Podcasts about visitors authority

Kelly Messina, senior director of leisure sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Spotlight Nevada, an event created to connect travel advisors and tour operators with suppliers from Las Vegas and destinations throughout the state. Messina also discusses the event's growth, advisor education and appointments, Las Vegas attractions and hotel developments, and resources advisors can use to learn more and track bookings. For more information, visit www.spotlightnevada.com. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox. 

Full transcript Marketing a traditional brand is one thing. Marketing an entire city — specifically, Las Vegas — is something else altogether. For Kate Wik, CMO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), executing a massive campaign means getting hotel owners, elected officials, and local stakeholders to completely buy in. When making cultural waves, like turning the city's casinos purple for the K-pop group BTS, collaboration is everything. "That's not my building or my assets," Kate explains. "It's bringing others along with you. That's what drives the scale of a great idea." Today on Building Better CMOs, Kate and Greg discuss the complexities of serving Las Vegas' distinct audiences, spanning luxury, leisure, budget, and convention travelers. They dive into the unique challenges of destination marketing organization (DMO) attribution when you don't actually own the transactions, as well as how the LVCVA approaches brand health tracking, PR, and digital targeting. Plus, why Vegas has moved away from the iconic tagline "What happens here, stays here," and what it takes to produce massive recent events, such as Super Bowl LVIII and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:05 How the LVCVA Markets Las Vegas 08:26 Data, Attribution, and Marketing Complexity 15:20 Evolving "What Happens Here Stays Here" 19:23 Driving Demand for a Category of One 25:13 The Best Marketing Advice Kate Ever Received 28:01 Experiential Marketing: F1, Shoeys, and BTS 36:26 Measuring Long-Term Brand Value vs. ROI 39:48 The Brand Impact of Hosting the Super Bowl 43:09 Brand Health Tracking and the "Pack for Vegas" Campaign Kate's LinkedIn LVCVA This episode was produced and edited by Eric Johnson from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LightningPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Building Better CMOs in your podcast app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rate and review the podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

This week on "Talk About Las Vegas With Ira," Ira welcomes Alan Snel, founder and publisher of LVSportsBiz.com, for an insightful conversation about the business of sports, transportation, and the rapid evolution of Las Vegas as a global sports destination. Alan discusses how Governor Joe Lombardo's widely publicized failure to come to a complete stop at a red light unexpectedly sparked a broader conversation about bicycle safety throughout Southern Nevada—a cause that is deeply personal to him after being struck by cars two different times, including a an incident four years ago. He explains why rolling through stop signs has become far too common and why improving awareness benefits everyone who shares the road. The conversation also dives into the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's major investment in Formula 1, including its newly approved ten-year sponsorship agreement worth $10 million annually. Alan examines both the advantages and concerns surrounding the deal, along with the F1's road safety campaign tied to Formula 1. Ira and Alan also discuss the latest progress on the Athletics' future Las Vegas ballpark, why Alan believes the team's biggest challenges are currently on the field rather than at the construction site, and how the stadium project continues to move forward smoothly. Alan also reflects on founding LVSportsBiz.com in 2017 and shares his vision for what's next as Las Vegas continues its remarkable rise as one of the world's premier sports and enter-tainment destinations. Whether you're a sports fan, Las Vegas enthusiast, cyclist, or interested in the business behind major sporting events, this episode offers an informed look at the forces shaping the city's future. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

The Tahoe TAP podcast returns with another conversation exploring the people, places, and ideas shaping life around Lake Tahoe. Hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway are back behind the mic with the latest stories from the basin before sitting down with one of the region's most influential leaders. This episode features Carol Chaplin, President and CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (Visit Lake Tahoe), whose leadership has helped shape South Shore's tourism industry for nearly two decades. From the launch of destination marketing initiatives like the "Awe and Then Some" campaign to navigating wildfire recovery, the COVID-19 pandemic, and changing travel trends, Chaplin has played a central role in positioning Lake Tahoe as one of the world's premier outdoor recreation destinations. With more than 35 years in the Tahoe tourism industry, Chaplin's influence extends well beyond destination marketing. She has served in leadership roles with numerous regional organizations, including the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, Tahoe Chamber, Tahoe Prosperity Center, the Western Nevada Development District, the Regional Air Service Corporation, and the South Shore Transportation Management Association. She also serves on the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council, working alongside public agencies, nonprofits, and private industry to strengthen the region's economy while protecting the lake's natural resources and quality of life. Chaplin was also a driving force behind the development of the Tahoe Blue Event Center, a transformative project that has expanded South Lake Tahoe's ability to attract year-round events, entertainment, and sports tourism while creating new economic opportunities for the community. On this episode of Tahoe TAP, the conversation explores the evolution of Tahoe's visitor economy, the importance of destination stewardship, the impact of the Tahoe Blue Event Center, and what's next for tourism in one of America's most iconic mountain destinations. Tune in for an insightful conversation with one of the visionary leaders who has helped shape Tahoe's past, present, and future.

Adam Stoker sits down with Molly Castano, VP of Public Relations and Communications at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, for a candid conversation about what it takes to keep 150,000 hotel rooms full and the world's most-watched tourism brand on top. Molly shares how her team navigated a brutal summer news cycle, the unexpected strategy that flipped traditional media training on its head, and why Vegas treats every announcement — from the Michelin Guide to the Super Bowl — as a chance to outdo itself. The conversation also explores the rise of earned media in the AI era, why trust is moving from institutions to individuals, and the one piece of advice every PR pro should hear: be "clearer, not louder." Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Destination Marketing Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Brand Revolt. If you are interested in any of Brand Revolt's services, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠adam@thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedmpn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you are interested in joining the network, please email ⁠⁠⁠⁠adam@thebrandrevolt.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Travel Agent Takeaways, Charlie catches up with Simran Mediratta, the local AU/NZ representative for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Sim shares details of Qantas' new seasonal nonstop service between Sydney and Las Vegas, as well a general destination update.The discussion highlights how Las Vegas has evolved into a destination for families, couples, luxury travellers and sports fans, with major drawcards including Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix, UFC and the NRL.Sim also outlines upcoming developments such as the new Hard Rock Las Vegas, the continued expansion of Sphere, and a new hotel from Lisa Vanderpump. The episode also includes some practical budgeting tips, top dining options, lesser-known attractions, as well as how to get around including the Las Vegas Monorail and Vegas Loop. Las Vegas Show Notes:Website: visitlasvegas.comFree Things To Do: visitlasvegas.com/experience/post/free-things-to-do-in-las-vegasRestaurants & Nightlife: visitlasvegas.com/restaurants-and-nightlifeTravel Trade: visitlasvegas.com/travel-professionalsLocal AU/NZ Contact: sim.mediratta@gtitourism.com.au Sim's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simran-mediratta-741a77121Thanks so much for listening! I love hearing from travel people, so feel free to reach out. If you have any requests let me know and I'll try to get them on.Cheers, CharlieConnect with Charlie Trevena & Destination Webinars:Charlie's Email: charlie@destinationwebinars.com.auCharlie Trevena LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charlietrevenaDestination Webinars' Library: destinationwebinars.com.au/webinar-libraryDestination Webinars' Facebook: facebook.com/destinationwebinarsDestination Webinars' LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/destination-webinars/  

