Shrimp consumption in Las Vegas is
more than 60,000 pounds a day -- higher than the rest of the United States
combined; it would take 288 years for one person to spend one night in every
hotel room in Las Vegas;
about 150 couples get married in Las Vegas each
day; to drive from Los Angeles, California to Reno, Nevada
the direction traveled is northwest; Samuel Clemens took the penname
"Mark Twain" while a reporter working for the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City, Nevada in 1862; the
longest running show in Las Vegas is
the Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino -- it opened in 1959.
Did you know?
In March 1931, Governor Fred Balzar signed into law the bill
legalizing gambling in the state of Nevada; the Silver State has more mountain
ranges than any other state, with its highest point being the 13,145 feet
Boundary Peak near its west-central border; Nevada is the largest
gold-producing state in the nation, second in the world only to South Africa;
Frank Sinatra once owned the Cal-Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe's Crystal Bay. It is
possible to stand in both Nevada and California inside the Cal-Neva's lobby
lounge, and in its swimming pool.
Welcome
To the official website of the Nevada Tourism Alliance.
World Tourism News
Each weekday morning before 10:00 a.m. you can find all the world tourism news that can or will impact the Nevada tourism economy right here in the News Section. Stories are maintained within 'News' for one week, thereafter they are placed into the 'news archives' section for easy reference. We invite you to look every morning and see what you may have been missing.
Local deals plentiful as tourism industry gears for ‘Staycation II’
RICHARD VELOTTA, IN BUSINESS LAS VEGAS (5/5/09) -- With school out in a month and self-imposed deadlines to book summer
travel rapidly closing in, some economists say it’s looking more and
more like summer 2009 is going to be Staycation II. Or a naycation.
CARA MCCOY, LAS VEGAS SUN (5/5/09) -- Finally -- a "worst of" list that Las Vegas isn't topping.
A recent study by Forbes magazine indicates the suffering Las Vegas economy is likely to rebound, as are
the economies of other Sun Belt cities, such as Phoenix and cities in
Florida.
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (5/7/09) Casino company narrows loss for first quarter. -- Boyd Gaming Corp. officials found
themselves in the unique position Wednesday to comment on any economic
recovery the company is experiencing in multiple gaming markets.
ADVENTUREDOME AT CIRCUS CIRCUS: More amusement on the horizon
SONYA PADGETT, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (5/7/09) Theme park director says rides will be added as soon as economy improves. -- The Adventuredome at Circus Circus opened in 1993 with four attractions. As of February 2009, it had 25 attractions. What a difference 16 years makes.
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (5/6/09) Operator of Wynn Las Vegas, Encore says consumer confidence a key. -- A week after expressing optimism
about Las Vegas' economic recovery, Wynn Resorts Ltd. Chairman Steve
Wynn was more guarded Tuesday.
The operator of Wynn Las Vegas and
Encore took a $33.8 million loss in the first quarter, due in large
part to poor results at the company's Macau casino.
Hotel Check-In Exclusive: Embassy Suites positions itself to attract more business travelers
BRENT JONES, USA TODAY (5/6/09) -- Ever driven past an Embassy Suites hotel because its two-bedroom suites were too spacious for you and your laptop?
Embassy
Suites execs think it's time to fix that. They're rolling out a new,
one-bedroom version of the chain's standard, two-bedroom suite for
travelers who don't need - or want - the extra space. It's the first
major room change since the chain was founded in 1984 aimed squarely at
road warriors.
Southwest Airlines, IBM move ahead with Vegas events
RICHARD VELOTTA, IN BUSINESS LAS VEGAS (5/1/09) LVCVA says examples show city isn’t bad for business. -- Two major companies are going forward with corporate gatherings in Las
Vegas next week and likely will become testimonials in the city’s bid
to get business travel back on track.
Henderson trail project winds through approval process
JEREMY TWITHCHELL, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/24/09) -- A 10-mile trail corridor along Lake Mead Parkway in Henderson is set
to begin the city’s approval process after a second public meeting
Wednesday night.
The $7.2 million trail would run from Boulder Highway to the Lake
Mead National Recreation Area and on both sides of the road for much of
that distance.
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/24/09) -- New International Game Technology
Chief Executive Officer Patti Hart knew when she took over the job 23
days ago, the Reno-based slot machine giant was facing challenges.
ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/24/09) $3 billion lawsuit alleges pledge to provide $800 million has been broken. -- Another Strip project could be in
jeopardy, this time because lenders are refusing to provide $800
million in prearranged funding to complete Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Tahoe Cal-Neva to remain open while future contemplated
RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/23/09) -- The lender that foreclosed on the historic Cal-Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe
said a private management firm has been hired to run the operation and
keep it open while the property's future is contemplated.
