Tourism

Visitor numbers, room rates increase in March

The number of visitors to Las Vegas in March increased compared to a year ago, according to numbers released today. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said 3,224,697 people visited the city in March, compared to 3,202,344 visitors in March 2009.

11 May 2010
By Las Vegas Sun Staff

As weather heats up, the business of partying evolves at resort pools

The pool turns to whitewater as the crowd erupts to live house music spun by famous DJs on a Rehab Sunday.

In the old days - say, five or 10 years ago - a resort’s swimming pool was a place to park yourself, maybe indulge in an umbrella drink and build a tan before heading out to dinner, a show or gambling.

11 May 2010
By Amanda Finnegan

Resort fees catch guests by surprise

A view of the Las Vegas Strip.

Chicago resident Tim Murtaugh keeps close tabs on his trip expenses, so when the Excalibur tacked a $4.50 “resort fee” on top of his $39 room rate for each night of his stay, the retired librarian sent a complaint letter to the resort’s management.

8 May 2010
By Liz Benston

Nevada officials seek answers on maglev funds

Nevada political leaders are turning up the heat on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to find out what happened to all the money the state was promised to start building a magnetic levitation transportation system between Las Vegas and Anaheim, Calif.

7 May 2010
By Richard N. Velotta

Arizona boycott unlikely to benefit Vegas tourism

Activists march down Las Vegas Boulevard on Saturday during a rally for immigration reform.

Arizona’s controversial new law aimed at illegal immigrants has some organizations considering canceling conventions and trade shows in Arizona, but the LVCVA is not trying to get those groups to move their events here. “While we certainly want to generate as much new business as we can, it’s not good business practice to capitalize on other destinations when they’re being unfairly portrayed or attacked,” said Vince Alberta, a spokesman for the LVCVA.

5 May 2010
By Richard N. Velotta

Little-known carrier WestJet really delivers for Las Vegas

WestJet agent Demetri Humphrey checks in baggage for Sarah Bonnett and her son, Braxton, 2, at McCarran International Airport as Bonnett's father, Danny Sanders, helps with the luggage.

Nothing says “international travel” like the sight of a Virgin Atlantic Airways’ Boeing 747 jumbo jet from London floating in over the Strip every day. But the foreign air carrier that delivers the most international passengers to Las Vegas isn’t a household name.

1 May 2010
By Richard N. Velotta

Pilots take to the classroom as to the air

Southwest Airlines pilot Gregg Pendleton talks to students at Carolyn Reedom Elementary School as part of the Adopt-A-Pilot program.

Most teachers agree that a guest speaker is a valuable part of the learning experience.

30 April 2010
By Richard N. Velotta

Taxable sales in Clark County drop 4.9 percent

CARSON CITY – After 26 consecutive months of a decline, the sale of vehicles in Clark County rebounded in February while the bar and restaurant business also saw improvements.

28 April 2010
By Cy Ryan

No gambling required: Harrah's widens rewards program

No gambling required: Harrah's widens rewards program

When Laura Sides and her husband visit Las Vegas, he gambles while she spends money on pedicures, massages and shopping. “My husband doesn’t do any of that stuff,” says Sides as she strolls out of Caesars Palace’s Qua spa with freshly painted toenails.

27 April 2010
By Liz Benston

Rolling in for a short stay at the Las Vegas KOA

Robert Boudreau of Riverside, Calif., rests inside his camper hauled by his classic Volkswagen Bug at the Las Vegas KOA at Circus Circus. Boudreau goes to car shows with his Bug themed in different ways, and he was headed to a car show in Boulder City the next day with a cowboy theme.

Children from Mexico, Sweden, Canada and California play in the heated pool. Americans and Canadians mingle and chat about ice hockey in the Jacuzzi.

25 April 2010
By Leila Navidi

European travelers line up at airport for flights home

Zoe Dyer, right, a teacher form Newcastle, England, updates her Facebook page on her mobile phone ("still at the airport") while waiting with her boyfriend and other tourists at McCarran International Airport on Wednesday. As air travel resumed over Europe, tourists stranded in Las Vegas made their way to the airport to try to get flights home.

Standing with her stack of luggage near the British Airways flight counter, Karen Graham waited patiently Wednesday afternoon to hear whether she’d finally be able to return to her home in Glasgow, Scotland, and her 9-year-old daughter. Graham has been in Las Vegas since April 7 for what was scheduled to be a 10-day vacation for her mother’s 60th birthday. Her trip was extended when her Sunday flight was cancelled.

21 April 2010
By Amanda Finnegan

Demand for summer getaways nudging room rates higher

A view of the Las Vegas Strip in October from the Strip's south end.

Las Vegas hotel rooms are more expensive this summer, and although tourists don’t like that, it’s great news for Southern Nevada because it means demand is going back up.

17 April 2010
By Richard N. Velotta

Summer tourism is set to sizzle

Increased demand for Las Vegas vacations has bumped up hotel room prices and airfares for summer travel.

16 April 2010
By Richard N. Velotta

Index shows few signs of economic recovery in short-term

UNLV economists aren’t optimistic about a quick recovery of the Southern Nevada economy. The Center for Business and Economic Research released its Southern Nevada Index of Leading Economic Indicators, which has remained essentially flat.

14 April 2010
By Buck Wargo

Bridge is part journey and part destination

Tourists walk on the sidewalk along the Hoover Dam, with construction of the dam bypass bridge seen in the background Friday, Feb. 26, 2010.

After being awed by Yosemite, Esther Hanner drove alongside a man-made wonder in the making just outside Boulder City. “We were on our way back to Nashville and we came around one of those hairpin turns at Hoover Dam and looked up and saw just those columns they had up at that time,” she recalls.

14 April 2010
By Stephanie Tavares
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