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Alan Snel, founder and writer of LVSportsBiz.com, the insider source tracking how sports, business, and politics collide in Southern Nevada. Alan takes us inside the controversial world of public-private partnerships, where taxpayer funding helps build private sports palaces — and sparks big questions about priorities. Should public money go to stadiums when schools, roads, and transportation need funding too? From the moment Las Vegas turned into a major-league sports capital, Alan has been riding the wave — and reporting every twist. He breaks down the arrival of Major League Baseball and the A's stadium, the explosive growth of sports tourism, and the historic first boxing match at Allegiant Stadium, where 70,000 fans packed the house and 96% were visitors, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The conversation also dives into how Formula 1 put Las Vegas on the world stage, and why the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is hiring new sports tourism exec-utives. If you want to understand how Las Vegas became the global crossroads of sports, enter-tainment, and business — and what it's costing us — this episode is a must-listen. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Guests: Steve Hill, CEO/President, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Guests: Steve Hill, CEO/President, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Discover how Kate Wik, CMO of Las Vegas, drives bold innovation and storytelling to transform the city into a global destination brand. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler.Ilyse Liffreing (00:01):And I'm Ilyse Liffreing.Damian Fowler (00:02):And welcome to this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (00:09):Today we're joined by Kate Wik, chief Marketing Officer at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The team behind the city's newest brand campaign, which launched in September,Damian Fowler (00:20):Las Vegas, is known around the world for its energy, its entertainment, and its edge. But this ladies' campaign takes a closer look at what the city means today beyond the casinos and into its growing identity as a cultural and sports destination.Ilyse Liffreing (00:34):We'll talk with Kate about the ideas behind the campaign, how Vegas is connecting with new audiences, and what it takes to evolve one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Q,Damian Fowler (00:45):Frank Sinatra. It's okay. You have an unusual role in that you represent a city as an iconic one, but could you tell us about the role?Kate Wik (00:56):That's exactly right. So I work for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Nobody knows what that is or what that means. So really, I shorthand it and I say I am the CMO of four Las Vegas. Las Vegas is my product, which is very unique. It is a city, it's a destination. It's unbelievably dynamic. And what's so unique and thrilling for a CMO of Las Vegas is that our product is always changing, always evolving. If you think back, we were known as the gaming destination. We've evolved into, we're the number one hospitality destination in the US with more hotel rooms than any other destination. And we are the entertainment capital of the world. You've got the world's best artists coming and performing on stages across destination every single night. And we've worked really hard to evolve ourselves into the sports destination as well through a lot of recent things. So really the exciting thing for me in this role is no one day is ever the same. Our product is constantly iterating and evolving, and that is a marketer's dream come true.Damian Fowler (02:10):Just on that point about the evolution of the city and the perception of it, how fast has that happened in the last, say, five, 10 years?Kate Wik (02:20):Yeah, absolutely. Incredibly fast. And so today we are known as the sports and entertainment capital of the world, but less than 10 years ago, we did not have any sports teams. Yes, sports has kind of always been in our DNA. We'd host major boxing matches in the eighties, NFR we've had for decades. NBA, we hosted their in-season tournament, NBA Summer League, but really it was through infrastructure development that really led to the explosion of sports today. So what I mean by that is we had T-Mobile Arena, which was a joint venture between MGM resorts and a EG that enabled NHL to come to town with the Vegas Golden Knights in 20 17, 20 18, we purchased the WNBA team, which we renamed the Las Vegas ACEs. And so now we've got A-W-N-B-A team. And then in 2020, of course with Allegiant Stadium, we welcome the Raiders. And so now we've got the Las Vegas Raiders, and we are, so actually in four years, we went from having zero professional sports teams to having three, and we're actively working to bring our fourth to town, which is the major league baseball. We're welcoming the Las Vegas a,Damian Fowler (03:34):Not to mention Formula One.Kate Wik (03:36):Yes, exactly. And Formula One now an annual event on our calendar. So it's a lot. It's a lot. And it creates new reasons to come to Las Vegas for our visitors. And what we found through research actually, is that the sports traveler, number one, we know sports tourism has just exploded the sports traveler. Through our research, we found that it creates a new reason to come to Las Vegas for those that haven't been here before. It creates a reason to explore the destination, see it, consider it, and then ultimately come. And then most importantly, we find that they spend more money than the average leisure traveler. So it's a really rich new audience for Las Vegas. And F1 has definitely exploded that for us too.Ilyse Liffreing (04:24):Do you know by just how much more do they spend?Kate Wik (04:27):It's usually anywhere from 500 to 800 more per trip.Ilyse Liffreing (04:31):Wow, that's a lot. And the rest on gambling,Kate Wik (04:36):AnythingIlyse Liffreing (04:36):Extra? It'sKate Wik (04:37):Funny. Gambling hasn't been, revenue from gaming hasn't been the primary source of how consumers are spending their budget while they're in town. Hasn't been that for over a decade.Ilyse Liffreing (04:51):AndKate Wik (04:51):I think it speaks to the diversification of the experience in Las Vegas. And when I say we're the entertainment capital of the world, we absolutely are. People come here to see shows, to see comedians, to experience not just like a touring show, but unbelievable residencies where our property resorts will build these amazing theaters where Lady Gaga performs, Bruno Mars performs, Adele performs, they'll create these residencies, which is unlike nowhere else in the US or world.Damian Fowler (05:26):I mean, I've been aware of that. I mean, obviously it goes right back to the Rat Pack, but more recently, like Sting had a residency there. I've been aware, IKate Wik (05:34):Just saw Backstreet Boys at the Spear, which was probably mind blowing, which was mind blowing. That's a whole nother level to the entertainment experience where it's just completely immersive that has changed the game for live music.Damian Fowler (05:48):The perception of Vegas has changed or is changing, and maybe that teases up to talk a little bit now about the new brand campaign and why this is the right moment to do it.Kate Wik (06:00):Yeah, absolutely. So we just launched a new campaign September of this year, so just a couple of weeks ago really. And the intent behind it is this notion that there are so many different reasons to come to Vegas, but there are also so many different vacation options. What we wanted to do was break through the noise and make sure that people understood that Vegas is the ultimate destination regardless of the experience you're looking for. We have it all, the breadth and depth that exists within our destination iss, it's uncomparable to any other destination. So we needed to get out there and get that message out there in big form. And why now what we found was through a lack of big brand messaging over the summer, we actually took a hit with a lot of negative headlines. And so we needed to get in front of that. And I think one of the big takeaways for marketers out there is that if you're not actively talking about your brand day in and day out, you create room for others to create their own narrative. And so after we launched the campaign, it's been about a month in market, we've seen a lot of that negativity drop because now everybody's covering, oh, here's the new elements, here are the new promotions they're doing, here are the new experiences that you can find. So it's really about driving the narrative that you want for your brand.Ilyse Liffreing (07:29):Very cool. And could you tell us a little bit about the campaign itself, maybe the creative, and then what channels are you leaning into?Kate Wik (07:36):Yeah, absolutely. In looking at how we were going to develop the work around this new brand campaign, what we wanted first and foremost was to be really authentic about Las Vegas and be very unique to a message that only Las Vegas can deliver. And so we took inspiration from our iconic welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. So it's the sign that exists literally on Las Vegas Boulevard as you drive into town. And that sign, it's 65 years old today, but it is more iconic. And the awareness on that is it puts it as one of the highest elements assets within our portfolio. So you think Las Vegas, you think of Bellagio, you think of Wynn, even Luxor or all these amazing resorts. When we show that sign, the amount of awareness of what that is and where it is and what it's for just exceeds every other asset that we have out there. So we took inspiration from that. We took the neon, the lights, the really, the notion of setting the example of fabulous Las Vegas. That's the experience that our visitors can come to expect when they come to Las Vegas. So it truly has been our brand promise for over 65 years. So that's the inspiration behind the campaign.Damian Fowler (08:57):Yeah, I can see that sign now.Ilyse Liffreing (08:59):Yes,Kate Wik (08:59):That's right.Ilyse Liffreing (09:00):Yeah, that's right. Do you have a sense of the audience that you're trying to reach and through, I guess, which channels are you trying to reach them?Kate Wik (09:10):Yeah, so we have a really diverse audience set, which is very unique for a marketer, which usually has a single product or they've got a very specific audience for that product. Vegas is really the 21 and older adult playground. And so if you look at just an average audience, it's like a 45-year-old split, 50 50 male, female, et cetera. But what we offer is an unbelievable unbeatable experience at every single price point. So we absolutely cater to that high-end luxury market, that luxury traveler, all the way down to the entry level budget conscious traveler. And so we've got products from a circus circus all the way up to a win Las Vegas. And so for us, our audience is very broad, but generally it's adult travelers, people that have traveled in the past year looking to travel again,Ilyse Liffreing (10:11):We just had Marriott on the podcast and we were talking about how more travelers now are singles and single people. And I would think that might be particularly true for Vegas. For some reason, people are coming for a new experience and to get away.Kate Wik (10:28):I think that's exactly right. Not necessarily single travelers, but the idea of it's a getaway, it's a new experience. What we find from our visitors is number one, it's really high repeat visitation because every time they come, they're finding something new. So we usually get at least 80% repeat visitation from our visitors and really high satisfaction rate, but it's that mindset of wanting to try something new. For sure. Yeah.Damian Fowler (10:56):One thing that just occurs to me as we are talking is how the awareness of Las Vegas has been so kind of embodied in so many movies and TV shows. I was just thinking, I watched the studio recently, the Seth RoganKate Wik (11:09):Show,Damian Fowler (11:09):Which I think that has a combination in Vegas whileKate Wik (11:12):I actually haven't seen it yet. So no spoilers on my list.Damian Fowler (11:16):I mean, I was thinking about Oceans 11, you can go back and back. I have to see it. But that is all kind of part of the kind of braided cultural iconography as it were of the city, I guess.Kate Wik (11:27):Yeah, I think movies represent, you almost have to think of it as a channel for marketing. It represents an amazing opportunity to penetrate culture, reach new audiences that you wouldn't normally get to talk to. And so we have a history of iconic movies. Actually this past summer, you might've seen it, but the F1 movie, that was a partnership that we did with them to make sure that they filmed in Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit. That was really important. But again, reaching new audiences, keeping us sort of at the pinnacle and sort of leading culture. Also really awesome to have Brad Pitt lead in that. I'm not going to lie. That was pretty awesome. But a ton of movies. And it's kind of interesting to think of it as almost like a marketing channel, not a traditionalIlyse Liffreing (12:17):One, but yes. Yeah, like free marketing too sometimes, because a lot of things are based in Vegas,Kate Wik (12:22):Right? On the marketing channel front, I know you had sort of asked about how do we launch the campaign, and it was very much an integrated multi-channel approach. We did everything from brand marketing, product marketing, I call it value, but it's really promotional as well as experiential. So of course, from a brand marketing point of view, TV or movies are wonderful, but there's also tv. And we launched the campaign actually with NFL kickoff, so September 4th. We know that when people tune into tv, they're tuning in really into an NFL game. That's where the most eyeballs are at any single time. So from a marketing point of view, it's great return on your investment there. So we launched with a 62nd ad on September 4th on kickoff, but really it was about making sure that this is not just a TV campaign, but it's a platform that reaches the consumer at every different touch point throughout their travel journey or through their daily life.