JACLYN O'MALLEY, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/23/09) -- A 127-room, non-gaming hotel in the Hyatt Place chain is slated to open September near the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
BRENDAN BUHLER, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/19/09) Sure, the wheels have come off our big boom, but here’s why there’s hope. -- If you listen carefully, you can hear the clicking keyboard sound of Las Vegas’ obituary being written.
National media organizations in recent weeks have been exploring
stories on the death of Las Vegas. A couple of top-shelf newspapers, a
magazine or two and one of the networks have all been asking gloomy
questions.
KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/19/09) -- LAS VEGAS (AP) — For 51 young women from across America, beauty comes
to (figurative) blows Sunday as they compete for the Miss USA crown.
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/17/09) -- Destination
resorts in Las Vegas are betting locals can help fill the spending gap
caused by fewer tourist and business traveler visits.
This week the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
launched its first coordinated campaign to attract more locals to area
resorts.
Icahn Takes On Kerkorian in Big Las Vegas Showdown
JEFFREY MCCRACAEN & TAMARA AUDI, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (4/17/09) -- Two legendary investors are preparing to face off in a high-stakes game whose outcome could reshape the face of Las Vegas.
Activist investor Carl Icahn is pushing casino operator MGM Mirage to
restructure in bankruptcy court, according to people familiar with the
matter. The gambit pits him against Kirk Kerkorian, MGM Mirage's
largest owner and a swashbuckling investor who won and lost fortunes
with big gambles in Las Vegas, Hollywood and Detroit.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
R&R gets three-year extension on LVCVA ad contract
RICHARD VELOTTA, IN BUSINESS LAS VEGAS (4/17/09) -- With centuries of institutional experience in the crowd, members of the
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority did what just about
everybody expected them to do when it came to deciding whether to
extend the contract of longtime advertising and marketing consultant
R&R Partners.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Gaming Industry Veterans Launch Union Gaming Group
Gaming Industry Veterans Launch Union Gaming Group Independent research & advisory firm will provide boutique services to global industry leaders
April 17, 2009 (Las Vegas, NV) –Top gaming industry analysts Bill Lerner,
Rich Moriarty and Grant Govertsen announced today the formation of Union
Gaming Group, their new boutique research and advisory firm. Based in Las
Vegas, Union Gaming Group becomes the only independent research organization
located in the world’s gaming capital.
Union Gaming Group is an independent research and advisory firm focused on
the global gaming marketplace, providing services to government and
industry. The company offers independent research products and services that are
rooted in the extensive industry expertise and insight of the founders, all
of whom have deep relationships with the investment community, corporate
managements, governments and other parties important to the global gaming
business.
“Union Gaming Group has been created in response to the growing call for
independence in research, very specific market insight, and unbundling of
fees,” said Bill Lerner. “We understand that focused industry expertise,
local market presence in Las Vegas, and global relationships across the sector
are tremendous advantages for clients who increasingly demand specific and
highly relevant research and analysis.”
Bill Lerner has spent 13 years on Wall Street in sell side research, most
recently as Managing Director and Senior Gaming & Lodging analyst at
Deutsche Bank Securities. This followed ten years at Prudential Securities and
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell. Lerner has been recognized by Institutional
Investor as part of its “All American Research Team” and Wall Street Journal’s “
Best of the Street.”
Rich Moriarty has spent 12 years on Wall Street in institutional equity
sales, most recently as Director, Institutional Client Group at Deutsche Bank
Securities in its North American Headquarters. This followed nine years at
Lehman Brothers Inc., now Barclays Capital, and Susquehanna International
Group. Moriarty has led several landmark equity and equity-linked
transactions in the gaming space, notably: Wynn Resorts, Boyd Gaming, Melco-Crown
and Shuffle Master Incorporated. In 2008, Moriarty was recognized in
Institutional Investor’s annual poll for “Best Sales - Gaming and Lodging.”
Grant Govertsen has spent five years on Wall Street as a gaming analyst.
Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Govertsen worked at several boutique
economic consulting firms where he had primary responsibility for feasibility and
market studies related to gaming and real estate developments.
“Never before has there been a greater need for increased tax revenues at
the local, state and federal level,” Govertsen added. “Gaming expansion is
a viable solution to fulfill those needs.”
“The global gaming industry, despite current sentiment, is alive and well,”
said Rich Moriarty. “Union Gaming Group is the only independent firm
headquartered in Las Vegas, because we understand the importance of working
side-by-side with the leaders in industry and government from the global hub
of the business. We have deep expertise and understanding of the challenges
and opportunities within the gaming industry, because we are completely
focused on this sector,” he concluded.
About Union Gaming Group
Union Gaming Group is an independent research and advisory firm focused on
the global gaming marketplace, and providing services to government and
industry. Certain services to be provided by Union Gaming Group are subject
to the receipt of regulatory approvals. The company is headquartered in Las
Vegas, Nevada and can be found at: _http://www.uniongaminggroup.com_
(http://www.uniongaminggroup.com/)
Reno to lose two major conventions
RAY HAGAR, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/15/09) -- The Reno-Sparks area will lose two major conventions which have
combined for almost 27,000 room nights, the Reno Sparks Convention and
Visitors Authority announced today.
