Prospects uncertain for LV in Taiwan

Wednesday, June 10, 1998 | 3:58 a.m.

TOKYO -- Gov. Bob Miller, still soaring from two profitable meetings with Japanese air carriers, left today for Taipei where prospects for success are far more uncertain.

Miller was scheduled to meet late today with representatives of Eva Air, a division of the Evergreen Air Group and on Thursday with China Air, the national air carrier of Taiwan.

A pared-down group accompanied Miller to Taiwan, where unlike the mission to Japan, there are no indications whether the incumbent airlines have any interest in direct air service between Taipei and Las Vegas. Miller scheduled appointments with airline executives with the expectation that he would present what Las Vegas has to offer and try to gauge a reaction.

It's a major contrast to his two days in Tokyo, where Japan Airlines announced its intent to fly two nonstop flights a week between Tokyo and Las Vegas, beginning Oct. 2. Also, All Nippon Airways announced it would fly two charters between Nagoya and Las Vegas in the summer. Charters often are a precursor to establishing regularly scheduled service and ANA has indicated its intent to pull back from the Australian market.

Miller admitted to being nervous about the potential collapse of the JAL announcement after seeing headlines on the devaluation of the yen screaming off the front pages of Tokyo's English-language newspapers.

The yen improved to 140.66 against the U.S. dollar today, reversing a trend for Monday and Tuesday. But analysts fear the devaluation will hit 150 before the financial carnage is over.

Miller said even though he had received indications that JAL was on the verge of making an announcement, he didn't have anything in writing until Tuesday.

"We had heard the same reports that JAL was going to go ahead with it, but until we had something definitive, we felt we couldn't make an announcement," Miller said.

He defended his delegation's visit despite indications that a decision already had been reached by the airline.

"We were told that these types of decisions take a considerable amount of time," Miller said, "and that a high-level visit could expedite the process."

The ANA charter announcement also was anticipated by some of the delegation, but the details weren't disclosed until Monday's meeting. Again, state officials were reluctant to consider the deal done until they heard it directly from the airline. Once they did, they announced financial considerations from McCarran International Airport to make a lounge in Terminal 2 available to JAL and ANA customers for a year and $250,000 in advertising the new Japan routes.

The meetings with Taiwanese carriers offer unknowns and results will be a surprise for everybody. The delegation also is prepared for there being no movement from the two carriers, but Miller will be satisfied that he opened the door to Taiwan while picking up the prize in Japan.

Three members of the group did not accompany the governor to Taiwan. Las Vegas City Councilman Arnie Adamsen and Bob Jitchaku of the Japan America Society of Nevada stayed in Tokyo to conduct business.

Adamsen, who is active in developing Sister City relationships, had meetings with several government officials in an effort to find a new Sister City in Japan for Las Vegas. The councilman advocates building the social, cultural and educational rapport between the United States and Asian nations as a bridge to fostering better business alliances.

But business also was on Adamsen's agenda. He met with representatives of Mitsubishi in an effort to get that company informed about the status of Southern Nevada's fixed guideway transportation system. Mitsubishi could be interested in bidding on light rail or monorail projects that are being planned.

Jitchaku is a Las Vegan who has business dealings in both Nevada and Japan. The Japan America Society supports Japanese cultural events, business and industry in Nevada.

His father also worked with former Hawaii Gov. John Waihee, who joined the Nevada delegation as a representative of Circus Circus.

Waihee, who works for the same Washington law firm as former Sen. Bob Dole, also is a close personal friend of Miller's and offered guidance in negotiations with JAL.

The two-term governor, who left office in Hawaii in 1994, negotiated JAL air services to the Hawaiian islands. Hawaii is now one of the leading tourist destinations for the Japanese.

Other roles of the members of the delegation:

--State Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Nev. Raggio is the state's representative from the legislative branch. Whenever Miller introduces Raggio, he points out that the two of them are members of opposing political parties. His effort is to make it clear to the Japanese that there is no animosity that would hinder future government contact.

--Thomas Tait, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. His office set up most of the logistics for Miller's trip and he did most of the planning, serving as an assistant to the governor on the mission.

--Brenda Hughes, international manager of tour and travel for the Nevada Commission on Tourism. She formalized the governor's itinerary and kept his schedule during the mission.

--Kyosuke Okada, the representative in Japan for the Nevada Commission on Tourism as well as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. In addition to establishing many of the Tokyo contacts, he served as an interpreter for several events.

--Harry Kassap, McCarran International Airport. He was able to answer many of the logistical questions the airline executives had for Miller.

--Michael Mecca, general manager of Mandalay Bay hotel casino. Mecca and Waihee split their time between mission business and Circus Circus business. Mecca said Circus is developing a presence in Asia, opening an office in Singapore two weeks ago, in Hong Kong this week and in Taipei next week. Mecca and Waihee are working toward opening offices in Tokyo and Bangkok by September in preparation for the opening of Mandalay Bay in March. Mecca's recurring theme in his appearances before the airline groups was about the level of service that he expects will be present at the new Circus Circus property.

--Michael Gasta, Hilton Hotels. Gasta, who handles Hilton's gaming properties for international sales representatives, explains the big picture for Hilton in Nevada, including the company's Laughlin and Northern Nevada properties. He's also been making the pitch for the new Paris hotel-casino. The 500-foot Eiffel Tower structure that will be the centerpiece of the property will be joining the skyline within months. Gasta also will wrack up the most frequent-flier miles in his Hilton role -- after returning from Asia, he has plans for a trip to London, then may need to return to Bangkok.