(13:27):And so we maximized the viewership by making sure that, yes, we had a TV spot, but we partnered with the Raiders to actually take over the tunnel walk. And so when players arrive at the stadium, any stadium across the us, it's usually sort of this gray back of house space. And what we did was we installed neon all over the wall as the backdrop. And so it gave our players the sense of pride as they're walking in where they see this huge fabulous Las Vegas neon sign, and then they get a bit of a swagger. And then we partnered with GQ to cover sort of the fit that the players are wearing because that's a whole thing, this sort of new cultural moment where you've got the intersection of professional sports and these athletes in fashion. And so GQ wants to cover that. And so now the backdrop for all of this is the fabulous Las Vegas neon sign that we installed.(14:22):And so then CVS and ESPN want to cover it because they're like, oh, what's going on with the Vegas tunnel walk? And so every time Vegas shows up, we want to make sure that we're sort of breaking through the clutter. We're doing something very unique, bold and different, and whatever we do, it's sort of Vegas worthy. So I guess another channel is outdoor. We don't just buy outdoor. We worked with media partners to find these super high impact spectacular units that just command attention. So around the corner, in Times Square, we have this huge 3D board where you've got a 3D view of the iconic welcome to Las Vegas sign that rotates and dice come out, chips come out, an F1 race car comes out, right? It's a showstopper. And when you walk into Times Square, you see people taking pictures of advertising and that blows your mind.(15:21):And then on the other side of the country, we've got an actual neon installation on Sunset Boulevard. So we took, quite frankly, one of the ideas behind the campaign is let's take the neon and export it. Let's take our Neon National. And so we've got these big neon relics all across the us and so this one on Sunset Boulevard is spectacular. And then you walk across any of our resorts in Las Vegas and you see our Neon Signs Launch week. We took over all of our, well in our top 10 markets, we took over our digital outdoor boards and we had a roadblock for the whole week of launch. So just doing these big spectacular moments to capture the attention of our viewers. Wow,Damian Fowler (16:08):That's a lot that you're doing a tremendous amount, but on the other side of it, how are you kind of measuring and tracking all of these moments that you've created?Kate Wik (16:18):Yeah, I think measurement is incredibly important for any brand. We are actually consistently in market every single week with a research tracker, a brand health tracker. We've been doing it for decades. Making sure that we're keeping a finger on the pulse of our consumer is really important to us. So before we launched the campaign, obviously we tested it to see, number one, does it break through? Does it resonate? Does it deliver on the message of escape? Does it make people want to go to Las Vegas? It actually tested stronger than any other campaign that we've tested, and we test all of our campaigns. So that was pretty exciting. And then post-launch, again, we're in the market every single week. We found that we continue to uptick in terms of likability of the campaign, the campaign that makes you want to travel to Las Vegas. Those metrics are really important to us, intent to travel, and so it's continued to climb every single week since we've been in market. That's really strong. I think outside of traditional campaign testing, something that we consistently do is social listening, and so understanding what the current conversation is on social, I had mentioned this summer was a little bit rough. There was a lot of negativity out there for us. What we found was we had peaked in terms of negativity online in, gosh, in August. We launched Campaign in September, and that number has dramatically reduced, which is fantastic. It goes back to this point of you have to constantly be talking and driving your own narrative.(18:01):Otherwise if there's a void, others are going to fill it for you. That's was aIlyse Liffreing (18:05):Quick turnaround time too fromKate Wik (18:07):InIlyse Liffreing (18:07):August to launching inKate Wik (18:08):September. Absolutely. So a couple weeks. So I would say early August was peak and then Campaign formally launched September 4th, but working with our property partners to seed components of the campaign before, that was a big part of it as well. And then I think a very tactical measurement is we launched actually the first ever destination wide sale, so we called it the Fabulous Five Day Sale. Our campaign is Welcome to Fabulous, so fabulous five day sale. We wanted to make sure that we were putting a spotlight on the value that exists across the destination. And what we found was we drove four times the amount of website volume that we normally do to visit las vegas.com and that we actually were driving more referrals, so people were coming in to see what these deals were, what the sale was, this first ever limited sale, and then the traffic, the referral traffic that we were sending out to the booking engines of each of our property partners. That was 120 times the normal weekly average that we have in terms of, oh my gosh, yeah, referral, wait. So really unbelievable. It was kind of mind blowing for us in terms of the results of that. Nice.Ilyse Liffreing (19:28):And what was the reception from businesses in Las Vegas too, because that involved all of them?Kate Wik (19:34):Absolutely. Yeah. We don't launch a campaign without the support of our property partners. The reception was fabulous to use a cliche, incredibly fabulous. They leaned into it, you'll see part of the campaign. We created these neon elements and literally handed over this toolkit to our property partners so they can push out on all of their digital signage, on all of their marketing elements, sort of reflections of the campaign work as well and tie into it.Damian Fowler (20:05):Great. Just out of curiosity, is the campaign driven from the ground up by businesses or does it come top down as it were, from what your office, what's the kind of interaction?Kate Wik (20:19):Yeah. Well, the interaction is we are the DMO, the destination marketing organization for Las Vegas. So what we do is we work closely with our property partners to understand what's the business needs, what are the trends they're seeing. We do research and provide them top level trends, and then we work with them on what do we need the advertising to accomplish, and then we develop the campaigns. We're funded by them. We're actually funded by a room tax, which is paid by our visitors. And so there is complete coordination with our property partners, and we really do all of the upper funnel marketing for them. That's kind of the role we play for them.Damian Fowler (21:00):Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. I want to ask you, actually, I guess this is a big picture question. Are there other big cities that kind of have similar outreach or similar marketing campaigns, or are you unique in lots of ways?Kate Wik (21:15):I think the big destinations like New York, la, they will have a tourism authority within their destination that we'll do it for them. I think what's unique about Las Vegas is how we're funded. Again, it is through this room tax. And so generally, I'm not out there every day trying to drum up membership funds or anything. Our job is to go market the destination 365 days a year. That is why we exist. And so I think other destinations have something similar, but not quite the structure or the support behind it. And I think what is unique for Las Vegas is tourism is the number one economic driver for southern Nevada, and so we're the engine behind that. We have to make sure we're continuing to fuel that. Tourism represents 55 million or 55 billion, excuse me, in direct economic impact. That's visitors coming, spending fueling the local economy. And so the role we play matters. The advertising that we do matters because it fuels the entire ecosystem and the economic climate for Southern Nevada. Wow.Damian Fowler (22:33):Another quick question, follow up question there because you keep making me think of things. You have a lot of international visitors. Do you have a sense of where the majority of them are comingKate Wik (22:42):From? Yeah. Yeah. So international visitors are really important to us. Interesting. Canada's typically is our number one market. We have seen a decrease this year from our Canadian visitors. That's true for the US overall. We love our neighbors to the north and we welcome them back. But Canada is generally number one. Mexico is number two. Mexico is still going strong. They've actually seen growth year over year. UK is our number three market. We love our UK visitors and our partnership with F1 continues to grow that, which is phenomenal. And then interesting, our fourth market is actually Australia, and we don't have a direct flight there today, but it's an easy stopover from la. But the Australians and the Aussies, they love coming to Las Vegas. Great cultural alignment, but in general, we love all of our international visitors, and it's about anywhere from 10 to 15% of our overall visitor mix,Damian Fowler (23:46):So Cool.Ilyse Liffreing (23:47):Well, so along with just how many changes Las Vegas has seen, how would you, I guess, describe the expectations around hospitality and how that has changed over the years?Kate Wik (23:59):Gosh, hospitality, not unlike marketing, it's really fueled by tech innovation. Everything from keyless check-in, you can check in on your phone, you can use your phone as your key. All of these things have been unbelievable accelerants to a great experience, but that's across the board in every city, across the world. Technology has fueled that. I think what's unique for Las Vegas is actually doubling down on the core of who we are. And that's about service, and that's about kind of going back to the brand promise of the campaign where the welcome to fabulous Las Vegas isn't just a sign. It is the brand promise of the experience you're going to have here. And before we launched the campaign, we actually went around to all the CEOs and all the presidents of all our resort property partners to say and to remind them, we're going to launch this campaign, we're going to go back to the roots of Las Vegas. And the roots of that is hospitality, and it's about making every individual feel like somebody special that is so uniquely Las Vegas. You can walk into a circus, circus, an Excalibur, and have this mind blowing unbelievable experience. You could also walk into a Bellagio, an aria, a fountain blue, and have a mind blowing unbelievable experience. It's not based on your economic value or your financial worth. It's based on who you are as a visitor coming. We're going to deliver that unbelievable experience, and that is service related, hospitality related for us.Ilyse Liffreing (25:39):Very cool. So what's next then? How are you planning to build on the success?Kate Wik (25:44):I think for us, welcome to Fabulous is not just like an A Flash in the Pan ad campaign. What we intended to do was create a marketing platform that will just stand the test of time that will continue to iterate off of it. We have three big announcements, not yet announced, but still coming out later this year that just continue to build on this platform. So it's a platform for us as the DMO, but it's also a platform for our property partners to continue to iterate because it is so unique to us.Damian Fowler (26:20):Now we've got some kind of quickfire questions now we've looked at that bigKate Wik (26:24):Picture.Damian Fowler (26:25):What are you obsessed with figuring out right now?Kate Wik (26:29):I am obsessed with figuring out how you hack the social algorithms. And I think what's super interesting is something that can go viral that isn't necessarily representative of the brand or the experience that you have. And so really making sure that for us, it's fueling a ton of content out there to make sure that we're dominating what that narrative is. And that's not just from brand voice, it's influencers or whatever, but that social algorithms I think is really important forDamian Fowler (27:05):Brands. Yeah, absolutely. I would love to figure that out too. It seems like a kind of a magic unlock.Ilyse Liffreing (27:11):Yes. Right.Damian Fowler (27:14):Okay.Ilyse Liffreing (27:15):This year you are included on the Forbes list of 50 Fierce Global leaders.Kate Wik (27:20):Yes.Ilyse Liffreing (27:20):Congratulations. Thank you. What is one piece of wisdom you'd pass on to other marketers?Kate Wik (27:27):Oh gosh. Constant learning, constant iteration. Nothing is ever done, right? You put something out in the world, there's always a chance to continue to iterate and learn and get feedback and continue to push it further. Yeah.Damian Fowler (27:44):Another is ai, a marketer's friend.Kate Wik (27:46):Yeah, absolutely. But actually, let's be careful with that. It's a friend, but it's like a starting point, right? I think using it as information, as research, as sort of an input but not a final output is really important.Damian Fowler (28:01):I like that. That distinction is important.Ilyse Liffreing (28:03):One last fun one for you, maybe outside of the Brad Pitt movie from the summer. What's your favorite movie set in LasKate Wik (28:12):Vegas? Oh, gosh. I love Oceans 11. I mean, how can you not? I mean, it's still Brad Pitt, butDamian Fowler (28:20):Oh, yeah.Kate Wik (28:20):But it's an icon. He can be at anything, everything.Ilyse Liffreing (28:27):And that'sDamian Fowler (28:27):It for this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (28:29):This show is produced by Molten Hart. Our theme is by Love and caliber, and our associate producer is Sydney Cairns.Damian Fowler (28:36):And remember,Kate Wik (28:37):If you're not actively talking about your brand day in and day out, you create room for others to create their own narrative.Damian Fowler (28:45):I'm Damian, and I'm Ilyse, and we'll see you next time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lisa Messina is currently the Chief Sales Officer at Visit Orlando, where she oversees meeting & convention sales, travel industry partnerships, membership and supporting services. Her career spans more than three decades in the hospitality and meetings industry — including leadership roles at Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and Caesars Entertainment. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. Known for her strategic leadership, she has been recognized among the most influential professionals in the meetings field and serves on key industry boards.

