Tourism

Southern Californians are ready to scratch post-pandemic itch for Las Vegas

The marquee sign at the Bellagio displays a message prior to the temporary closing Tuesday, March 17, 2020. MGM Resorts properties temporarily closed at midnight in an effort to stem the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

Just over half of visitors to Las Vegas in 2018 arrived by car from places like Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Denver. But Southern California clearly represents the golden goose of…

3 May 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Questions abound in post-pandemic Las Vegas

A sign displayed table closed on the gambling floor at Treasure Island during the COVID-19 government mandated shutdown, Thursday, April 9, 2020.

More than a month ago, the neon blinked off, the slot machines stopped chirping and hundreds of thousands of tourists vanished amid the coronavirus pandemic. When they will return and what they will find when the do are the kinds of questions Las Vegas has …

26 April 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Passenger traffic plummets at Las Vegas airport in March

A Southwest Airlines passenger jet takes off from McCarran International Airport June 5, 2017.

Passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport was down more than 50% year-over-year in March as the coronavirus pandemic has devastated the travel industry. According to a monthly report released by ...

23 April 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Why Nevada deserves special federal aid

ABC Stores is temporarily closed after Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered a mandatory closure of all nonessential businesses in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

By early March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued an advisory against crowds of more than 250 people, yet Florida’s beaches were jumping with spring breakers. Nevada was different — it moved quickly to shoulder the responsibility for the safety of its workers, our residents, our guests and …

17 April 2020
By Ric Anderson

TV spot reminds tourists Vegas will be here when crisis passes

Tourists wait to get their photo taken at the Las Vegas Sign on the first day of the covid-19 quarantine, Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

The Strip has gone dark because of the coronavirus pandemic, but tourism officials are airing a TV spot to remind people that when the crisis eventually ...

25 March 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Tourism agency braces for drop in revenue over coronavirus

A view of Las Vegas Blvd on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.

The top executive at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said the organization will be able to weather a coronavirus-driven drop in revenue. “It’s a challenging time, there’s no ...

10 March 2020
By Bryan Horwath

MGM Resorts temporarily closing buffets on Las Vegas Strip

Carving station at The Buffet at Excalibur

Buffets at MGM Resorts International properties on the Strip will temporarily close starting Sunday as concerns over the spread of the coronavirus persist. “These changes ...

10 March 2020
By Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Las Vegas mayor says media’s coronavirus coverage is ‘destroying us’

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman delivers her State of the City address Thursday, Jan 10, 2019, at Las Vegas City Hall.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman told tourism officials the media’s coverage of the coronavirus is “absolutely destroying us” and this is no time “for us to be wimps.” Speaking at the monthly Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board meeting, Goodman said fear about the outbreak has ...

10 March 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Las Vegas travel agents press on amid 'mass hysteria' over coronavirus

A plane taxis after landing at McCarran International Airport.

A woman recently walked into the Prestige Travel & Cruises office at Horizon Ridge and Eastern Avenue and booked a vacation. Some are avoiding traveling because of coronavirus fears. Others not so much.

10 March 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Allegiant Air able to fly above the coronavirus turbulence

***DO NOT USE PER ALLEGIANT. THIS MD-80 AIRCRAFT IS NO LONGER PART OF THEIR FLEET*** ORIGINAL CAPTION: Two Allegiant Air jets taxi at McCarran International Airport May 9, 2013.

As the aviation industry braces for financial uncertainty out of concern for the spread of the coronavirus, officials at a Las Vegas-based domestic carrier say they haven’t felt the downturn. It’s business ...

9 March 2020
By Kelcie Grega

'Business as usual': Virus threat hasn't curbed Las Vegas tourism yet

In this Sept. 21, 2018, file photo, the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino reflects the last sunlight of the day along the Las Vegas Strip.

Southern Nevada tourism officials are closely tracking the spread of the coronavirus, but there have been no reports to date of major business disruptions in Las Vegas related to the illness, which has rattled financial markets and temporarily shuttered casinos overseas ...

27 February 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Digging on first ‘people mover’ tunnel nearly done at Las Vegas Convention Center

The Boring Company prepares to begin tunnel work for the Las Vegas Convention Center's underground people mover project. The machine, which will bore an average of 100 feet a day, was receiving final adjustments before starting to dig on Friday Nov. 15, 2019.

Boring on the first of two “people mover” tunnels being dug as part of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s expansion project is nearly complete. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority officials said digging on the first tunnel, which is nearly a mile long, will likely finish ...

12 February 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Business booms at South Point, but property isn’t standing pat

Steve Stallworth, General Manager of South Point Arena & Equestrian Center, gives a tour of an exhibit hall at South Point, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.

It was business as usual on this Friday morning at the South Point Arena, Equestrian Center and Exhibit Hall. In the 4,600-seat main arena, Mecum Auctions was doing its thing — putting a different motorcycle up for bid every 80 seconds. There’s a certain energy in the sights and sounds of a live auction in which 1,540 bikes on the block are purchased in rapid order for ...

6 February 2020
By Ray Brewer

As Hard Rock Hotel goes dark, Virgin promises bright future

The Hard Rock Hotel closed its doors permanently Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. The property will continue its transformation into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, which will open in November.

The scene inside the Hard Rock Hotel late Monday afternoon was an unfamiliar sight. Not only were the property’s famous rock ‘n roll memorabilia cases empty, but restaurants were closed, TVs were gone from bar areas and only a few lonely patrons were among ...

4 February 2020
By Bryan Horwath

Las Vegas airport reports record 51.5 million travelers in 2019

A Southwest Airlines passenger jet takes off from McCarran International Airport June 5, 2017.

McCarran International Airport says a jump in the number of travelers in December pushed it to a record 51.5 million passengers in ...

29 January 2020
Associated Press
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