Momentum around meeting cancellations

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Meetings and conventions aren’t just falling … they’re actively being canceled. While it’s easy to write this off as the erosion of a wasteful corporate perk, it translates to genuine financial crisis for the travel industry.

Over the past six months, 402 conventions and meetings have been canceled in Las Vegas alone. According to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, this translates into a loss of $166 million for the city … and that doesn’t include lost gambling revenue. It’s no wonder that the city has to be inches from paying guests to visit.

Cancellations at Orlando haven’t been as bad, but the problem is merely one of degree. This year, the city has sustained an economic impact of $26 million from the canceling of 114 meetings scheduled for 2009. Because of all this, 146,000 rooms are expected to be vacant this year … rooms that were supposed to be occupied.

It’s been tough in other cities, too.

All in, this has translated to more than $1 billion of lost revenue in the first two months of the year from meeting cancellations, according to the U.S. Travel Association. The number is even worse when you factor in spending on rental cars, catering and local attractions.

So, for anyone who doubted the potential for more than 200,000 jobs to be lost in the travel industry this year … just do the damned math.

Daily Travel Deal: $31 Vegas Strip Hotels

by Grant Martin on

One of the few great advantages of a smaller tourism market this year is that markets that rely heavily on vacationers are slashing prices. Many hotels and casinos in Vegas are hurting for business, which means that when you and I show up on the strip we can reap the profits.

The Excalibur in Las Vegas is a prime example. Prices for this three star property just dipped to as low as $31/night, some of the lowest prices that we’ve ever seen on Gadling. $31 isn’t for a crummy motel five miles off the strip either — The Excalibur is attached to the MGM Grand and nestled among all of the Vegas greats.

Find out more about the deal at Hotels.com, where you can also check out photos and take a virtual tour of the property.

Swing back to AOL’s discount travel for more fancy deals including the Hot 5.

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Photo of the Day (2.21.09)

by Brenda Yun on

If you’ve been to the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, then you might recognize this exhibit. You know, the one that hangs from the ceiling of the lobby as you walk in? Dale Chihuly’s “Fiori di Como” (or “Flowers of Como” — as in, Lake Como in Italy) is a glass masterpiece that covers a 70 x 30 foot area with over 2,000 colorful glass elements. It’s one of many cool sights to behold in the City of Sin, which was recently named by Forbes.com as America’s emptiest city. So, despite a dwindling population, we must remind ourselves that there are still just as many awesome things to see and do in America’s other city that never sleeps.

This photo comes to us from jerry.r.lem, who has a gorgeous and well-organized collection of photography on his Flickr profile.

If you are a fan of Chihuly’s glass art, then you’ll certainly find this one inspiring as well, which is found in Phoenix [click for a larger view and slide show of his other works].

The amazing contrast of the fiery glass amid cactus plants really drives home the hot, dry Arizona surroundings, don’t you think? Chihuly’s work can be found all over the country. To find an exhibit close to you, visit his exhibition and gallery schedule here.

If you have some great travel shots you’d like to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day!

Take advantage of the pain in Vegas – Four Seasons for $149/night

by Scott Carmichael on

One thing is clear in this bad economy – one person’s poorly booked hotel, is another person’s chance to stay in luxury for under $150.

The Las Vegas Four Seasons is clearly feeling the pain more than ever – if you book a room as part of their “Vegas Escape” rate plan, you can snag yourself a “moderate room” for just $149 a night.

This insanely low price is available from February 20th till the 24th, so you only have a couple of days to take advantage of it.

Of course, this kind of luxury is only for people who like a non-gaming hotel, as the Four Seasons prefers to make its money off $700/night rooms, instead of slots and tables.

And don’t think “moderate room” means you are getting that smelly room by the elevator that nobody wants – each moderate room has 500 square feet of living space, a marble bathroom with tub and shower as well as a 42″ Plasma TV with DVD player.

A night at the Four Seasons might also be just what the doctor ordered if you are looking for a nice Valentines surprise for your loved one – it may be a week too late, but once you arrive I’m sure all will be forgiven.

You’ll find the rates overview here, just be sure to select the “Vegas Escape” package from the lineup, and feel free to ignore the “from $239” message.

Also, even though you can’t gamble at the Four Seasons, try your luck at the check-in desk with the old $20 trick when you ask “any upgrades available?”, you’ll be amazed what can happen in Vegas!

Feathers fall to floor for “Folies”

by Tom Johansmeyer on

“Les Folies Bergere” is about to come to an end. The topless review, which has called the Tropicana hotel and casino home for 49 years is about to take its stripping off the Strip. The show will close on March 28, 2009, in order to make room for something new … though no details have been released. Ron Thacker, president of the Tropicana has not explained the decision, saying only that his company is “”extremely proud to have been part of such an iconic Las Vegas production.”

The demise of Folies leaves only one full-scale showgirl production on the Strop: Bally’s “Jubilee!” Once a distinguished tradition (with the exception of an awful movie, of course), these shows are being pushed aside by the likes of Cirque du Soleil.

[Via MSNBC]