Tale of two destinations: bet on Vegas and Christmas in the Big Easy
The Las Vegas gaming market rebounded this year with a jump in visitor volume nearing the record total of 39.6 million in 2007, says VegasInc.com.
“Room occupancy rates and gaming revenue are up from the depressed levels of recent years, while visitors have shifted their spending patterns, focusing an ever-larger percentage of their cash on special events and clubs rather than casino floors,” the site says.
The area is a winner this year, despite the region’s continued battle with double-digit unemployment, record home foreclosure rates, the ever-present sense of economic uncertainty, and the continued domestic and international expansion of the casino industry, say various sources.
“I think it’s a winner in that it recovered. It did start to bounce back,” said one casino industry analyst who requested anonymity.
The improvement in Vegas has led to other areas considering gaming expansions. Massachusetts, New York and Florida are all states looking at adding more gaming venues.
The expansion or potential growth of casino gaming to major eastern states — including Pennsylvania, Ohio and Massachusetts — and the expansion of Florida’s gaming footprint could divert a significant percentage of tourists who would travel to Southern Nevada, the site says.
Executive of Genting USA, which is seeking to build a Las Vegas-style resort on a waterfront site in Miami, has estimated that South Florida gaming could cut into the Strip gaming market by as much as $2 billion annually.
At another destination far away, Christmas in the past generally escaped the party-hearty atmosphere of New Orleans. But tourism officials say that is changing. More tourists are coming to the Big Easy to celebrate Christmas.
New Orleans tourism marketing leaders say the highly popular city which normally is slow at Christmas time has emerged as a popular holiday destination.
"We had broiled oysters. We had raw oysters and we had fried oysters and some gumbo," typical tourist Tammy Brown told Fox 8 TV news.
"We've been listed as one of the top three destinations in the nation for the holidays, including Christmas and New Year's Eve," said Mark Romig, CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.
He added the city is seeing more and more people in town for "Christmas New Orleans Style," a month-long festival that started December 1st that includes specially priced dinners at area restaurants.
Christmas concerts at St. Louis Cathedral and St. Augustine Church in Treme have been at capacity levels.
"It was not unheard of to ask who was from out of town and 90 percent of the crowd would raise their hand and say we're from out of town so we know our message is getting out," said Romig.
He explained that there seems to be a shift in the traditionally slower winter months in the city.
"We are seeing a change in travel patterns to New Orleans. People recognize us as a really authentic unique destination for the holidays so we think our marketing message is grabbing on," said Romig.
By David Wilkening
David
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