Tourism

Utah bid for 2022 Olympics OK with Denver, Lake Tahoe: Saturday, February 11, 2012; Associated Press; The more the merrier. Organizers exploring the possibility of bringing the Olympics back to Salt Lake City say that's the kind of warm welcome they've received from officials pushing competing bids to hold the 2022 Winter Games at Lake Tahoe or Denver.

‘Preview’ headliners upbeat about a Las Vegas comeback: Thursday, February 9, 2012; Experts share ideas with business leaders on boosting tourism and jobs; By Gregan Wingert; Las Vegas may have taken a powerful body blow when the economy was down for the count, but speakers of Thursday’s Preview 2012 say the city is making a comeback.

Arizona tribe votes to take over Skywalk management: Wednesday, February 8, 2012; Associated Press; A northwestern Arizona tribe has voted to take over management of the Grand Canyon Skywalk from the Las Vegas developer who built it.

Spirit Airlines' Las Vegas crew base up and running: Tuesday, February 7, 2012; Move will boost its staff of Southern Nevadans; By Richard N. Velotta; Spirit Airlines officially opened its Las Vegas crew base Tuesday, formally starting the process of making 200 of the company’s pilots, flight attendants and mechanics local residents.

Las Vegas Monorail to shed more debt in latest plan: Friday, February 3, 2012; By Steve Green; Las Vegas Monorail Co. proposed a new plan Thursday to emerge from bankruptcy that calls for the system to operate in the black later this decade and even to expand.

Allegiant sustains profitability despite rising fuel costs: Wednesday, February 1, 2012; By Richard N. Velotta; Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent company of Allegiant Air, recorded its 36th straight profitable quarter Wednesday, but earnings continued to decline as a result of higher fuel costs.

Las Vegas Sands revenue, profits surged in late 2011, report says: Wednesday, February 1, 2012; By Steve Green; Las Vegas Sands Corp. on Wednesday issued the first financial statistics from the Las Vegas Strip for the fourth quarter of 2011, and they confirmed tourism is rebounding in the city.

Las Vegas faces uphill battle in becoming medical-tourism destination: Wednesday, February 1, 2012; By Richard N. Velotta; When it comes to medical tourism, Southern Nevada excels at the “tourism,” but is weak on the “medical” part. That was the conclusion panelists and observers reached at the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition’s inaugural medical tourism symposium Tuesday at Oscar’s at the Plaza Las Vegas.

SHOT Show sets record attendance of 61,000, commits to Vegas through 2015: Tuesday, January 31, 2012; By Richard N. Velotta; January’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show had record attendance of 61,000 people, and the owner of the annual firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry event has signed a three-year contract extension to have the show in Las Vegas through 2015. Representatives of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, owner of the SHOT Show, said this year’s event, which ran Jan. 17-20 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, also had a record 36,383 buyers in attendance and 2,466 registered media.

Cheap rooms, scenery and other reasons for people to visit Vegas: Monday, January 30, 2012; By Kyle B. Hansen; Tired of the guest bedroom being occupied? Then pray the in-laws don’t see this: "10 Reasons to Visit Vegas Right Now."

NHL signs deal to keep awards show in Las Vegas: Monday, January 30, 2012; By Richard N. Velotta; The National Hockey League has signed a three-year extension with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to continue bringing its annual postseason awards show to the city.

Southwest-AirTran merger looking like a blessing for Las Vegans: Monday, January 30, 2012; The R.V.:; By Richard N. Velotta; a recent announcement by Southwest Airlines regarding progress in its merger with AirTran gives reason for optimism that Las Vegas not only would get additional seats to the market but a new list of cities with nonstop or direct service by the Dallas-based carrier, the busiest at McCarran.

Senor Frog's restaurant nearing completion at Treasure Island: Saturday, January 28, 2012; By Aida Ahmed; Treasure Island is about two months away from completing work on a new Senor Frog's restaurant and bar under construction at the resort, a spokeswoman for the resort said. The spokeswoman, Michelle Knoll, said work was under way to replace Christian Audigier The Nightclub and Khotan Asian Bistro, both closed since last year, with Senor Frog’s. The restaurant is expected to open sometime in April and will employ 200 to 250 employees.

Traffic at McCarran surges to highest level since '08: Friday, January 27, 2012; By Ric Anderson; In another sign of resurgence in the Las Vegas tourism industry, officials reported Friday that McCarran International Airport drew nearly 41.5 million passengers in 2011 — the highest annual total since 2008.

Shrewd, smaller Vegas resorts show that innovating, renovating can do wonders: Wednesday, January 25, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; When I look at the hand-painted psychedelia of the piano; the ornate, custom-made pool table; and shoe fetish art in the lobby of the Royal House, I feel a little hopeful, which hasn’t been a very common emotion these past few years.