under the governor’s plan.

6 February 2009

Big tourism entities gear up with ‘green teams’

Some day, Hugh Sinnock hopes solar panel suppliers will be standing in line to put their photovoltaic units on the roof of the Las Vegas Convention Center to prove

6 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

Budget cuts play havoc with Nevada’s efforts on tourism marketing efforts

With the state’s budget in shambles, a marketing committee of the Nevada Tourism Commission is recommending the department find creative ways to do more with less.

6 February 2009

By Richard N. Velotta

Six state tourism director candidates interviewed

Some Nevada Tourism commissioners, wary that their board could be merged with the Nevada Economic Development Commission, agreed Jan. 21 to meet this month with six prospective tourism directors to fill a 4-month-old vacancy.