Last week, thanks to Porter Airlines and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a small but mighty group of travel professionals and I had the opportunity to fly Porter Airlines’ inaugural flight to Las Vegas.
“It was key for us to deliver an elevated economy experience aboard the E195-E2 and especially to celebrate the inaugural Las Vegas flight,” Michael Curmi, Managing Director of Sales & Distribution at Porter, emphasized.
And elevated it is. Leather seats in a two-by-two configuration. Great service. Free wine and beer. Specialty drinks. It’s like flying your own private jet to Sin City.
During our three-day visit, we had the chance to tour the newly opened Fontainebleau Hotel, sample high-end cuisine from select restaurants on the Strip, visit The Sphere, sing along with the Beatles Love, a Cirque du Soleil production, and propel upwards with a bird's-eye view of the city's iconic landmarks by helicopter.
Canadians used to associating Vegas with gambling, all-you-can-eat buffets, and wild nights of indulgence where whatever happened promised to stay, will be surprised to find a whole new Vegas. The iconic city has undergone significant changes in the last few decades and is more than a hub for gambling and nightlife. Visitors can immerse themselves in a world of gourmet cuisine, upscale resorts, top shows and major sporting events.
“Vegas has always been known as the adult entertainment capital of the world,” according to David Han of LVCVA. He added that historically, revenues were predominantly driven by gambling, but a shift has seen non-gaming attractions be the main tourism driver.
The broadened scope is reflected in the numbers with 2023 Canadian visitation exceeding 2022, reaching 1.4 million visitors, only 4% short of 2019 peak levels. The resurgence can be attributed to various factors, including increased airlift to the destination and mega sporting events like the first-ever Formula 1 and Super Bowl.
The Sphere is the latest attraction located just off the strip near the Venetian resort and offers a glimpse into the future of entertainment. As we stepped into the main atrium, we were greeted by a display of AI robots interacting with their human guests. The immersive experience of Darren Aronofsky's film, "Postcard from Earth," projected onto a 270-degree LED screen, is one of the highlights. The Sphere can seat over 18,000 people and has already hosted U2, who launched The Sphere with their Achtung Baby residency. The iconic American band, Phish, will take their place this spring.
Las Vegas has become a magnet for sports fans, with the city boasting professional teams in major leagues. With the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders and the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights already calling the city home, another team will soon join them. Las Vegas will have its very own baseball team, the former Oakland A's, who will have a new ballpark to call their own constructed on the site of Tropicana Las Vegas.
Our group also had the privilege of touring Allegiant Stadium, which played host to last month’s Super Bowl LVIII. We were offered a VIP, behind-the-scenes look at owner Mark Davis's private suite, the broadcast booth, Al Davis Memorial Torch, and the Raiderettes and Raiders locker rooms. We even had a special moment when the head coach appeared as a hologram to give us a pep talk in the Raiders locker room.
When asked about increased airlift or route expansion plans, Porter Airlines tells me, "Las Vegas has been one of our best-performing new routes so far, and we hope to see the strong demand continue through the summer. It's too early to tell if we will increase frequency on this route, but if there is demand, it will be considered. Porter is continuing to announce new routes and destinations as part of our growth plans. Just today we announced service between Montreal and Los Angeles and San Francisco launching this June."
Curmi added, “David Han and the LVCVA were gracious hosts and showed this group of partners a wonderful time. We are grateful for this and for the time everyone took out of their busy schedules to celebrate the addition of another exciting new market to Porter’s expanding network.”
Agents can learn more about Las Vegas and earn rewards and incentives by registering here: https://www.taconnect.net/rewards/lvcva
