Richard N. Velotta

Story Archive

Nevadans show love for their state with submitted slogans
Monday, Feb. 14, 2011
A few weeks ago, I issued a challenge: Try to come up with a marketing plan for Nevada, recognizing that our state isn’t just about casinos, entertainment and night life, but also full of scenic destinations in every corner.
TWU preparing Allegiant flight attendants for negotiations
Monday, Feb. 14, 2011
Representatives of the Transport Workers Union have begun meeting with Allegiant Air flight attendants to prepare them for negotiating the first union contract in the Las Vegas-based airline’s history.
CenturyLink challenges Cox Communications’ cable supremacy
Monday, Feb. 14, 2011
When federal lawmakers changed the rules on telecommunications in the digital age, some traditions were shattered. Cable companies started offering telephone service and phone companies got into TV.
Executive: No plans in place for stalled Fontainebleau project on Las Vegas Strip
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
A representative of the owner of the Fontainebleau property told gaming regulators Wednesday that there’s still no plan to complete construction of the dormant 68-story building.
LVCVA continues press for more lucrative international tourists
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
The LVCVA will continue to press for more international visitors to Southern Nevada, counting on their propensity to spend more and stay longer than domestic travelers.
Proposal emerges to build three-stadium complex in downtown Las Vegas
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011
A $1.57 billion downtown sports complex proposal with three stadium venues has surfaced with a familiar name leading the effort.
Dream for UNLV campus has big implications for tourism
Monday, Feb. 7, 2011
When Craig Cavileer stood before the media and Rebel boosters last week explaining plans for a mixed-use development on the UNLV campus, he waxed nostalgic about how he and his family connected with the University of Texas Longhorns on football game days.
NLV company wants to build inflatable space station for NASA
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011
Robert Bigelow has been waiting for an important phone call from NASA. On Friday, he got a visit, instead. Bigelow is awaiting word from NASA that he can proceed with plans to develop his inflatable space station, which he hopes to have in orbit by 2015.
Viad Corp. narrows losses in fourth quarter
Friday, Feb. 4, 2011
Viad Corp, parent company of Las Vegas-based convention services contractor Global Experience Specialists, narrowed its losses in the fourth quarter and indicated that the meetings and convention industry will continue to rebound in 2011.
NASA official to tour North Las Vegas aerospace company
Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
The deputy administrator of NASA will be in Southern Nevada Friday to tour a North Las Vegas facility dedicated to developing a space station habitat.
Sports books get OK to take bets on nonsporting events
Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
For years, Johnny Avello has drawn the attention of Hollywood and moviegoers worldwide by posting odds on who will win the Academy Awards.
TSA unveils new security scanners at McCarran
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011
Airline passengers won’t have to worry about airport security officers getting high-tech peep shows thanks to new software that has been developed for security checkpoint scanners.
Profit for Las Vegas-based Allegiant misses on higher fuel prices
Monday, Jan. 31, 2011
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., the parent company of Allegiant Air, closed out 2010 with its 32nd straight profitable quarter and an 18.9 percent increase in revenue for the year, but a 13.9 percent decline in earnings over 2009.
Q&A: Jim Fassel, Las Vegas Locos head coach
Monday, Jan. 31, 2011
When he took the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV in 2001, coach Jim Fassel was at the top of his game.
Take ‘The Sordid Secrets of Las Vegas’ with grain of salt
Monday, Jan. 31, 2011
A new guidebook isn’t exactly what the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority had in mind about selling its tourism attributes.
$650,000 settlement with Hard Rock Hotel gets OK
Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011
The Hard Rock has built a reputation as one of the biggest party joints in a town full of them. And on Thursday it paid the price — a $650,000 fine — after conceding to state gaming authorities that it has had a hard time keeping its own employees in line, let alone the partyers who swarm the hotel and its notorious pool scene.
Sandoval to businesses: ‘Raising taxes the worst thing we could do’
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
After weathering criticism from Democratic leaders about a plan that further cuts the state’s education budget, Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday found a friendlier environment for his economic policies – the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.
Taxicab Authority OKs more cabs for Super Bowl, NASCAR
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011
Anticipating big crowds in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl weekend, a major fashion trade show in February and the city’s NASCAR race, the Nevada Taxicab Authority in unanimous votes has approved additional cabs on city streets during the events.
Allegiant Air dispatchers reject union representation
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011
Dispatchers at Allegiant Air have rejected a union representation in a close vote, but representatives of the Transport Workers Union say they’ll be back in a year to try again.
Task force develops strategy for diversifying Nevada's economy
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011
The New Nevada Task Force, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki’s team of economic development experts, completed its task of developing a statewide diversification strategy by delivering a series of reports outlining how the state should use the resources it has to recruit new business and industry.
Q&A: Curt Sheffield, Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort
Monday, Jan. 24, 2011
A ski resort in the middle of the desert? Really?
Here’s the scoop on Ben & Jerry’s helping out at St. Jude’s
Monday, Jan. 24, 2011
One of the unseen benefits of being the host to more than 20,000 conventions, trade shows and corporate meetings every year is that Southern Nevada often is on the receiving end of an organization’s philanthropy.
Southwest Airlines posts 4Q income of $131 million
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011
Southwest Airlines Co. is making money on more traffic and higher fares, and it says bookings for January and the rest of the winter look strong. Southwest is the largest carrier at McCarran International Airport.
New company to raise shrimp in middle of desert
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011
Two Southern Nevada companies, including a new arrival to North Las Vegas that will grow shrimp for food outlets in Las Vegas and abroad, on Tuesday received tax and training grant incentives from the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.
