Europeans perceive a shortage of rooms in Las Vegas

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998 | 11:49 a.m.

Gov. Bob Miller says he was surprised to learn that European tour operators believe there is a shortage of hotel rooms in Las Vegas.

"While some skeptics wonder if Las Vegas has overbuilt, we travel to Europe to find tour operators complaining there aren't enough hotel rooms in Las Vegas to meet their needs," Miller said.

"They are looking forward to having 19,000 new rooms available within the next two years," Miller said Tuesday after returning from his tourism-building trip to Europe.

"There were instances where they have been unable to book a block of rooms so they were pleased when they heard about Bellagio opening this week, and the Venetian and the New Aladdin," Miller said. "Mike Mecca and Mike Gasta (from Circus Circus Enterprises and Hilton Hotels Corp., respectively) spoke on behalf of Mandalay Bay and the new Paris project and they (Europeans operators) seem quite interested."

Miller, who spoke to executives of six foreign air carriers, more than 18 travel writers and more than two dozen tour operators in stopovers in Germany, Britain and Belgium, said Europeans are still learning that Las Vegas has attractions that families can enjoy as well as casinos.

"Our (U.S.) market is a little more sophisticated," Miller said. "In the United States, most people already know that we have the family attractions and they are learning that we are also turning into the shopping and restaurant capital of the world as well as the entertainment capital."

Meantime, Miller said a special agreement outside the scope of the United States' bilateral talks with Great Britain could be the only way Las Vegas gets nonstop service to London anytime soon.

He remains optimistic about Nevada's chances of recruiting a British airline to fly the route, even though U.S. negotiators walked out of meetings with British government and aviation officials.

Britain is taking a hard line on protecting the nation's aviation interests, while the United States demanded an agreement similar to the one it has with more than a dozen other nations -- an "open skies" pact that would allow companies from both nations to fly to whatever cities they want.

President Clinton demonstrated how badly the United States wants the open-skies agreement, delaying approval of a strategic alliance between American Airlines and British Airways, a deal the British government wants for its flagship carrier.

Miller has discussed other options and, through the U.S. Department of Transportation, is considering an agreement that could lead to flights between London and Las Vegas on British Airways' biggest rival, Virgin Atlantic Airlines. While in London, Miller discussed that possibility with Minister of Tourism Glenda Jackson, the former actress.

Miller said Jackson supports a plan that would allow Virgin Atlantic to fly to Las Vegas if United Airlines is authorized additional flights between London and Chicago.

"It's another possibility," Miller said of the proposal. "But it's also a lot more complicated. Our top priority has been and always will be an open-skies agreement. But we're looking at all the options."

Meetings with Lufthansa and Condor airlines in Germany yielded discussions on Lufthansa gearing more for first class and business class customers, Miller said.

He said its subsidiary, Condor, would focus more on coach passengers. Condor currently operates two nonstop flights a week to Las Vegas, one each from Frankfurt and Cologne, and last year, those flights resulted in 257,000 Germans arriving at McCarran.

In Belgium, Miller met with the City Bird charter company and national flagship-carrier Sabena Airlines. Miller said Sabena wants to develop Brussels as an international gateway to Las Vegas. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg funnel about 54,000 visitors a year to Las Vegas. City Bird flies Brussels to Las Vegas once a week between April and October.

Miller said he was satisfied with the way his three international air tour missions have been received. Prior to the European mission, Miller went to Asia in June and South America in August.

"We've seen some immediate results in Asia," Miller said, referring to the startup of nonstop flights between Las Vegas and Tokyo by Japan Airlines earlier this month. "But I think the long-term results will be even better."

Miller said he hopes his gubernatorial successor continues to work to generate more air service to McCarran.

"The groundwork has been laid," Miller said. "The next governor should continue to explore these foreign markets."