AMANDA FINNEGAN, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/16/09) Billionaire businessman critical of lower room rates, excessive debt. -- Phil Ruffin, the Strip’s newest casino owner, weighed in on
cash-strapped MGM Mirage, the local economy and his latest casino
purchase during a television interview Wednesday night.
RAY HAGAR, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/15/09) -- The Reno-Tahoe International Airport unveiled a new Web site Tuesday
that is designed to help travelers easily book travel to and from the
Reno-Tahoe area.
STAFF REPORT, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/15/09) -- The fifth annual IGT-UNR Engineering Symposium, "Emerging Technologies
in Games and Gaming," will be held 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the
University of Nevada, Reno's Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. The event
is open to the public.
LIZ BENSTON, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/15/09) -- The Guardian Angel Cathedral on the Strip has for decades symbolized
Las Vegas’ belief that community institutions can flourish alongside
its colossal gaming ambitions.
The Catholic church, at Cathedral Way and Las Vegas Boulevard, in
the shadow of Wynn Resorts’ Encore, now stands in the way of Steve
Wynn’s long-term plans to build a casino on the company’s 140-acre golf
course next to Wynn Las Vegas.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Allegiant reports earnings for quarter
LAS VEGAS SUN (4/15/09) -- Airline company finds success in flying vacationer. -- The high-flying stock of Allegiant Travel Co. of Las Vegas was in the
spotlight again today after the airline company said its first-quarter
profit exceeded expectations.
The owner of Allegiant Air LLC on Tuesday disclosed its earnings will
be in the range of $1.34 to $1.38 per share. That compares to $1.20 per
share forecast by analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
APPETIZERS: Business takes off at Landings at Henderson airport
COREY LEVITAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/15/09) -- The association between good food and airplanes has never been a strong one.
Landings, a national chain, seeks to change that. The company's
fourth tarmac-adjacent location landed at Henderson's Executive Airport
in August. It's the first restaurant to open in the recently renovated
terminal.
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/15/09) R&R ad agency wins three-year contract. -- The
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Tuesday approved a new
three-year advertising and marketing deal with R&R Partners,
creators of the "What happens here, stays here" advertising slogan.
The new deal is shorter than two previous five-year pacts with
R&R but comes with an option for a three-year extension in 2012.
LAS VEGAS SUN (4/14/09) Some firms cancel to avoid negative publicity. -- Las Vegas has seen 402 conventions and meetings canceled from October to mid-March, USA Today reported.
The newspaper said Las Vegas and Orlando, the nation's top
destinations for business events, respectively, have been among the
hardest hit as the recession reduced convention activity. Compounding
the problem, some companies have canceled events in order to avoid
negative publicity over perceived extravagant spending.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Cities greet meeting planners with open arms
ROGER YU, USA TODAY (4/14/09) -- For its 50th anniversary, the American Choral
Directors Association turned to its hometown of Oklahoma City for its
biennial convention.
Choosing a destination more modest than its
previous convention sites — Miami, Los Angeles and New York — turned
out to be fortunate in light of the sharp downturn in the economy and
drop in attendees, says executive director Tim Sharp.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Inside the deals: Hottest travel trends for summer 2009
SARAH PASCARELLA, USA TODAY (4/10/09) -- In 2009, everything old is new again. Travelers are being more cautious
during the economic downturn, and want a summer vacation that's going
to give them the best experience for their hard-earned dollars and
vacation time. Family vacations, road trips, and classic destinations
are popular this summer, and deals are plentiful. High supply and
decreased demand has created a buyers' (i.e., travelers') market. If
you can swing it, you'll be able to get a lot more for your money this
year.
ANNIE JACOBSEN, LOS ANGELES TIMES MAGAZINE (4/12/09) -- Area 51. It's the most famous military institution in the world that
doesn't officially exist. If it did, it would be found about 100 miles
outside Las Vegas in Nevada's high desert, tucked between an Air Force
base and an abandoned nuclear testing ground. Then again, maybe not—
the U.S. government refuses to say. You can't drive anywhere close to
it, and until recently, the airspace overhead was restricted—all the
way to outer space. Any mention of Area 51 gets redacted from official
documents, even those that have been declassified for decades.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Marriott CEO sees signs of a turnaround
JERI CLAUSING, TRAVEL WEEKLY (4/10/09) -- Bill Marriott says he thinks the hotel business, hard hit by a sharp drop in meetings, is starting to stabilize.
In
a C-SPAN interview Friday morning, Marriott International's CEO said
occupancy and room rates remained down, in large part because of
canceled meetings.
More companies meet virtually as conventions canceled
GARY STOLLER, USA TODAY (4/12/09) -- Recessionary times have forced a wave of
cancellations of conventions and business meetings around the country,
costing local economies billions in lost visitor dollars since fall.