PODCAST: We examine the explosive growth of Las Vegas as a sports market on this edition of Sports Business Radio. The Sports Business Radio Road show presented by Boingo is in Las Vegas for a conversation with Steve Hill, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority. This conversation was recorded at the Boingo Innovation Center in Las Vegas before a live studio audience. From mega events like the Super Bowl and F1 to franchise like the Raiders (NFL), Golden Knights (NHL) and Aces (WNBA), Las Vegas has become one of the sports capitals of the world. How is Las Vegas evolving as a city and sports market? What lies ahead? We cover it all in this conversation.  LISTEN to Sports Business Radio on Apple podcasts or Spotify podcasts. Give Sports Business Radio a 5-star rating if you enjoy our podcast. Click on the plus sign on our Apple Podcasts page and follow the Sports Business Radio podcast. WATCH SBR interviews by going to www.sportsbusinessradio.com and clicking on the link to the Sports Business Radio YouTube channel. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch our interviews with the biggest names in sports and business. Follow Sports Business Radio on Twitter @SBRadio and on Instagram, Threads and Tik Tok @SportsBusinessRadio. This week's edition of Sports Business Radio is presented by Boingo Wireless. Teams like the LA Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bears and San Diego Padres trust Boingo to connect their stadiums and arenas with cutting-edge 5G and Wi-Fi.From mobile ticketing to security cameras to kiosks, connect every piece of stadium technology with Boingo's converged wireless networks. As you plan for the future of your stadium, make 5G part of your gameplan and choose Boingo Wireless as your trusted connectivity partner. Learn more by downloading Boingo's free 5G Playbook for Stadiums & Arenas. Head to boingo.com/5Gstadium to get your copy. #LasVegas #SportsBusiness #Tourism #Podcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the beginning of September, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority launched "Welcome to Fabulous," a new campaign aiming to boost our city's flagging tourism numbers — and the ⁠60-second commercial⁠ at the heart of the campaign has been widely panned by locals. So what's wrong with the ad, and why do locals hate it so much? Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Shahab Zargari, an award-winning filmmaker and marketing expert at UNLV, and Scott Roeben, AKA Vital Vegas, industry commentator and writer at Casino.org. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 16th episode: ⁠AFAN Black & White Gala⁠ ⁠Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum⁠ Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on ⁠Instagram⁠, or email us at ⁠lasvegas@citycast.fm⁠. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter,⁠ Hey Las Vegas.⁠ Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority addresses the negative feedback it received for its new ad campaign. Plus, a Las Vegas family joins a lawsuit after a fourth death is linked to Real Water. And, a worker suffers a crushing injury inside a Vegas loop tunnel...details on the rescue and an update on his condition. You can watch 7@7 on any of your favorite streaming platforms weekdays at 7 a.m and 7 p.m.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority launches a new campaign that puts the focus back on the value the city offers. Plus, the U.S. Treasury releases a preliminary list of jobs that will likely qualify for the “no tax on tips” exemption. Las Vegas Metro police use a grappler to stop a carjacking suspect on the run, and it's all caught on camera. You can watch 7@7 on any of your favorite streaming platforms weekdays at 7 a.m and 7 p.m.

