Richard N. Velotta

Story Archive

Auto shows get creative to drive attendance
Friday, Nov. 13, 2009
With the sluggish Las Vegas convention industry and the sputtering automotive industry, local tourism leaders were asking an important question last week: Just how good would this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association show be for business?
Get ready for sports book competition, regulator says
Friday, Nov. 13, 2009
Nevada will face competition for race and sports books, a state gaming regulator predicts.
Rare split vote by Control Board advances Australian slot company
Friday, Nov. 13, 2009
A growing Australian slot machine manufacturer, hoping to make Las Vegas a base of operations for its North American distribution, cleared an important hurdle Nov. 4 when the state Gaming Control Board recommended a license and its registration as a public company.
Q&A: Patricia Becker
Executive director, UNLV’s International Gaming Institute
Friday, Nov. 13, 2009
The executive director of UNLV’s International Gaming Institute is a woman who has worn many hats in her three-decade gaming industry career.
Q&A: Blake Sartini
Golden Gaming CEO
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
Golden Gaming CEO Blake Sartini spent 15 years learning the ropes of the gaming industry at one of the city’s fastest growing companies.
Airport officials hope rivals will pick up US Airways' flight cuts
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
US Airways’ announcement last week that it would cut more capacity at McCarran International Airport next year was a surprising development to tourism and aviation analysts, but not a knock-out punch, they say.
IMEX Group hopes meetings conference will have permanent home in Las Vegas
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
Local tourism leaders have long touted the value of bringing meetings and conference planners to Las Vegas because the city leaves a big impression.
Rail alliance names first routes, and LV-Reno ignored
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
When Jacob Snow, the general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, shared the outline of a new group that calls itself the Western High-Speed Rail Alliance, many, including me, got pretty excited about the prospects, even though I figured the end result probably wouldn’t be something I’d see in my lifetime.
Control Board plans special meeting on Aria gaming license
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
Hopefully, the operator of CityCenter isn’t superstitious when it comes to getting its gaming license.
Southwest rolls out 'green plane' to show commitment to environment
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Southwest Airlines hopes to enhance its reputation for being green, as in profitable, by being “green,” as in environmentally responsible, with new initiatives that not only move the needle on sustainability, but should save it millions of dollars.
Allegiant earnings solid; US Airways trims losses
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
The parent company of a Las Vegas-based airline continues to roll despite challenging the recession, while another, the second busiest at McCarran International Airport, narrowed its earnings losses.
Tourism biz deals with flu fears
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Just as Southern Nevada has begun claiming some small victories in its rebound from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, along comes another potential setback: concerns over whether travelers would stay at home to avoid being exposed to persons carrying the H1N1 virus.
British Airways brings plenty of upside to Las Vegas
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Like many people, Willie Walsh decided to celebrate his birthday in Las Vegas, the party capital of the world.
LV lands trade show aimed at meetings industry
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
IMEX, a major international exhibition for meetings and incentive travel professionals, will have a version in Las Vegas in 2011. The inaugural IMEX America is planned at the Sands Expo Center Oct. 11-13, 2011, and is expected to draw leaders in the U.S. meetings industry as well as representatives from convention centers and large hotels from across the country.
US Airways slashes McCarran flights
Second-largest carrier in Vegas will focus on more profitable markets
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
US Airways, once the busiest carrier at McCarran International Airport, will slice its schedule of 64 daily flights to 36 by the end of February.
Former Tropicana operator's Tahoe license approved
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
Nevada Gaming commissioners didn’t hide the fact that they were a little nervous about granting a license to LV Casino LLC to operate Lake Tahoe Horizon Casino.
Some ideas to fix the Governor’s Tourism Conference
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
The Governor’s Tourism Conference is broken. Can anybody fix it?
Q&A: Somer Hollingsworth
President and CEO, Nevada Development Authority
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
Longtime Las Vegas resident Somer Hollingsworth is president and CEO of the Nevada Development Authority, but it seems his favorite pastime is getting under the skin of California leaders trying to prevent businesses from leaving that state.
New British Airways flight will link LV with Europe, Middle East and Africa
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
When British Airways makes its first 11-hour flight to McCarran International Airport, it will connect Las Vegas with more than just London.
Southwest narrows third-quarter loss brought on by buyouts
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the market leader at McCarran International Airport, narrowed losses in a third quarter that would have been profitable had it not been for a one-time charge related to early retirement buyouts.
Southwest Airlines to service new Florida airport
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
DALLAS – Southwest Airlines will begin flying to northwest Florida next year when a new airport at Panama City opens in May.
Backers of less traditional high-speed projects air plans
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
Backers of three upstart transportation systems vying to be the ride of the future could all agree on one thing at a forum conducted Monday night at UNLV – it won’t be easy for them to be accepted by the public and by regulators when their ideas are so far from mainstream thinking.
Forum to highlight three futuristic rail projects to Calif.
DesertXpress, maglev aren’t the only ideas for high-speed trains
Monday, Oct. 19, 2009
We have all heard about the two high-speed rail proposals that promise to whisk passengers between Las Vegas and Southern California in little more than an hour, the steel-wheels-on-rails DesertXpress and the magnetically propelled maglev train.

