Richard N. Velotta
VEGAS INC Coverage
Stand back, everybody. I’ve entered the Twitter universe.
It’s been clear to me since they were invented that social media have become an important piece of what journalism has become. VEGAS INC and sister publication the Las Vegas Sun have been leaders in taking traditional print products to the Internet, including social networks Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Many of my colleagues rushed in early and the Sun’s social media strategy was akin to the successful Nike ad tag: Just Do It.
But being a relatively conservative guy, I chose to observe before participating.
It seemed to me that Facebook resembled a cyber-front porch where friends and family could gather to chit-chat about current events, swap stories and tell jokes. I’ll occasionally drop some of my VEGAS INC and Sun work on Facebook to show some of my friends across the country how we roll in the Neon Monster. Twitter, to me, seemed like a perfect venue for breaking news with that 140-character space limitation hanging over us.
Twitter is a great place to tell followers when I hear about breaking tourism news, including things I hear from industry sources and actions that occur at the various public meetings I cover, including the state Gaming Control Board, the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Nevada Tourism Commission, the Nevada Economic Development Commission, the Nevada Taxicab Authority and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. I’ll also try to drop in when I hear about some of those wacky airline fare sales that everybody likes to get in on.
All you have to do is sign up for Twitter and follow me @VegasInc_TheRV. I look forward to seeing you there.
Train To Nowhere
VEGAS INC reader David Adams recently shared a letter he wrote to Sen. Harry Reid seeking federal funding for high-speed rail between Las Vegas and Reno-Carson City. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Adams suggested a deal similar to what the DesertXpress planners cooked up, running the train to Yerington, a small ranching community southeast of Carson City.
“That’s right, Yerington,” he wrote. “You know where it is. It’s about as far from Reno and Carson City as Victorville is from Los Angeles and I know you are a big proponent of running a high-speed train into Victorville. Surely a similar high-speed train, just exactly like the DesertXpress running a regular schedule between Las Vegas and Yerington, NV, makes just as much sense. When can I expect funding?”
Sen. Reid sent Adams a form letter, thanking him for his interest in high-speed rail between Las Vegas and Yerington and giving him a list of available federal grants for which he could apply.
Shame On Congress—Again
Lots of people got riled up when federal lawmakers failed to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, effectively cutting off a key funding source, a 7.5 percent tax on airline tickets, on July 22. The reason the reauthorization didn’t happen was because lawmakers were split over whether to increase the tax. By the time you read this, it should be back to the way it was or higher, but there were several days during which airlines continued to collect the 7.5 percent extra, but didn’t have to pay it to the federal government. In effect, it was a 7.5 percent price increase on tickets.
But not every airline followed suit.
Florida-based Spirit Airlines, which recently expanded its presence at McCarran International Airport, took the opportunity to market itself as an anti-tax crusader. Spirit unveiled donttaxmebro.org, a website encouraging customers to write their senators and congressmen about reducing taxes on the airline industry.
“Nationally, the airline industry is a catalyst for economic activity,” the website says. “Each airline traveler spends money far beyond the cost of the airline ticket and millions of jobs are supported by airline travelers. Suppressing air travel through higher taxes has direct and far-reaching negative implications for the nation’s economic health and the unemployment rate.”
Spirit said its customers saved up to $50 per ticket by not having to pay the extra 7.5 percent. The airline, renowned as a discounter that captures revenue with added fees, offered passengers more savings with a promotional code at payment. The company said ticket sales jumped 22 percent in the first three days after the campaign.