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down WWE Clash in Paris, including the record-setting gate at La Défense Arena, WWE's international business growth, and the company's decision to run the venue on back-to-back nights.Plus, we cover the biggest stories across wrestling this week:AEW moves All Out to the afternoon, PPVs available on HBO Max ROH Death Before Dishonor suffers technical issuesWWE announces its “Road to Royal Rumble” European tour dates for January 2026.Bushiroad financial results for NJPW and Stardom – what the numbers reveal about both promotions.Nick Hogan files a lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge over a planned Hulk Hogan documentary.Update on the Liv Morgan stalker case and why prosecutors want the alleged stalker to remain in custody.Legal battle in Callis v. Colker – is Dr. Carlon Colker a public figure?AEW September to Remember – TBS to air a special 3.5-hour block featuring the Tailgate Brawl before All Out.Thurston petitions Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority for records related to WrestleMania in Las Vegas

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down WWE Clash in Paris, including the record-setting gate at La Défense Arena, WWE's international business growth, and the company's decision to run the venue on back-to-back nights.Plus, we cover the biggest stories across wrestling this week:AEW moves All Out to afternoon, PPVs available on HBO Max ROH Death Before Dishonor suffers technical issuesWWE announces its “Road to Royal Rumble” European tour dates for January 2026.Bushiroad financial results for NJPW and Stardom – what the numbers reveal about both promotions.Nick Hogan files a lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge over a planned Hulk Hogan documentary.Update on the Liv Morgan stalker case and why prosecutors want the alleged stalker to remain in custody.Legal battle in Callis v. Colker – is Dr. Carlon Colker a public figure?AEW September to Remember – TBS to air a special 3.5-hour block featuring the Tailgate Brawl before All Out.Thurston petitions Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority for records related to WrestleMania in Las VegasVIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/22WwRKKiRqQ

