Maybe, like me, you were a little curious about why the government of Macau chose to showcase its cultural heritage in Las Vegas this week instead of going to a bigger media market such as New York or an American city with a huge Chinese population, such as San Francisco.
Macau Week in Las Vegas turned out to be an enjoyable experience for most of the people I talked to. But why come to Las Vegas, a city filled with people who would most likely want to get away from a city that has casinos when they go on vacation?
If you subscribe to the theory that doing business in Asia is all about relationships, you’ll get a clue as to why there was an abundance of art and photography, Macanese food and Chinese lion and dragon dances at the MGM Grand, the Venetian and Wynn Las Vegas this week.
By nurturing relationships between cities that have a growing number of things in common, Southern Nevadans will develop a better understanding of the city that may someday supplant Las Vegas as the Gaming Capital of the World.
More: inbusinesslasvegas.com
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U.S. casino operators, faced with little appetite for commercial casinos in states outside of Nevada, New Jersey and Mississippi, are looking to Asia for their biggest growth opportunities.
"There is no question that international is the place to be," said Gary Loveman, chief executive of Harrah's Entertainment Inc. (HET.N: Quote, Profile, Research), told Reuters at a gaming conference held this week in Las Vegas.
Harrah's, the world's largest gambling company, is "exploring entry opportunities" in Macau, the Chinese enclave that is Asia's answer to Europe's Monaco, after sitting out the first round of licensing concessions, Loveman said.
Las Vegas Sands (LVS.N: Quote,
Miss America Pageant Moving to Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS Nov 17, 2005 — After 84 years of crowning beauties on the Boardwalk, the Miss America pageant is moving to the Las Vegas Strip, organizers announced Wednesday.
It will be the first time the contest has been staged outside Atlantic City, N.J.
The Aladdin hotel-casino will host the pageant, scheduled to air Jan. 21 on cable channel Country Music Television, organizers told The Associated Press.
"What we wanted to do is find a new host city that has all glitz and glamour Miss America is known for," said Art McMaster, chief executive of
Casino gaming is one of the fastest growing leisure activities in the world. Now lifestyle channel Discovery Travel And Living will kick off a new show High Point: Casinos Of the World. It will air every Tuesday at 11:30 pm.
From Las Vegas to Melbourne each episode goes inside a casino to highlight the table games, architecture, decor, atmosphere. It will also look at the shopping avenues as well as the entertainment options on offer for visitors.
Viewers will get to see every aspect of the local gaming culture outside the casino as well like bull running in Spain and Australian
Every few months or so, Jim and Barbara Hoagland round up some cash, pack their bags and hop on a tour bus headed across Ohio’s borders.
Their destination: a resort casino.
“We pretty much go all over,” said Jim. “Usually, we go on overnight trips.”
On Tuesday morning, the Massillon couple will depart for the Argosy casino near Cincinnati.
While the Hoaglands don’t mind the travel, Jim said he and his wife would stick closer to home – and spend their money here – if casino gambling were legal in Ohio.
“I think the biggest reason most people go out of
Nok Air in race to tap Thai travel boom
Thai discount carrier Nok Air plans to start services in July from Bangkok to Macau, making the SAR its first international destination.
Chief executive Patee Sarasin said he is targeting Macau as a stepping-stone into the mainland and because he expects interest in travel to the territory to surge in Thailand.
``It's just a gambling center for now,'' he said. ``I think within the next two years, Macau is going to sprout into a center of entertainment for Asia.''
Thailand emerged as Macau's fastest-growing source of visitors last year, sending 41,841 residents to the SAR,
