Tale of two cities trying to change their luck
Two American cities where tourism is practically synonymous with gambling are placing their future bets in other directions: Vegas wants "losers" of a different style: health conscious tourists, while Atlantic City wants non-gamblers.
Doug Geinzer, CEO of the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition, worked with an executive from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to organize the first-ever medical tourism symposium recently in Vegas.
"He is convinced that Las Vegas can become a medical tourism destination," said Vegas.Inc.
Medical tourism has been on Southern Nevada’s radar for more than a decade. But not until recently has the medical community and the tourism industry coordinated efforts well to begin turning the concept into reality.
Both groups are attempting to make medical tourism into a bona fide piece of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s economic diversification package.
Everybody’s heard the old joke: Where is the best place to go for medical treatment in Southern Nevada? McCarran International Airport.
But now, through a series of initiatives by several parties, McCarran is the gateway for people coming to Las Vegas for medical care.
"By most accounts, Las Vegas can’t truly consider itself a hub for medical tourism just yet, but progress made in the last year indicates it’s on its way," says Vegas.Inc.
Meanwhile, at the other side of the country in Atlantic City, the long-established gambling mecca is spending $20 million to blitz New York and other nearby metro areas with ads promoting the seaside destination.
However, this time the ads are addressed to non-gamblers.
"Responding to a steady decline in the number of people who visit Atlantic City and to greater competition from surrounding states that have recently enacted legislation allowing full gaming, the resort community is blitzing New York and other nearby metropolitan areas from Boston to Washington with advertising," said Crain’s New York Business.
The campaign, "Do Anything. Do Everything," is the first initiative of the year-old Atlantic City Alliance. That’s a new nonprofit formed by the eight casino operators in Atlantic City. The organization has a $30 million annual budget for the next five years.
"The casino operators understand that it is not just about growing the gaming customer, that they have to have the leisure traveler as well," said Liza Cartmell, president of the Alliance.
By David Wilkening
David
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