Big hit in convention traffic cuts visitor volume again in August
Friday, Oct. 16, 2009
Convention attendance took a big hit in August, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said, with the number of shows for the month down 22 percent over last year and attendance off 58.9 percent to 235,841.
Unusual rail proposals not likely to challenge existing plans
Friday, Oct. 16, 2009
We have all heard about those two high-speed rail proposals that promise to whisk passengers between Las Vegas and Southern California in little more than an hour.
Aviation industry eager for upgraded air-traffic control system
Friday, Oct. 16, 2009
In the early days of flying, when airplanes were contracted to move the U.S. mail, aviators used roads and rail lines to find their way across the country. Pilots would simply fly over established routes to their destination.
Southwest narrows loss in Q3 as revenue falls
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the market leader at McCarran International Airport, narrowed losses in a third quarter that would have been profitable had it not been for a one-time charge related to early-retirement buyouts.
Dann Lewis, Director of the Nevada Tourism Commission
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
You may have not heard of Dann Lewis, the recently appointed director of the Nevada Tourism Commission, but you have probably seen his work.
Q&A: Dann Lewis
Director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
While you may have never heard of Dann Lewis, the recently appointed director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, you’ve probably seen his work.
Holding pattern: Expert sees slow recovery for McCarran
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
McCarran International Airport won’t fully recover from the current recession until at least 2014, a leading aviation expert says.
Miller: New license system to benefit small businesses
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
Legislation establishing a one-stop shop for businesspeople to renew licenses and pay fees online not only is expected to make it easier for small businesses to operate in the state but generate millions of dollars in taxes that went unpaid for years.
Control Board looks at behavior issue in latest Hard Rock license
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
Gaming regulators showed that they’re keeping vigilant on policing behavior at nightclubs and pool parties in Las Vegas.
Analyst sees bright spots for LV when CityCenter opens
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
History has shown that the Las Vegas casino industry is resilient, particularly after the opening of new resorts.
What does Chicago’s failed Olympics bid mean for Nevada?
Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
One of Nevada’s greatest tourism opportunities has been discussed by forward-thinking industry leaders for several years.
Chicago’s failed Olympics bid could affect Nevada’s efforts
Reno-Tahoe area looking at bid for 2018 or 2022 Winter Games
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
Representatives of the Reno-Tahoe Winter Sports Coalition hope to learn within weeks how Chicago’s failed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games would affect efforts to attract the Winter Olympics to Nevada and California.
Restaurant is Nevada's first to serve up pay-at-table technology
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
In these times of identity theft and credit card scams, you know that sinking feeling you get when you pay for a meal at a restaurant and the server walks away with your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit or debit card.
American Pacific following executive transition plan
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
When John Gibson steps down as CEO of Las Vegas-based American Pacific Corp. later this year, it will mark the first time since 1955 — when the company was founded — that the Gibson name will not be atop a list of key executives.
Online auction site is risky business
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
It seems to be a little e-commerce, a little entertainment and, possibly, a little gambling.
Q&A: Rich Lopez
President, Technology Business Alliance of Nevada
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
One of the leading supporters of tech companies in the state is the Technology Business Alliance of Nevada. So it should come as no surprise that Rich Lope is the president of the alliance.
Passenger downturn continues at McCarran
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009
McCarran International Airport has now had declining monthly passenger traffic for a year and a half after the Clark County Aviation Department reported 9.8 percent fewer customers in August over the same month a year ago.
Maglev developers forging ahead regardless of rival project
Monday, Sept. 28, 2009
If developers of a magnetic levitation transportation system linking Las Vegas with Anaheim, Calif., are worried about some of the political issues that could hamper their proposed $12 billion project, they didn’t show it Monday night.
County plans to turn billboards over to one company
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
The billboards near McCarran International Airport are one of the first clues to tourists that they aren’t in Kansas anymore.
Chamber recognizes five with BizE Awards
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Perseverance, optimism and good, old-fashioned hard work were what vaulted four small companies and a nonprofit organization to the top as the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce last week announced the winners of its 2009 Small-Business Excellence Awards.
Manufacturer of slot that can match gambler’s desired pace is licensed
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
A Las Vegas company that is working to develop slot machines that can match a gambler’s desired pace of play has been licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
The party’s over for out-of-control nightclubs, regulator says
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
It’s quite an electric scene, those casino nightclubs. But in their quest to have a wild time in Vegas, some clubbers misbehaved. And, in their bid to be recognized as the hippest place in town, club managers looked the other way.
Airline to offer service between Las Vegas, Paris
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
Paris-based XL Airways, a charter carrier with five planes in its fleet, is expected to begin twice-a-week direct air service between Paris and Las Vegas next summer. The report was unclear on whether the flights would be nonstop.
Siegel wants St. Tropez upgrade to match Gold Spike's
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
People who have seen the transformation of downtown Las Vegas’ Gold Spike can’t wait to see what Stephen Siegel, president and CEO of the Siegel Group, has in store for his newest property, the St. Tropez.
Gaming lawyers eye gray areas of casino-based nightclubs
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
When state Gaming Control Board investigators uncovered violations at Prive nightclub at Planet Hollywood in July, it didn’t take long for the issue to take center stage in the court of public opinion.
Voluntary separations may stave off LVCVA layoffs
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
It’s no secret that Southern Nevada’s tourism economy is suffering big-time because of the recession. Now, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is feeling the financial pinch and has a plan to cut its workforce.
State tourism group won't team up with larger convention
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
No decision has been reached on whether a scaled-down version of the Governor’s Tourism Conference will be held in December, but one thing is fairly certain: The conference won’t be held along with a larger event such as the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association show.