The U.S. Department of Commerce will partner with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) in promoting the city to travel professionals abroad, marking a departure from what has sometimes been a frosty relationship between the federal government and Sin City.
The LVCVA this week signed an agreement to become part of the International Trade Administration's (ITA) U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service under the Commerce Department. Las Vegas, which last year set an annual record for visitor counts, is looking to boost its percentage of overseas visitors to 30% from 17% during the next decade, while the federal government has set a goal for 100 million international visitors by 2021.
"LVCVA and ITA share a common mission to increase travel and tourism in the United States in order to boost our economy and create jobs," Kenneth Hyatt, acting deputy undersecretary of commerce for international trade, said in a June 11 statement. "Partnerships like the one signed today are greatly important in helping us all work together to reach the goal laid out by President Obama."
Obama raised hackles in Las Vegas in early 2010 when he name-checked Las Vegas during comments about how Americans need to save money during difficult economic times.
"You don't blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you're trying to save for college," Obama said in a speech in New Hampshire in February 2010.
Obama was subsequently bashed by then-Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who notably turned down an invitation to meet with Obama later that month.
Follow Danny King on Twitter @dktravelweekly.