Among the hardest hit are convention meccas Las Vegas and Orlando, the top two destinations for business events, respectively.
THOMAS FRANK, USA TODAY (4/13/09) -- WASHINGTON — A record number of foreigners visited the USA in 2008,
thanks largely to an increasing number of Mexicans and Canadians on
vacations or business trips, according to government reports.
Leaders of Vegas’ top industry put on a different face
LIZ BENSTON, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/13/09) Casino executives take sober tone as new reality sets in. -- MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren said last month he harbors no ill will toward people who think the company will fail.
“I have no illusions that this is going to be easy,” he said during a
conference call with analysts last month. “We will take every question,
we’ll take every criticism, and we’ll own it all.”
MARTIN GRIFFITH, LAS VEGAS GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/13/09) Slumping economy keeps skiers away. -- Sierra Nevada ski resorts
are starting to shut down lifts for the season after what some
operators are calling a "very challenging year" because of the
economy's downhill slide.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Creator of popular Las Vegas ad slogan seeks new deal
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL 4/13/09 Big-dollar, long contracts criticized. -- Even the best ads can't transport a
tangy shrimp cocktail or a happy crowd of tipsy pub revelers from Las
Vegas to Ken Oakley's home in San Jose, Calif.
At least the frequent Las Vegas
visitor gets to think about his favorite places when he sees the
ubiquitous "What happens here, stays here" ads on television.
Bar owners, customers want less-complicated smoking law
RICHARD LAKE, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/13/09) Nevada Legislature considers changing law. -- For more than two years, it has been
illegal to smoke in restaurants, bars that serve food, malls, day care
centers and other public places in Nevada.
Some people do it anyway. The
Southern Nevada Health District has received 4,275 complaints about
people smoking where they're not supposed to since the ban went into
effect in December 2006, said the agency's spokeswoman, Stephanie Bethel.
AMANDA FINNEGAN, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/10/09) Casino owner says he might buy Strip properties – if the price is right. -- Casino mogul Steve Wynn said during an interview this week he has
little faith that federal stimulus dollars headed to Nevada will lift a
struggling economy.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Liberace museum strives to keep its sparkle after 30 years
SONYA PADGETT, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/12/09) Facility supports scholarship program. --It
might be the cheesiest overnight bag in existence, a PVC and satin
duffel splashed with a photo of Liberace taking a bubble bath.
It certainly gets some looks when Darin Hollingsworth uses it, which
he does, often. So often, in fact, that he needs to replace it. But if
carrying this loud man-purse into airports and hotels gives him the
opening he needs to spread the word about Liberace, then it's well
worth any hit his cool factor may take.
New spa carts add relaxing treatments to room service menu
KITTY BEAN YANCEY, USA TODAY (4/10/09) -- In-room spa services are on a roll.
Newly designed carts that hold everything needed
for facials, massages and more are bringing treatments to guestrooms at
Michigan's JW Marriott Grand Rapids. Even better, prices are no more
than in the hotel's spa.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
One hand gives Obama an invite, the other a slap
BRENDAN BUHLER, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/10/09) -- When is an invitation not really an invitation?
On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Gibbons invited President Barack Obama to meet with him. In a polite letter, Gibbons
said he understood Obama would be in town in May and that he hoped the
president could find time to meet with the governor and various
business leaders to talk about finding ways to help Nevada’s ailing
tourism economy.
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: Elton John wrapping up Las Vegas 'Red Piano' showcase
MIKE WEATHERFORD, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/10/09) Elton John wrapping up Las Vegas 'Red Piano' showcase. -- The night before Valentine's Day of
2004, Elton John did something once unthinkable for a rock star of the
'70s. He became a Las Vegas headliner.
BILL O'DRISCOLL, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/9/09) -- Wanted: a new owner for what's billed as the oldest operating lodge in Nevada.
The Gold Hill Hotel, with origins dating to before 1862 on the steep
slopes of the Comstock just south of Virginia City, is up for sale.
Lender to keep Cal-Neva Lodge open despite auction failure
JASON HIDALGO, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/8/09) -- The lender for troubled Crystal Bay fixture the Cal-Neva Resort, Spa
and Casino says it has no plans to close the property after
unsuccessful attempts to sell it at auction.
Chinese tourists are the export that California is chasing
DON LEE, LOS ANGELES TIMES (4/8/09) -- Reporting from Shanghai -- Five years after closing its overseas trade
bureau here, California launched a new office Wednesday aimed at
getting a bigger share of one of China's biggest exports: tourists.
As Room Rates Sink, Sleepless Nights for Hotel Investors
FRED BERNSTEIN, NEW YORK TIMES (4/7/09) -- In San Francisco, prices of hotel rooms have “gone off a cliff,” said
Karl Hoagland, chairman of Larkspur Hotels and Restaurants. Softening
demand has led some luxury hotels to offer rooms for less than $100 a
night.