As Vegas tourism continues to take hit after hit, the news of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority head Steve Hill's recent raise has, well, raised eyebrows — and this comes in a week when even more controversy hits the agency. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with TheList.Vegas creator Andrew Kiraly to discuss this and other news, including the construction on Fremont East that's devastating small businesses, and the arrival of a yacht on the Bellagio lake. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 11th episode: Nevada Shakespeare Fest Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ProFootballTalk NFL Insider, Myles Simmons joins Cofield & Company to discuss Michael Jordan joining the NBC's NBA broadcast, review Micah Parsons showing up to Dallas Cowboys' training camp despite not having a new contract, and give his thoughts on the lack of hype around Tennessee Titans' Cam Ward, despite being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Las Vegas Review-Journal Sports Columnist, Adam Hill joins Cofield & Co. to talk about SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey's threats of the SEC forming it's own conference, preview the start of the Las Vegas Raiders' mandatory mini-camp, and give his thoughts on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority continuing to sponsor the Las Vegas Aces by paying each player on the roster $100,000.

Two men face charges in connection to the disappearance of a teenager from Utah… why it's making news in Las Vegas. Plus, a family sues the City of North Las Vegas and two officers involved in the fatal shooting a woman who they claim was mentally ill. And, the budget is in for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority…why they're concerned but not panicking. You can watch 7@7 during the week at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on any of your favorite streaming platforms.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority released some sobering stats this week: At a time when tourism tends to uptick, we're seeing visitorship to Vegas on the decline. What does this forebode? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with education advocate Patricia Haddad Bennett and Hey Las Vegas newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess about whether Las Vegas has nickel and dimed its customers past the brink. They also discuss two omnibus education bills moving through the legislative session and where these two visions for our schools diverge, and last but not least … sperm racing could be coming to Vegas soon. Yes, that's a thing, and we Googled it so you don't have to. Get more from City Cast Las Vegas when you become a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm  Learn more about the sponsors of this May 2nd episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Cozy Earth - Use code COZYLASVEGAS for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Slater's 50/50 Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Messina, senior director of leisure sales for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about the very first Spotlight Nevada, a new trade event designed to promote resorts and attractions in Las Vegas and the rest of Nevada. On April 13-15, nearly 80 travel advisors gathered with roughly 100 suppliers to meet and experience all the state has to offer. And Spotlight Nevada will return next year. For more information, visit www.spotlightnevada.com or www.visitlasvegas.com.  All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

This episode is a combination of two mini-episodes from 3/12/25 and 3/14/25. Another one will follow soon.... Topic begins at (0:12:34) mark: Notice: Skype will be dead on May 5 -- how does this affect PFA Radio?.... (0:26:37): Bovada VIP player stiffed out of $87k in TikTok ban bet, PFA helps him.... (1:22:03): Bovada/Ignition tournament system glitch over weekend of March 8 leaves hundreds or thousands of players underpaid or no-paid their winnings.... (1:50:00): Texas / Canadian poker player Mark Toulouse passed away during tournament at Texas Card House Dallas.... (2:03:25): Founders Card again kills Caesars Diamond benefit, this time permanently.... (2:17:04): Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority agrees to pay $8.25 million to A's to wear Las Vegas patch while they play in Sacramento.... (2:30:21): YouTube makes new policy against videos promoting illegal online gambling sites.

On the March 8 edition of A's Cast Live, our daily baseball talk show, Chris Townsend was live from Downtown Summerlin and was joined by: Jose Canseco - A's Hall of Famer & 1988 AL MVP (8:30) Mick Akers - Sports Business & Transportation journalist at Las Vegas Review Journal (27:30) Steve Hill - Chief Executive Officer and President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (1:11:50) Steve Fanelli - VP of Sales and Business Operations for the Athletics (1:23:53) Brent Rooker - A's Outfielder/DH (1:39:10) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

City Cast's new investigation, co-published with ProPublica, reveals new details about the so-called "Tesla tunnels" running under our city: When Elon Musk's Boring Company came to Las Vegas in 2019, its tunneling projects in other cities had already fizzled out after environmental reviews and public outcry. But here, with the backing of the powerful Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Boring Co. won a bid to build the Vegas Loop, a tunnel system for ferrying convention-goers around in underground Teslas — and it's since won approval from local government entities for 68 miles of tunnels. City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler and journalist Daniel Rothberg co-authored a new investigation for ProPublica about how the Boring Co. has advanced a sprawling transit system with little public oversight and input, despite the fines and environmental incidents it's racked up since the project began. City Cast Las Vegas co-host Sarah Lohman interviews Dayvid and Daniel in today's episode. Make sure to read the investigation in full here. ProPublica and City Cast Las Vegas made multiple attempts to reach the Boring Company for comment on this investigation, but have received no response as of the publication date. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Messina, senior director of leisure travel for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report on the eve of the second Formula 1 Grand Prix, an event that was a major success for the entertainment capital Messina details how Vegas has become a center for sports, previews new and updated resorts coming online and new forms of entertainment and shows opening around the city. For more information, visit www.TrackMyLasVegasBookings.com, www.visitlasvegas.com, www.lasvegasmeansbusiness.com or www.taconnect.net/rewards/lvcva. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean, iHeartRadio, Google,Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.  

