Tourism

Add $5 a night to your bill: The Venetian and Palazzo up their resort fees

No, you can't rent jet skis to navigate the waters of the Venetian's Grand Canal.

The reign of the resort fee continues. This time it’s a change at the Venetian and Palazzo, where resort fees have been upped from $20 to $25 a night. But don’t fret: there’s a way out.

11 April 2013
By Ed Komenda

Joe Downtown: Want a room at the Gold Spike? You might try booking it through Zappos

The Gold Spike casino and hotel, seen from Fourth and Ogden streets, in downtown Las Vegas.

Though Tony Hsieh doesn’t want to get into the casino business, sources say, he and a partnership of downtown investors now hold the note to the Gold Spike. A local commercial real estate developer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that means the Gold Spike’s owners, Siegel Group Nevada Inc., now make loan payments to Hsieh and his partners.

10 April 2013
By Joe Schoenmann

Hot times and wild life: Facebook users offer alternatives to Nevada's new tourism slogan

Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman takes the stage with a martini and showgirls before an event Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. Goodman now acts as the city's ambassador.

Given a chance to suggest an alternative to the state of Nevada’s new tourism slogan, social media users responded as if a $9 million payday were on the line. That’s how much the state spent to develop and advertise its slogan — “A World Within. A State Apart.” — which was unveiled Tuesday.

10 April 2013
By Ric Anderson

Southern Nevada tourism takes a dip in February

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

A shorter month and the rotation of some convention and trade shows out of February resulted in a 1.3 percent dip in visitor volume that month, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported today.

10 April 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Pop quiz: Test your knowledge of state tourism slogans

How recognizable and memorable are state travel and tourism slogans? Here’s a test.

9 April 2013
By Ric Anderson

A six-word slogan, and the marketing campaign to advertise it, cost Nevada $9 million

The Valley of Fire State Park.

Virginia “is for lovers.” Kentucky has “unbridled spirit.” And now, Nevada is “A World Within. A State Apart.” State tourism leaders today unveiled the state's new slogan, which cost close to $9 million and has been almost two years in the making. Officials also debuted the first television commercial to use the branding. The slogan conveys the uniqueness of the state, residents’ independent spirit and the variety of experiences and opportunities Nevada provides, Gov. Brian Sandoval said. The state plans to use the mark on documents from all of its departments.

9 April 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority seeks $270.3 million budget

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority next month will consider a $327.1 million budget package for the 2013-14 fiscal year, including a $270.3 million operating budget.

9 April 2013
By Richard N. Velotta

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
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