HUBBLE SMITH, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/8/09) Almost all categories post declines. -- Southern
Nevada's economic indicators show no signs of recovery and suggest the
recession will last through the rest of the year, a local economist
said Tuesday.
Visitation slips 8 percent in February despite deep discounts
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/8/09) -- Deep
discounts helped attract tourists to Las Vegas resorts but not enough
to offset a lousy economy, according to tourism figures showing local
visitation fell 8 percent in February to about 2.8 million people.
Visitation numbers from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors
Authority painted a picture of a struggling destination that's pulling
out all the stops to attract business.
OSKAR GARCIA, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/7/09) -- LAS VEGAS -- Shares of MGM Mirage surged Monday amid reports that the
struggling casino company was considering casino sales, new investors
and new borrowing to shore up its balance sheet.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Business travelers say cutback in trips has pluses, minuses
GARY STOLLER, USA TODAY (4/7/09) -- Cutting back on business travel was like taking a rejuvenation pill for Debra Martin.
Strip gaming win falls for 14th month to 2004 levels
CY RYAN, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/7/09) -- CARSON CITY – Casinos along the Las Vegas Strip suffered a 23.4 percent
drop in their gross win in February, the fifth-straight month of a
double digit decline.
ROGER VINCENT, LOS ANGELES TIMES (4/7/09) -- Shamed by images of wealthy corporateers cavorting at the expense of
ordinary people, U.S. companies canceled an estimated $1 billion worth
of conferences in the first two months of this year and trimmed back on
others. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Analyst upgrades Wynn Resorts on balance sheet
ASSOCIATED PRESS, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/9/09) -- Wynn Resorts Ltd.'s solid balance sheet and Macau prospects has led an
analyst to upgrade the casino operator on Monday to "Buy" from
"Neutral."
MGM Mirage stock surges on corporate financing news
LAS VEGAS SUN (4/6/09) -- MGM Mirage stock closed up 19 percent today on news it may sell some of its casinos and could land some new corporate financing.
Airline service hits four-year high; Hawaiian, Northwest among top carriers
TODAY IN THE SKY, USA TODAY (4/6/09) -- Hawaiian
Airlines earned the top rating in this year's Airline Quality Rating
(AQR), which was just released this morning. Hawaiian was followed by
low-cost carriers AirTran and JetBlue. The top traditional "legacy"
carrier? That was Northwest – now a Delta subsidiary – which placed
fourth out of the 17 big U.S. airlines included in the report. The Associated Press notes
the other "legacy airlines — American, Continental, Delta and United —
were clustered in the middle, while regional air carriers filled out
the bottom rungs." The worst rating went to Delta affiliate Atlantic
Southeast (ASA). Finishing just ahead of ASA were American subsidiary
American Eagle and Delta subsidiary Comair.
Crown Ltd. says it’s not discussing CityCenter investment
LAS VEGAS SUN (4/6/09) -- Australia's Crown Ltd. today said it's not in discussions about
investing in the $8.7 billion CityCenter complex under construction on
the Las Vegas Strip.
LAS VEGAS SUN (4/4/09) -- MGM Mirage has hired investment bank Morgan Stanley to help with the
potential sales of two properties, MGM Grand Detroit and Beau Rivage in
Biloxi, Miss., the Wall Street Journal reported today.
Travel industry woos those with plenty of leisure time: furloughed and laid-off workers
HUGO MARTIN, LOS ANGELES TIMES (4/3/09) -- Pink slip travelers? Furlough tourists? Jobless vacationers?
Call
them what you may, they are a surprising new target for travel bargains
aimed at the unemployed, the furloughed and jittery workers fearful of
being laid off.
Madame Tussauds pays tribute to famous Las Vegas characters
MARK HANSEL, LAS VEGAS SUN (4/3/09) -- Madame Tussauds Las Vegas wax museum has introduced a Viva Vegas
exhibit that focuses on colorful characters from throughout the city’s
history.
Investors warm to idea of new partner for CityCenter
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/3/09) -- A
day after reports that Los Angeles-based Colony Capital might be the
financial savior of the $8.7 billion CityCenter development, the
project's partners remained relatively quiet.
Las Vegas lands NASCAR's season-ending awards show
JEFF WOLF, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/3/09) NASCAR, LVCVA reach tentative deal to move event here. -- A second annual NASCAR Sprint Cup
race isn't in Las Vegas' foreseeable future, but one of the sport's big
events apparently is coming to town.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Rocker Carlos Santana will trip through his hits in Vegas
MARCO R. DELLA CAVA, USA TODAY (4/1/09) -- SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — With his overt spirituality and cosmic patois,
Carlos Santana doesn't seem like a Vegas kind of guy. But he'll soon
get a shot at injecting soul into Sin City's neon-lit heart.