Send us a textWe are on location as the iconic Tropicana Las Vegas took its final bow with a breathtaking spectacle. What a show! The Las Vegas skyline was illuminated with an impressive drone and fireworks show, followed by the 22-second-long implosion of the Tropicana at 2:30 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Oct. 9. According to officials... the momentous event marks the next chapter in Las Vegas' legacy of reinvention: the A's state-of-the-art ballpark and a world-class entertainment resort destination in partnership with Bally's Corporation. We chat with Steve Hill, the President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. We asked him about Las Vegas implosions and why they are so special and we also asked him to confirm that the A's are really moving here. Listen and see what he has to say! Call LevelUp Law at 855-LevelUp or visit  LevelUpLaw.comVegasNearMe AppIf it's fun to do or see, it's on VegasNearMe. The only app you'll need to navigate Las Vegas. Support the showFollow us on Instagram: @vegas.revealedFollow us on Twitter: @vegasrevealedFollow us on TikTok: @vegas.revealedWebsite: Vegas-Revealed.com

Episode Notes Airbnb aims to focus on a lot more than short-term rentals. The company has plans to consistently launch new lines of business going forward, including those that may not be geared toward travel, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes. CEO Brian Chesky said at the Skift Global Forum on Wednesday he anticipates launching two or three ventures annually that could eventually generate a billion dollars a year in revenue. He acknowledged not all of those ventures will be successful, but added now is the right time for the company to grow beyond the core business.  Chesky also said that stays between 30 and 90 days could represent a huge area of growth for Airbnb, noting that online travel agencies wouldn't likely provide travelers that opportunity. Next, Las Vegas officials believe the city needs to host more big sporting events to help maintain tourism growth, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.   Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said at the Skift Global Forum the city aims to have a marquee event in the first or second quarter of each year in addition to the annual Formula 1 race. Las Vegas hosted the Super Bowl this February, which generated $1 billion in incremental economic impact.  Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, said the city wouldn't be the same if it stopped hosting large sporting events. Las Vegas is scheduled to host Wrestlemania and the College Football Playoff National Championship next year. Finally, Dubai is synonymous with luxury tourism. But the city is looking to rely less on its famous landmarks and celebrity campaigns in favor of what it considers a more authentic tourism experience, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder.  Dubai Tourism CEO Issam Kazim said the city needed landmark projects and luxury hotels to attract tourists in the beginning. But he said Dubai Tourism is working to showcase the city's residents and hidden gems, citing its arts and culture.  For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Football trivia on Jeopardy! goes wrong; how do more celebrities fair with the LOCPOD Creepiness test; did The Times local newspaper give Tom the shaft after some of his remarks on the last episode; Speros Batistatos sued by his former employer, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, for fraud and unjust enrichment.

On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced an unprecedented new sponsorship program: $100k to each of the Las Vegas Aces players, from superstars to rookies. On the heels of that announcement, however, the WNBA confirmed that it would be investigating this sponsorship deal for possible violation of league rules. But why? Today, executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson talks with professor Nancy Lough, co-director of the UNLV Sports Innovation Institute, about the complicated rules of endorsements, sponsorships, and pay-to-play in pro sports — and how we can get to pay parity for female athletes. Don't forget: We're doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We'd be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it's only 7 minutes long. You'll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card — and City Cast City swag! Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 'Queens of the Court' (Subscribe Here): On this episode of Queens of the Court, co-hosts Sheryl Swoopes and Jordan Robinson break down the first week of the 2024 WNBA Season, from the Indiana Fever's 0-4 start to the New York Liberty's four-game win streak. Plus, they discuss the unveiling of the name and logo for the Golden State Valkyries, and the news that the Las Vegas Aces are under investigation after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it was sponsoring each player on the team.If you have any questions want Sheryl and Jordan to answer, you can send them to queensofthecourt@audacy.com. Please also rate and review "Queens of the Court" so more women's basketball fans can find us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From 'Queens of the Court' (Subscribe Here): On this episode of Queens of the Court, co-hosts Sheryl Swoopes and Jordan Robinson break down the first week of the 2024 WNBA Season, from the Indiana Fever's 0-4 start to the New York Liberty's four-game win streak. Plus, they discuss the unveiling of the name and logo for the Golden State Valkyries, and the news that the Las Vegas Aces are under investigation after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it was sponsoring each player on the team.If you have any questions want Sheryl and Jordan to answer, you can send them to queensofthecourt@audacy.com. Please also rate and review "Queens of the Court" so more women's basketball fans can find us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Queens of the Court, co-hosts Sheryl Swoopes and Jordan Robinson break down the first week of the 2024 WNBA Season, from the Indiana Fever's 0-4 start to the New York Liberty's four-game win streak. Plus, they discuss the unveiling of the name and logo for the Golden State Valkyries, and the news that the Las Vegas Aces are under investigation after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it was sponsoring each player on the team. If you have any questions want Sheryl and Jordan to answer, you can send them to queensofthecourt@audacy.com. Please also rate and review "Queens of the Court" so more women's basketball fans can find us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From 'Queens of the Court' (Subscribe Here): On this episode of Queens of the Court, co-hosts Sheryl Swoopes and Jordan Robinson break down the first week of the 2024 WNBA Season, from the Indiana Fever's 0-4 start to the New York Liberty's four-game win streak. Plus, they discuss the unveiling of the name and logo for the Golden State Valkyries, and the news that the Las Vegas Aces are under investigation after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it was sponsoring each player on the team.If you have any questions want Sheryl and Jordan to answer, you can send them to queensofthecourt@audacy.com. Please also rate and review "Queens of the Court" so more women's basketball fans can find us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From 'Queens of the Court' (Subscribe Here): On this episode of Queens of the Court, co-hosts Sheryl Swoopes and Jordan Robinson break down the first week of the 2024 WNBA Season, from the Indiana Fever's 0-4 start to the New York Liberty's four-game win streak. Plus, they discuss the unveiling of the name and logo for the Golden State Valkyries, and the news that the Las Vegas Aces are under investigation after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it was sponsoring each player on the team.If you have any questions want Sheryl and Jordan to answer, you can send them to queensofthecourt@audacy.com. Please also rate and review "Queens of the Court" so more women's basketball fans can find us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From 'Queens of the Court' (Subscribe Here): On this episode of Queens of the Court, co-hosts Sheryl Swoopes and Jordan Robinson break down the first week of the 2024 WNBA Season, from the Indiana Fever's 0-4 start to the New York Liberty's four-game win streak. Plus, they discuss the unveiling of the name and logo for the Golden State Valkyries, and the news that the Las Vegas Aces are under investigation after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced it was sponsoring each player on the team.If you have any questions want Sheryl and Jordan to answer, you can send them to queensofthecourt@audacy.com. Please also rate and review "Queens of the Court" so more women's basketball fans can find us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A $12 billion passenger bullet train linking Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area was dubbed the first true high-speed rail line in the nation, with a private company called Brightline West building it, and predicting millions of ticket-buyers will be boarding trains by 2028. Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, cited Biden administration support for the project that he said will bring thousands of union jobs, boost local economies, and cut traffic and air pollution. Company officials say the goal is to have trains exceeding speeds of 186 mph (300 kph)—comparable to Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains—operating in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Brightline West, whose sister company already operates a fast train between Miami and Orlando in Florida, aims to link U.S. cities that are too near each other for air travel to make sense and too far for people to drive. Las Vegas has no Amtrak service. The idea of a bullet train to Los Angeles dates back decades under various names including DesertXpress. Brightline West acquired the project in 2019, and company and public officials say it has all required right-of-way and environmental approvals, along with labor agreements. Brightline received Biden administration backing including a $3 billion grant from federal infrastructure funds and recent approval to sell another $2.5 billion in tax-exempt bonds. The company won federal authorization in 2020 to sell $1 billion in similar bonds. Brightline West says electric-powered trains will cut the four-hour trip across the Mojave Desert to a little more than two hours. It projects 11 million one-way passengers per year, with fares that Wes Eden, Brightline founder, said will be comparable to airline ticket costs. The trains will offer restrooms, Wi-Fi, food and beverage sales, and the option to check luggage. Officials hope the train line will relieve congestion on I-15, where drivers often sit in miles of crawling traffic while returning home to Southern California from a Las Vegas weekend. An average of more than 44,000 automobiles per day crossed the California-Nevada state line on I-15 in 2023, according to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority data. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Were the recent Northern Lights overhyped; Tom and Kevin talk with Phil Taillon, the new CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, about what he's looking forward to in his new position, what he'll miss as Chief of Staff for Hammond, Indiana, and more; Tom and Kevin suffer the same groin injury at the same time; was Trump's recent massive rally in New Jersey and indicator of what the outcome will be of the upcoming election; Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reveals that a worm died inside his brain after eating a portion of it.

