Tourism

Las Vegas records 8.6 percent increase in January visitors

Some of Las Vegas’ largest annual conventions helped to drive a visitor volume increase of 8.6 percent in January over the previous year, according to numbers released today.

10 March 2011
By Amanda Finnegan

Spirit Airlines offering $1 tickets to LA

Spirit Airlines is jumping into the Las Vegas-Los Angeles airfare price war with $1 tickets.

8 March 2011
By Richard N. Velotta

Union asks LVCVA to refund them for lost furlough days

With room tax collections slowly recovering, members of the union representing workers of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority have informally asked the organization’s board of directors to consider refunding them for furlough days they lost.

8 March 2011
By Richard N. Velotta

Nevada jumps through more federal hoops for rail plan

The well-meaning Nevada Transportation Department kicked off efforts to develop a state rail plan last week.

7 March 2011
By Richard N. Velotta

Will rising gas prices pinch Las Vegas tourism?

High gas prices are posted at a Chevron gas station in San Francisco, Friday, March 4, 2011. Gasoline prices have shot up an average of 35 cents per gallon since an uprising in Libya began in mid-February, which could cause concerns about tourism from the California market.

As prices at the gas pump continue to spike, a vacation is often the first thing cut from the family budget. But even as fuel prices near the $4 mark in major tourist feeder markets like California, Las Vegas tourism and resort officials don’t seem to be worried — yet.

5 March 2011
By Amanda Finnegan

County OKs plans for amusement park across from Mandalay Bay

A rendering of the proposed amusement park across from Mandalay Bay. The plan calls for up seven amusement rides, including a 500-foot "sky wheel."

Clark County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously supported a proposed amusement park on the Las Vegas Strip. Developers hope to build an entertainment and retail district that would include amusement rides on a 9.6-acre site across from Mandalay Bay.

2 March 2011
By Amanda Finnegan

CityCenter hopes new signage brings more traffic

A building wrap, starting at the base of the Harmon, points pedestrians to CityCenter and the Crystals mall Monday, Feb. 28, 2011.

When Deutsche Bank opened the Cosmopolitan on the Strip in December, misinformed tourists and some Las Vegas residents mistakenly grouped the new resort with MGM Resorts International’s CityCenter complex next door. It was easy to see why.

1 March 2011
By Amanda Finnegan

New Southwest Airlines flier loyalty program kicks in this week

A Southwest Airlines plane flies over Las Vegas.

The huge change in Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards loyalty card program is about to begin. After about six weeks of explaining how “Rapid Rewards 2.0” will work, the Dallas-based airline will make the official switch to the new system March 1.

28 February 2011
By Richard N. Velotta

Wynn Las Vegas gets $99 million upgrade after 5 years

The newly designed salon suite at Wynn Las Vegas Wednesday, February 23, 2011.

While some of his Las Vegas Strip neighbors are tattered from several years of use, Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn barely waits for a thread to be out of place at his hotels before calling for a complete remodel. It’s a practice the casino mogul has followed since the beginning of his career, first at the Golden Nugget and now at Wynn Las Vegas.

28 February 2011
By Amanda Finnegan

Q&A: Stephen Cloobeck, Chairman of the Corporation for Travel Promotion

"We've got folks on our board from Disney, United Airlines, New York & Co. and California. They're the best of the best," says Stephen Cloobeck, of the Corporation for Travel Promotion.

The way Stephen Cloobeck sees it, the federal government operates with analog equipment in a digital world.

21 February 2011
By Richard N. Velotta

Rebound spells acrimony for Taxicab Authority board

“Wanted: Nevada Taxicab Authority administrator. Must take direction from an inexperienced board of directors just learning the job. Must be willing to take criticism from 16 taxi company executives, two unions and George Knapp. Hours: Long (some say ‘never-ending’). Compensation: Little (it’s a thankless job). Inquire with the Nevada Taxicab Authority.”

21 February 2011
By Richard N. Velotta

Air carrier to partner with casinos on New York flights

A new charter air carrier that will distinctly link itself by name to Las Vegas and increase the number of seats coming in from the New York market by nearly 50 percent plans to begin operations by summer.

21 February 2011
By Richard N. Velotta

Orlando bumps Vegas from top of Orbitz spring break destination list

Aerial views of The Strip in December 2010.

A more family friendly travel destination has bumped Las Vegas from the top spot of the hottest spring break vacation locations on one travel website. After holding steady at No. 1 for two years, Las Vegas moved to No. 2 as Orlando moved into lead spot on Orbitz.com’s list.

19 February 2011
By Amanda Finnegan

Developers plan amusement park, retail center on Las Vegas Strip

Developers have proposed plans for an amusement park on this 9.6-acre site across from Mandalay Bay. The site is the location of the former Cloud Nine balloon, which closed late last year. Balloon operators were marking their inaugural flight in this Oct. 8, 2009, photo.

An amusement park is in the works on a site where another family-friendly attraction failed at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.

18 February 2011
By Amanda Finnegan

Las Vegas wedding chapels deal with love recession

Nadya Borislav, left, walks to the elevator after getting married as Brian Rosborough, right, and Anji Le Dent, second from left, of Sunset Beach, Calif., wait for their turn in the chapel at the Little White Wedding Chapel, Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 in Las Vegas.

Eriess Davis didn't want a traditional wedding: No conservative music and rows of unfamiliar guests. She wanted A Little White Chapel, in glitzy Las Vegas. Wearing a mini-dress, David marched with her boyfriend, clad in black jeans, through a set of gold elevator doors, and into a waiting room where they could buy garters, memory books and bride and groom baseball caps.

14 February 2011
CRISTINA SILVA, Associated Press
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