Shocked Las Vegas Chamber looks ahead after CEO's death
Search for late CEO’s successor discussed as association regroups
Monday, Jan. 17, 2011
With the shock of losing their top executive still hurting them, leaders of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce have begun seeking a replacement for President and CEO Matt Crosson.
Loyal Southwest Airlines customers say airline blew it
Monday, Jan. 17, 2011
Loyal Southwest Airlines customers who learned of the enhancements the company is making to its popular Rapid Rewards loyalty card program last week are sounding off: “Southwest, what have you done?!?”
New Gaming Control Board members cast first votes at Las Vegas meeting
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011
Two new members of the state Gaming Control Board made their first deliberations today in a meeting with little controversy and the three-member regulatory board had its first session in more than a decade under a new chairman.
LVCVA approves spending for Big League Weekend at Cashman
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011
Las Vegas will get several hours – or, more precisely, at least 18 innings – of publicity in two of the top five media markets in the country in March when Cashman Field hosts its annual Big League Weekend baseball series.
How would you brand Nevada to the world?
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011
Here’s the challenge: capture the essence of Nevada with a simple slogan that will tease the imagination. That’s a task the Nevada Tourism Commission will assign to a brand development expert over the next couple of months.
What’s in a brand? Nevada in search of an effective hook
Monday, Jan. 10, 2011
How do you capture the essence of Nevada in a brand?
Southwest making changes to its frequent-flyer program
Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011
Southwest Airlines is converting its popular Rapid Rewards loyalty program to a points-based system with accrual based on how much money a customer spends for a ticket.
Las Vegas Convention Center gets 'World Trade Center' designation
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011
Representatives of the Consumer Electronics Association and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Tuesday unveiled signage at the Convention Center for “World Trade Center, Las Vegas.”
Bet the over on International Consumer Electronics Show
Monday, Jan. 3, 2011
If our local sports books offered an over/under on attendance at the International Consumer Electronics Show as set by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the over would be a lock.
Q&A: Mike Varney
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011
Mike Varney has a two-word answer about what ails Nevada — the economy.
NLV Chamber CEO says education a priority, wary of higher taxes
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011
When the chambers of commerce of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas were searching for new CEOs last year, the Las Vegas Chamber went to the East Coast for its CEO, but the North Las Vegas Chamber didn’t go as far.
Signs of a surge in Las Vegas conventions
Rebound in corporate travel to help convention industry regain footing
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010
fter more than a year of lethargic convention attendance in Las Vegas, the meetings and trade show industry will regain much of its health in 2011.
Airlines, an arena and a train might be talk of 2011
Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010
Usually around this time, we glance back at the year that was. But since there’s nothing we can do about it now, we might as well look ahead. Here’s my list of the Top 10 Southern Nevada tourism and gaming stories you’ll be reading about in 2011.
Tourism stories you’ll be reading about in 2011
Friday, Dec. 24, 2010
Usually around this time, we glance backward at the year that was.
Q&A: David Ross-Ferrenc Szony
Friday, Dec. 24, 2010
When the Herbst Gaming empire fell into bankruptcy, it fell hard.
Allegiant flight attendants vote to unionize
Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010
Flight attendants at Allegiant Air have voted to be represented by the Transport Workers Union. It’s the first worker group of the airline, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., to seek union representation.
Selling Nevada: Officials soliciting branding ideas to promote tourism
Tourism commission hopes to come up with proposals for marketing campaign
Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010
The Nevada Commission on Tourism is considering taking a page from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority playbook to establish and develop a brand for the state.
DesertXpress top executive retires from high-speed rail project
Friday, Dec. 17, 2010
The top executive of DesertXpress Enterprises, the private company that is planning to build a $5 billion high-speed rail line from Las Vegas to Victorville, Calif., has retired from full-time service on the project.
Students promote tourism in Nevada with social media
Friday, Dec. 17, 2010
It was just like old times in Reno last week.
Larger planes could mean Southwest flights to Hawaii
Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010
Southwest Airlines could be heading as far southwest as the U.S. goes — to Hawaii. The airline’s chairman, president and CEO said in New York on Wednesday that Southwest would substitute 20 of its Boeing 737-700 aircraft orders to 800-series jets, opening the door to potential long over-water and international flights.
LVCVA focusing marketing, ad strategy on 'core' visitors
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is revamping its marketing and advertising strategy to focus on attracting the likeliest visitors in a post-recession economy.
More cabs OK'd for New Year's Eve, upcoming conventions
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
In another sign that the Las Vegas tourism economy is showing signs of life, the Nevada Taxicab Authority on Tuesday unanimously approved the temporary allocation of additional cabs on Las Vegas streets for the New Year’s Eve weekend and for conventions on the January calendar.
Be wary of delays, safety issues during winter travel
Friday, Dec. 10, 2010
Thanksgiving and the December holidays are times when many people who fly infrequently climb aboard a plane in greater numbers for family reunions and winter vacations. It’s also the time of year when weather can really mess with a flight schedule.
Gaming executives foresee a tough year ahead
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010
Gaming industry leaders are confident visitors will return in greater numbers in 2011, benefitting hotels, restaurants and resort amenities, but they’re less confident about whether their casinos will see a similar increase.
Technology, social media changing how tourism leaders market Nevada
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010
RENO – Rapid advancements in technology and intense research on who is coming here are driving how Nevada’s leading tourism marketing agencies are communicating with travelers, a panel of experts told attendees at the Governors Conference on Tourism.
Friedman to stay on as head of Nevada Commission on Tourism
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010
Larry Friedman, a longtime executive with the Nevada Commission on Tourism, is expected to serve as the agency’s director for a little longer than expected.