Many have tried, but no other city has managed to capture the world’s imagination quite the way that Las Vegas has. Known globally for its high-rolling luxury hotels, unparalleled entertainment offering and nearby stunning natural attractions, this is a fun-loving city that also means business when it comes to conventions and events.
Cathy Tull, senior vice president of global brand marketing at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), explains the biggest misconception about the city remains that it is primarily a gambling destination. “In reality, less than 8% of visitors say gaming is their primary motivation for visiting Las Vegas today, and a majority of the tourism revenue is generated through non-gaming offerings, such as shopping, dining and entertainment,” she says.
In the past five years, Las Vegas has invested $26 billion into diversifying its tourism offering, Tull says. “We continue to reinvent with new entertainment, shopping and culinary offerings that appeal to all audiences, cultures and budgets. New and unique offerings such as the ‘daylife’ pool scene at Encore Beach Club and Cosmopolitan Marquee Dayclub, among others, have helped to broaden the allure of Las Vegas to new audiences,” she adds.
Not to be missed:
• See one of eight Cirque du Soleil shows
• Take in vintage Vegas and see the Viva Vision show on the world’s largest big screen at the Fremont Street Experience
• Enjoy world-class shopping
• Treat yourself to some of the best culinary offerings in the world
• Catch a helicopter to the Grand Canyon
Best for retail therapy:
• Forum Shops
• Fashion Show Mall
• Grand Canal Shoppes
• Premium Outlet Mall
• Crystals
What’s new?
• The new Smith Center for the Performing Arts has an eclectic line-up of theatre, music and dance offerings for every taste.
• The Las Vegas Museum of Law Enforcement and Organized Crime (The Mob Museum) is located in the heart of Downtown and is an interactive attraction presenting an authentic view of organised crime’s impact on the city’s history.
• The Neon Museum
hosts a collection of more than 150 vintage Las Vegas neon signs that range from the 1930s to the present day, including the Stardust, Desert Inn, Golden Nugget, and the massive Treasure Island skull.
• Cirque du Soleil recently opened two new shows on the Strip: Zarkana at Aria –
“A stunning modern acrobatics spectacular” – and Michael Jackson–ONE at Mandalay Bay.
Top 5 City Escapes:
Grand Canyon
Red Rock Canyon
Lake Mead & Hoover Dam
Mt Charleston
Valley of Fire
Keep coming back...
Las Vegas is forever transforming and there are a number of major attractions opening in the coming months. These include The Linq (www.caesars.com/thelinq), an open-air retail and entertainment district complete with what will be the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller, which opens in late 2013. There are also a number of exciting hotel developments opening next year, including the Delano Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay (www.delanolasvegas.com), the remodelled Gansevoort and the renovated SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (slshotels.com/lasvegas).
This article was reproduced and edited from an original story that appeared on our sister publication Routes News. The latest bumper World Routes edition of the official air service development magazine is available in your delegate bags or can be read online by clicking here.
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