Perspective forum offers differing views on health of local economy
HUBBLE SMITH, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/2/09) Some see positive signs. -- Pessimists look at Southern Nevada's
economy and see double-digit unemployment, declining visitor volume and
gaming revenue, the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, and casino
companies struggling to pay debt on multi billion-dollar Strip projects.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Investor may help financially troubled CityCenter
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/2/09) Colony Capital may provide cash boost. -- Los Angeles-based Colony Capital,
which owns the Las Vegas Hilton and 75.9 percent of Station Casinos,
could be bringing some much-needed cash to the troubled $8.7 billion
CityCenter development, news reports say.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Las Vegas Perspective 2009: Economic numbers daunting
HUBBLE SMITH, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/1/09) -- Pessimists look at Southern Nevada's
economy and see double-digit unemployment, declining visitor volume and
gaming revenue, the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, and casino
companies struggling to pay debt on multibillion-dollar Strip projects.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
ShoWest movie convention optimistic about '09
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (4/1/09) -- The inside of a darkened theater is a good place to escape the brutal reality of the nation's economy.
The inside of the theater's accounting department is a good place to celebrate it.
That's what they're saying at ShoWest, the film industry's biggest annual convention now under way in Las Vegas.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Travelers could pay higher bed taxes in bad economy
JACK GRUBER, USA TODAY (4/1/09) -- Facing shrinking revenues, some local governments are raising their bed tax or proposing changes.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Rural tourism conference begins in Fallon Wednesday
ASSOCIATED PRESS, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (3/31/09) -- FALLON (AP) -- Leaders of Nevada's rural tourism industry are gathering
at a conference this week to share ideas about ways to survive the sour
economy, including sustaining special events and using Native American
history to lure visitors to their towns.
THOMAS FRANK, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (3/30/09) -- WASHINGTON - Federal officials hope a new education campaign will
eliminate confusion at U.S. borders this summer when Americans will be
required for the first time to show a passport or a special ID card to
drive home from Canada or Mexico.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Whatever the secret, they have been packing M in
LIZ BENSTON, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/31/09) Buffet, self-serve drink stations, payback rates all part of the success. -- To enter M Resort is to step back in time, to 2006, before the recession slashed discretionary spending. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
Rural tourism industry to share survival tips
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/31/09) -- FALLON -- Leaders of Nevada's rural
tourism industry are gathering at a conference this week to share ideas
about ways to survive the sour economy, including sustaining special
events and utilizing American Indian history to lure visitors to their
towns.
Gibbons’ plan to merge tourism, economic development rejected
CY RYAN, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/30/09) -- CARSON CITY – A legislative budget subcommittee has voted to reject the
plan of Gov. Jim Gibbons to merge the state’s tourism and economic
development programs.
GUY CLIFTON, RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (3/30/09) -- A bipartisan legislative subcommittee rejected Gov. Jim Gibbons’ plan
to merge the state departments of economic development and tourism
after the fiscal analysts said it would result in little savings.
BRENDAN REILY, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/30/09) -- CARSON CITY — Republicans joined
Monday with Democrats on a legislative budget panel to oppose GOP Gov.
Jim Gibbons' plan to merge commissions on economic development and on
tourism in tourist-dependent Nevada.
RICHARD VELOTTA, IN BUSINESS LAS VEGAS (3/27/09) -- Are you tired of all the bad news in the tourism industry recently? Me, too.
So this week, with spring breaks occurring across the nation, I
decided to give everybody a vacation — oops, in Las Vegas Convention
and Visitors Authority parlance, that’s give everybody “a break” — from
bad news and list my top 10 good-news stories in the tourism industry.
STEVE GREEN, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/29/09) -- Visitors to Las Vegas last year were likely to be older, were more
likely to drive into town than fly and planned to spend less money.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
STRIP'S LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW: Final feather falls on 'Folies Bergere'
MIKE WEATHERFORD, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/29/09) Parisian topless revue gives last high-kicking cancan
after showgirls of all ages pack Tiffany Theater. -- The atmosphere onstage resembled a family reunion, albeit a family with lots of tall, glamorous women in heels.
It was the final performance of "Folies Bergere," and one that
reached out beyond those who performed the last high-kicking cancan
Saturday night to anyone who had been part of the show for its 49 years.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
TRAVEL AND TOURISM: Twenty-thousand fees under a C
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/29/09) As market reels, room rates less than $100 -- way less -- abound. -- The last time Greg Shymko came to Las Vegas $100 wouldn't buy one night in an average hotel.
This year a C-note will buy Shymko four nights at the Imperial Palace, a hotel in the heart of the action.
TOURISM: Women's Championship to bring cash to Reno area
RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (3/27/09) -- More than 40,000 women for the next three months will be at the
National Bowling Stadium on Fourth Street in downtown Reno, with a $40
million estimated economic impact for the area arriving with them.
It is the sixth time the Women's Championships has been conducted in the Reno area.
