Press Release: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
April 18, 2001
LAS VEGAS, NV -- Travel industry professionals from around the globe have once again honored Las Vegas, the Las
Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), and the city's resorts
with the industry's highest accolades at the World Travel Awards.
For the fifth consecutive year, Las Vegas was named North America's Leading Destination, and World's Leading Gambling
Destination for the seventh year in a row. The LVCVA received its seventh award for the World's Leading Tourist
and Convention Bureau, the LVCC its second award for the World's Leading Conference and Convention Center. The
LVCVA and the LVCC were first-time winners in the categories of North America's Leading Tourist and Convention
Bureau and North America's Leading Conference Center.
Three Las Vegas resorts were honored as well, including: Caesars Palace as World's Leading Casino Resort; The Venetian
as North America's Leading Casino Resort; and MGM Grand Hotel and Casino as North America's Leading Conference
Hotel.
``We are proud to receive these honors, which come on the heels of a record-breaking year for Las Vegas,'' said
Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA vice president of marketing. ``In 2000, visitor volume exceeded 35 million and the average
citywide hotel/motel room occupancy climbed to 89 percent. The spectacular resorts that opened in 1999 and 2000
continue to draw visitors to Las Vegas, and these, coupled with a growing roster of dining opportunities, unrivaled
shopping venues and the city's outstanding convention facilities makes Las Vegas an irresistible destination to
both leisure and business travelers.''
The results of the millions of votes cast online by travel agents in more than 200 countries around the world were
announced during the 8th Annual World Travel Awards ceremony held April 10 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The World
Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate the enormous achievements found in
all sectors of the global travel industry.
SOURCE: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority