Las Vegas NowTravel Experts Discuss Bringing Tourists to Las Vegas

Travel Experts Discuss Bringing Tourists to Las Vegas

The number of people traveling to Las Vegas has been climbing slowly over the past few months. According to travel and tourism experts, Las Vegas could be doing even more to attract potential tourists.

As hard as it may be to believe, there are many young adults who've never been to Las Vegas before. "I think the biggest challenge Vegas has is to get people here who have never been before, because once they do come, they'll come back," said airline and travel researcher Henry Harteveldt.

Hartevedlt tracks consumer travel trends as vice president of an airline and travel research company. "What's really important for the travel industry to know is that 20-percent of consumers don't know where they want to go when they start planning a trip. So that's a great opportunity to attract those people," he said.

Hardeveldt and other senior level travel and tourism marketers and researchers are sharing their insights and successful strategies during the 29th annual ATME conference at Green Valley Ranch Casino.

The general consensus of outside experts is that Las Vegas has done a great job of marketing itself in the past -- especially with the What Happens Here, Stays Here slogan. "It's part of our national culture now. I've even heard it abroad," he said.

But times have changed and travel and tourism experts say any successful campaign must now cater to consumers on a budget who are very value-minded. "You have to change up your marketing strategy a few years based on who your target audience is, and those targets are always moving," said Joel Chusid with the Association of Travel Marketing Executives.

Hardevelt believes Las Vegas could do a better job marketing outdoor Nevada, such as Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Red Rock as healthy, less expensive alternatives to the more expensive gaming and nightclub scene in Las Vegas. That balance he says could prove to be very successful.