Opening ceremonies begin at 2:15 p.m. Saturday and run through July 4.
Only Vegas admirers in this House discussion
LISA MASCARO, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/27/09) Colleagues tell Berkley: We love your hometown, support its tourism industry. -- Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley held court on the House floor one night
this week on a topic near and dear to her heart: Tourist travel to Las
Vegas.
Cirque du Soleil cast, crew do their part to embrace, preserve community
JANE ANN MORRISON, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/26/09) -- Never did I anticipate my first
participation in a fundraising "fun walk" would be so humbling, even
borderline humiliating. Then, I never envisioned I'd look like a big
yellow marshmallow chicken suitable for Easter, since I never thought
I'd be standing next to the hard bodies from Cirque du Soleil.
STEVE TETREAULT, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/26/09) --The House gave final approval Wednesday to a sweeping public lands
bill that will transfer several Southern Nevada federal tracts to local
control.
The measure will lead to the largest expansion of the wilderness
system in 15 years, bestowing the highest level of federal protection
on 2 million acres in nine states and launching one of the most
ambitious river restoration efforts in the West.
International visitation to the US sets new records
TRAVEL MOLE (3/24/09) International visitation to the US sets new records. -- The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that a record 58 million
international visitors traveled to the United States during 2008, an
increase of nearly four percent over 2007. Thirteen of the top 25
arrivals markets broke records set in previous years. In December 2008,
the total monthly visitation reached 3.9 million, down seven percent
when compared to December 2007. Fourth quarter total arrivals declined
six percent.
Today's economy calls for meeting stimulus ROI package
TRAVEL MOLE (3/25/09) -- Strategic meeting and event production agency, Minding Your Business,
Inc. (MYB), announces its “Meeting Stimulus Package” to help
association meeting planners achieve success in today’s new economic
reality.
China calls for new global currency to replace dollar
ASSOCIATED PRESS, LOS ANGELES TIMES (3/25/09) -- Beijing -- China is calling for a new global currency to replace the
dominant dollar, showing a growing assertiveness on revamping the world
economy.
STAFF REPORT, RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL (3/25/09) Board member moves up; Mathews to remain chairman. -- International Game Technology directors appointed Patti S. Hart as new
president and CEO effective April 1, after accepting the resignation of
TJ Matthews, who will continue as chairman of the board.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
A Vegas institution, updated
JERRY FINK. LAS VEGAS SUN (3/25/09) ‘Peepshow’ builds on sexy tradition of shows like ‘Folies Bergere,’ which closes this weekend. -- When “Folies Bergere” takes its final bow Saturday at the Tropicana, it will create a void on the Las Vegas Strip.
BRIAN ECKHOUSE, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/25/09) -- As legislators revive discussions of a light-rail line stretching
across the Las Vegas Valley, the first phase of a transit system
intended as a more affordable substitute is months from operation. The
ACE Downtown Connector bus line is expected to start this winter.
CASINO COMPANIES: Tropicana owner, creditors agree on plan to emerge from bankruptcy
ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/25/09) Filing says plan would split LV property into separate company. --
Tropicana Entertainment reached
agreements with its creditors on a plan that could have the struggling
casino company emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy as early as May, a
year after filing.
Despite lawsuit, MGM Mirage plans to finish CityCenter
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/25/09) -- A day after being accused by its
joint venture partner of mismanaging the $9.1 billion CityCenter
development, MGM Mirage said a lawsuit filed by Dubai World was
"completely without merit" and the casino operator plans to complete
the Strip development.
BENJAMIN SPILLMAN, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/25/09) Exhibitor 2009 attendees see recession as opportunity to seek new ways of doing business. -- OK, Las Vegas. Denial and anger got your local economy nowhere fast. It's time for bargaining.
At least that's how they see it over at Exhibitor 2009, a trade show for the beleaguered convention and trade show industry. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
World’s Airlines Face Almost $5 Billion Shortfall
CAROLINE BROTHERS, THE NEW YORK TIMES (3/24/09) PARIS — Losses for the world’s
airline industry, grappling with its deepest crisis in 60 years, will
total nearly $5 billion this year as the economic slowdown continues to
shrink passenger and freight traffic, the International Air Transport
Association said Tuesday.
How to implement a successful corporate travel program
DAVID GROSSMAN, USA TODAY (3/24/09) -- In tough economic times, businesses are always seeking new ways to
reduce costs, and travel budgets are often one of the first areas to
come under scrutiny. One way to save money without sacrificing
necessary travel or the traveler's quality of life on the road is
through the deployment of a corporate travel management program. While
most large corporations have such programs in place, many smaller
businesses don't and could benefit greatly by implementing one.
Titus sees safety systems as way to boost Vegas’ image
LISA MASCARO, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/24/09) -- As one Nevada lawmaker
after another has decried the sullying of Las Vegas’ image by its use
as a symbol of the country’s excesses, Rep. Dina Titus is trying a
different approach.
Titus wants to get her colleagues to consider another side of Vegas. Call it the back lot tour. Titus wants to dazzle her colleagues with the sophisticated machinery at work to keep Las Vegas safe.
Tropicana Entertainment could emerge from bankruptcy by April
ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/24/09) -- Tropicana
Entertainment has reached agreements with creditors that could see the
once-embattled casino company emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late
April or May.
MEETING NEWS (3/23/09) -- Like the heavyweight boxers so often showcased there, Las Vegas, America's leading international meetings destination, isn't going down without a a fight. From Mayor Oscar B. Goodman to Lenny Izzo, GM at GES Exposition Services, the "heavyweights" are counter punching the remarks that have done surprising harm to the meetings industry.
SUN STAFF, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/23/09) Dubai World files suit against partner, MGM Mirage over $8.7 billion project. --Uncertainties now are clouding the future of the $8.7 billion
CityCenter project under construction on the Las Vegas Strip, with one
of the partners suing the other, saying it cannot continue to fund the
development in its current status.
Dubai World today announced that its subsidiary Infinity World, MGM
Mirage's partner in CityCenter, has filed a lawsuit against MGM Mirage
in Delaware Chancery Court claiming that because of MGM Mirage's
financial troubles "the current path of the project is simply
unsustainable.''
CityCenter future in doubt after Dubai partner sues MGM Mirage
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (3/23/09) --The
survival of the $9.1 billion CityCenter development was called into
question this morning when the investment arm of the Persian Gulf state
of Dubai sued MGM Mirage over concerns about the project’s viability.
Southwest, US Airways and Tumbling Traffic in Las Vegas
MATT PHILLIPS, WALL STREET JOURNAL (3/20/09) -- Traffic is contining its well-established downtrend at Las Vegas’
McCarran International Airport, with February showing a 15.2%
year-over-year decline in travel to-and-from the airport.
That’s a half-million fewer passengers than during the same period a
year earlier, the Associated Press reports. February’s drop is the 16th
consecutive decline for McCarran since November 2007.
LIZ BENSTON, LAS VEGAS SUN (3/23/09) Prolonged price cuts, experts say, can harm brands such as MGM Mirage. -- A business model gaming companies have followed for decades has
turned into a precarious balancing act, as casinos slash room rates to
levels not seen in more than a decade.
News 
RICHARD VELOTTA, IN BUSINESS LAS VEGAS (5/5/09) -- With school out in a month and self-imposed deadlines to book summer
travel rapidly closing in, some economists say it’s looking more and
more like summer 2009 is going to be Staycation II. Or a naycation.
CARA MCCOY, LAS VEGAS SUN (5/5/09) -- Finally -- a "worst of" list that Las Vegas isn't topping.
HOWARD STUTZ, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL (5/7/09)
BRENT JONES, USA TODAY (5/6/09) -- Ever driven past an Embassy Suites hotel because its two-bedroom suites were too spacious for you and your laptop?
RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL (4/23/09) -- The lender that foreclosed on the historic Cal-Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe
said a private management firm has been hired to run the operation and
keep it open while the property's future is contemplated.
JEFFREY MCCRACAEN & TAMARA AUDI, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (4/17/09) -- Two legendary investors are preparing to face off in a high-stakes game whose outcome could reshape the face of Las Vegas.
RICHARD VELOTTA, IN BUSINESS LAS VEGAS (4/17/09) -- With centuries of institutional experience in the crowd, members of the
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority did what just about
everybody expected them to do when it came to deciding whether to
extend the contract of longtime advertising and marketing consultant
R&R Partners.
ANNIE JACOBSEN, LOS ANGELES TIMES MAGAZINE (4/12/09) -- Area 51. It's the most famous military institution in the world that
doesn't officially exist. If it did, it would be found about 100 miles
outside Las Vegas in Nevada's high desert, tucked between an Air Force
base and an abandoned nuclear testing ground. Then again, maybe not—
the U.S. government refuses to say. You can't drive anywhere close to
it, and until recently, the airspace overhead was restricted—all the
way to outer space. Any mention of Area 51 gets redacted from official
documents, even those that have been declassified for decades.
FRED BERNSTEIN, NEW YORK TIMES (4/7/09) -- In San Francisco, prices of hotel rooms have “gone off a cliff,” said
Karl Hoagland, chairman of Larkspur Hotels and Restaurants. Softening
demand has led some luxury hotels to offer rooms for less than $100 a
night.
TRAVEL MOLE (3/24/09) International visitation to the US sets new records. -- The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that a record 58 million
international visitors traveled to the United States during 2008, an
increase of nearly four percent over 2007. Thirteen of the top 25
arrivals markets broke records set in previous years. In December 2008,
the total monthly visitation reached 3.9 million, down seven percent
when compared to December 2007. Fourth quarter total arrivals declined
six percent.
