Welcome to Las Vegas - Day 1
There's a huge screen at baggage claim in Las Vegas airport introducing visitors to the range of shows available - Cirque de Soleil, Jerry Seinfeld, Chippendales, etc. ... and then in the midst, a welcome message from the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR). The message shows two REALTORS® sitting on a couch, with showgirls in red feathers standing on each side, welcoming REALTORS® to convention/Vegas. It also shows images of Las Vegas properties (noting that it's a great time to select from wide range of homes/condos available) and statistics about visitors to the area. I thought it very smart of GLVAR to promote their market at the airport - on a screen most arriving visitors will watch.
I'm staying at the Wynn, next door to NAR's headquarters hotel, the Venetian. Wynn deserves the 5 diamonds awarded. No more of that dark, hotel-room, "we want you back in the casino" decor - this has a full glass wall overlooking the strip, bright wallpaper/pictures, and the most comfortable couch ever in a hotel room. However, "next door" is very significant effort/walk because of construction barricades, skyways requiring escalators up and down, narrow winding walkways, groups meandering slowly with the last drink they ordered, and hotels with no shortcuts because they want to trap you there.
But, great location. And, as one of my members says, "What happens in Vegas - hopefully happens twice in Vegas."

Comments
I must tell you, I am having a blast. I am not lucky enough to stay at the Wynn but honestly it wouldn't have made a difference because I have spent very little time in my hotel room at the Palms. I realized there are lots of free attractions in this city and have gone through this list http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/free-attractions.html and made time to enjoy some of them. I have also discovered that the buffets here are the best http://www.lasvegas-how-to.com/buffet.html One more day to go and trust me, I will be back.
Vegas Baby!
Posted by: Mike Downey | November 15, 2007 02:56 PM