Tourism

Now our air show needs saving

Less than a year ago, the Nevada Tourism Commission rescued the Reno Air Races from certain cancellation after the show’s insurance premium spiked. The state delivered $600,000 to preserve one of the last air races in the world.

8 April 2013

Vegas resorts use airlines’ strategy in adopting fees, but will it fly with consumers?

The world is filled with consumers who favor one product over another. There are Apples and PCs. Cokes and Pepsis. And, in the tourism world, there are bundlers and unbundlers.

1 April 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Local company makes sports fantasies a reality

Company co-founders Tom Ellinson, left, and Dean Curtis pose with content manager Darren Flores, seated, at the Fandeavor offices in the Ogden in downtown Las Vegas Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Fandeavor is a sports marketing group that sells special game-day packages to fans.

Sports super fans often shell out big money to support their favorite teams. They buy season tickets for home games, fly to away games and stock up on piles of merchandise. Sometimes, they get team tattoos. Their loyalty — and spending — knows no boundaries. A Las Vegas startup is trying to capitalize on those obsessions by putting hardcore fans even closer to the action.

31 March 2013
By Eli Segall

New rooms are just the beginning of the Gold Coast's renovations

New rooms are just the beginning of the Gold Coast's renovations

Contractors are putting the finishing touches on 400 refurbished hotel rooms at the Gold Coast. The rooms, which are expected to reopen in the next two weeks, feature new wall coverings, carpets, blackout drapes and furniture, including armoires, dressers and desks.

29 March 2013
By Ed Komenda

Flight delayed? McCarran Airport is a good place to 'hook up,' online survey says

Dancers from Crazy Horse Paris at the MGM Grand greet international travelers arriving Thursday at McCarran International Airport on the inaugural XL Airways flight direct to Las Vegas from Paris.

Las Vegas has long been known as the marriage capital of the world. Now, the city's airport was named one of the best to hook up in. McCarran International Airport was ranked No. 2 in a list of the country's best airports for hookups.

26 March 2013
By Ed Komenda

Las Vegas becoming a go-to destination for LGBT events, tourists

Visitors stop at the Circus Circus booth at the third annual LGBT Wedding Expo at the Strip resort on Feb. 10, 2013. The expo featured LGBT-friendly wedding vendors, wedding planning tips, a fashion show and giveaways. The event was sponsored by Rainbow Wedding Network.

Since the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority began marketing to the LGBT community in the early 2000s, the city has stepped into the spotlight as one of that demographic's premier travel destinations.

25 March 2013
By Andrea Domanick

Wi-Fi test drive will have to wait

I was all set to give Southwest Airlines’ Wi-Fi a whirl on a recent flight. I was looking to test-drive the Internet capability of the system and maybe look in on Southwest’s new inflight entertainment options, innovations the company introduced widely last month.

25 March 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Fee frenzy: The South Point is the latest hotel to start charging resort fees

The South Point hotel and casino is seen Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012.

The South Point has joined Las Vegas' growing list of hotels that charge resort fees. The hotel began instituting nightly fees of $14 ($12.50 plus tax) March 1. The fee pays for amenities such as in-room Wi-Fi, access to a fitness center, local and toll-free phone calls, boarding pass printing, rides on an airport shuttle, valet parking and a casino funbook. South Point officials did not respond for comment about why the fee was adopted.

20 March 2013
By Ed Komenda

Union cuts off flight attendants’ nose

I get the role of unions trying to obtain the best contracts for workers. But I have a really hard time understanding the latest tactics by the Transportation Workers Union Local 577, which represents flight attendants for Allegiant Air.

18 March 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Nevada’s new tourism brand to launch next month

The state’s new tourism brand will be launched April 9. Former Kentucky State Tourism Director Randy Fiveash explained how that state unveiled its “Unbridled Spirit” campaign with support from every state department, placing marks and logos on letterheads, license plates and state maps.

15 March 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Las Vegas tourism chief gets surprise tribute marking 40 years

Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority speaks during Preview Las Vegas 2012 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012.

When it comes to local events, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter is always in the know.

12 March 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Taking a closer look at Singapore

Interior of Resorts World Sentosa, Sunday Feb. 14, 2010 in Singapore. Resorts World Sentosa,built by Malaysia's Genting Bhd for $4.7 billion, opened Singapore's first casino Sunday.

When talking about gaming in Singapore, local media — myself included — have focused on Sheldon Adelson’s magnificent Marina Bay Sands. Last week’s surprising announcement that the Genting Group plans to build a 3,500-room megaresort on the Strip will lead us to take a closer look at Singapore’s other casino, which I happened to visit in 2011.

11 March 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Fewer people started the year in Southern Nevada than in 2012

Tourists take photos of the Bellagio Conservatory & Gardens Chinese New Year display Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.

Southern Nevada’s new year visitor volume began the way 2012 ended — treading water compared with the previous year.

8 March 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Who stands to gain and lose from the Strip's new megaresort

Who stands to gain and lose from the Strip's new megaresort

It didn’t take long for the buzz to become a roar after the Genting Group announced plans Monday to develop a 3,500-room resort on the Strip. Here's a look at who stands to gain from the arrival of Resorts World Las Vegas and who stands to lose.

8 March 2013
By Eli Segall,
Richard N. Velotta

Plans for downtown luxury boutique hotel pushed back a year

A view of the future site of the Charlie Palmer, a boutique luxury hotel and restaurant, in the Symphony Park development in downtown Las Vegas Monday Feb. 27, 2012.

Celebrity chef Charlie Palmer’s proposed luxury hotel and restaurant at Symphony Park in downtown Las Vegas are still on hold until room rates in the city increase, developers for the project told the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday. Developers for the project presented an update to the council on the stalled project and exercised an option to extend the closing date on the land for another year.

6 March 2013
By Conor Shine
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