From our friends at Skift, host Miguel Neves explores four diverse destinations, speaking with Tommy Woods, Travel Texas; Jim McMichael, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Tara Miller, Destination DC; and Martha Sheridan, Meet Boston. Each destination provides insight into what attendees can expect when meeting with them at IMEX Frankfurt 2024.

To no one's surprise, Elon Musk's Boring Company is in the news again as Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, throws his support behind the Vegas Loop's expansion amid safety concerns. Also, a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents is facing calls to resign after doubling down on comments aimed at trans athletes and the American Film Market moving to Vegas revives hopes for a Hollywood 2.0. Hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by thelist.vegas publisher Andrew Kiraly to round up this week's news. We're on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join our Patreon for the exclusive MtM Vegas Aftershow! More info at: https://www.patreon.com/MtMVegas Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories Part 1 Description: This week we finally learned the date when the Tropicana will go into yesteryear as one of the most historic Vegas properties ever. Find out when Tropicana will close its doors plus what is the casino's legacy and will be actually be sorry that Tropicana is no more? In other news Planet Hollywood is getting a new center bar and it looks great. We also take a detailed look inside one of the stunning Wynn Fairway Villas, let you know how much Caesars is now charging for ATM fees, provide an update on Fontainebleau's nacho problems and executive shakeups plus contemplate a rumor about Hard Rock buying Treasure Island. Part 2 Description This week the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority released the visitor stats for December, 2023 and many records were broken. We'll break down how stunning the numbers are considering December is usually one of the slowest months of the year. In other news the Sphere announced their next residency act as they have struggled to get big names to sign on. We also discuss Oyo's super unique show, what you should see at Trop before it is gone, Caesars Palace at opening vs. today, the crazy amount of stuff Vegas is doing for the Super Bowl and whether or not Tilmann Fertitta's "Cosmo Clone" is canceled. About the Show Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. We do two news shows weekly on YouTube with the audio being combined into this podcast. Never miss out on the latest happenings in and around Las Vegas! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or by searching "MtM Vegas" or "Miles to Memories" in your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to check out our travel/miles/points podcast as well!

Sam Joffray is no stranger to the Super Bowl. He has been to every big game since 1997 in some capacity. Whether it was leading a bid for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation or as a consultant or vendor, Joffray has a wealth of experience when it comes to the NFL's crown jewel. So when Las Vegas welcomed the Raiders to the city and built world-class Allegiant Stadium four years ago, they needed someone to run point on a Super Bowl bid. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority hired Joffray to be the president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee. Following a successful bid, Sin City will host its first Super Bowl on February 11. Joffray and his team have been hard at work to make sure the event is a success, and are hopeful that Las Vegas can get into the regular rotation of Super Bowl host venues is the coming years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guests: Steve Hill, CEO/President, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Part Two

Kelly Messina, senior director of leisure sales for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about how your clients can still find ticket  and packages for the much-in-demand F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, including what Vegas is doing to host the race. For more information, visit www.lvcca.com or www.visitlasvegas.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.  

The season 10 premiere – the crew talks about what they did over break, including Tom's outburst at a Cubs game; LOCPOD is dismissed from a lawsuit by Speros Batistatos, former head of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.

Season 4, Episode 3 Featured guest: Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority Do you stand up for yourself when the moment calls for it? Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer at the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, shares her experience and perspective on workplace bullying, choosing to be zealous over jealous, and finding the courage to get comfortable with uncomfortable conversations.

Lisa Motley has worked in the Las Vegas events and tourism industry for more than 20 years. She has held various roles in her six-plus years at Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. As senior director of sports and special events, Motley works tirelessly to bring all sizes of sporting events to Las Vegas. She was instrumental in organizing the 2022 NFL Draft, and has held a large role in securing some of the biggest sporting events in the world for Sin City. This November, Las Vegas will host Formula 1 for the first time, and then three months later will welcome Super Bowl LVIII to Allegiant Stadium. In this conversation with SportsTravel Associate Editor Justin Shaw, we talk with Motley about what it takes to bring these massive events to Las Vegas, and what to expect from the city as a host. We also discuss all of the college basketball action in Las Vegas, including this year's NCAA Men's West Regional Final and the 2028 Men's Final Four. Motley also divulges the one event that she still wants to check off her sports bucket list.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Uran, former Crown Point mayor and current CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, guest hosts LOCPOD; Dave is unsure of Tom's shirt size; Pickleball for all as Larry from Pickle Time describes the game and why it's for everyone; Naked Pickleball, like in Florida, won't be happening here any time soon; Dave talks about his experience being a referee and people giving refs the business.

Cop 27 is under way in Egypt and we examine what this means for the world's fastest growing continent Africa. We speak to Lily Odarno, the Director of Energy and Climate Innovation for Africa at the Clean Air Task Force and ask her how the continent will increase its energy supplies over the next few decades. We are in Las Vegas to hear about a post-pandemic bounce in tourism. In June, 4.8 million people visited the bright lights, casinos and big shows. Fletch Burnett the Vice President of Marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority tells us why Vegas is booming. The US based owners of Liverpool Football Club football have said they would consider new shareholders, after reports emerged that the club is being put up for sale. The Fenway Sports group also own the US Baseball side the Boston Red Sox. US finance expert Kieran Maguire from the University of Liverpool explains what it means for this massive English football club which has a huge following around the globe.

We rode the Vegas Loop for the first time! Resorts World now has a passenger station and it's open for business. We chat with the Resorts World President and the CEO and President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Find out how it works and how this new underground travel will benefit you. We also visit the Nomad Pool on a Saturday afternoon. Find out what makes this pool different from weekend day clubs. The male revue show, Thunder from Down Under, celebrates 20 years at the Excalibur. We tell you about a new restaurant find off the strip. Valencian Gold has vibe and delicious food! Dayna has tips if you visit the North Premium Outlets. Sean has tips about the Las Vegas Ballpark. Valencian Gold is located at 7960 S. Rainbow Boulevard.Support the show