You've got a friend in Las Vegas

12-08-2002

The growth of Las Vegas over the past seven decades has been phenomenal.

From a sparsely settled desert oasis in 1931 when Nevada legalized gambling, it has become a major modern metropolis, which modestly bills itself as the most entertaining city in the world.

Its reputation as Sin City and the capital of gambling (and gamboling) was well established by the 1970s, but that growth pales in comparison with the developments that have occurred since then.

A sustained and unprecedented building boom has resulted in dozens of palatial new hotels, casinos, entertainment complexes, dining opportunities, theme parks and just about anything a visitor's heart might desire.

Indeed, this entertainment explosion has turned Las Vegas into sort of a Disney World for adults and, with more than 125,000 hotels rooms to offer, a convention town par excellence. It's running neck and neck with Orlando as the most visited leisure destination in the United States.

But what visitors often overlook is that Las Vegas has become a significant city in its own right. With a resident population approaching 480,000, it also ranks as a major city (nearly half again as large as Pittsburgh) and has earned, according to the 2000 census, bragging rights as the "fastest-growing city in the country."

With all that growth and change, however, confusion of choices becomes an issue, especially for first-time visitors. Where can a visitor turn for reliable information about where to stay and what to do? Hotel literature is self-serving, and guidebooks can become quickly outdated.

Besides, printed materials won't necessarily help you land a good room at a good price, reservations at a classy restaurant or tickets to the latest show.

What every Las Vegas stranger needs is a knowledgeable friend, someone to turn to for insider's insights and up-to-date advice about what's going on and how to take advantage of it.

Fortunately, Western Pennsylvanians can turn to one of their own for tips on how to be cool and stay cool in Las Vegas, at least virtually.

Introducing Howard Lefkowitz, president of Vegas.com.

Deep roots

Born in McKeesport, Lefkowitz graduated from Serra High School and attended Duquesne University. He still has deep roots in this area. His father still runs the Penn-Taft Pharmacy in West Mifflin.

A high school film project he produced on the 1975 Steelers got him interested in the entertainment business, a career path that led Lefkowitz into electronic information technologies and executive positions with the Home Shopping Network, the Mystix ticketing operation and Earthlink. In October 2001, he was hired as president of Vegas.com.

I recently had a chance to meet Lefkowitz when he was in town to visit family and attend the wedding of an old friend's daughter, and he used the opportunity to tell me a bit about himself and Vegas.com.

An affable, energetic, Wired individual, Lefkowitz clearly still has lots of affection for his hometown, even though he has lived around the country over the past 20 years. "Pittsburgh is a great place to grow up. It gave me my work ethic and moral center. I get back here whenever I can, several times each year."

But he's also very enthusiastic both about the Las Vegas area, where he now lives with his wife and 11-year-old daughter, and the huge Internet portal that he oversees.

Live operators standing by

Online since 1998, Vegas.com now receives 850,000 unique visitors each month, ranking it as the world's third-largest travel Web site. Billed as "the official Vegas travel site," it's part of the Greenspun Media Group based in Henderson, Nev., which includes the daily newspaper The Las Vegas Sun and a string of other local entertainment publications, cable news and TV channels, pay-per-view in-room entertainment systems and several hotels.

All of the data and copy generated by these news and entertainment media enterprises is filtered into Vegas.com, providing a treasure trove of timely tidbits for travelers.

There's in-depth access to information and reservations for Las Vegas hotels, airline flights, live shows and entertainment, city tours, dining deals, golf courses, spa offerings and a variety of other recreation and tourism opportunities. You'll find tips for creating the Vegas experience to suit your tastes and budget, whether you're a high-rolling gambler, dedicated fun seeker, family on vacation, couple getting married, or a partier just looking for someplace to get wild.

The site provides updated reviews and daily show calendars, for both the big-name and lesser-known acts. Lounge listings and nightlife guides offer insights on the city's seamier sides. You'll find the latest betting odds, casino news, local weather, conventions in town, shopping and all things Vegas.

Here's the best part. If you can't find what you're looking for, Vegas.com offers live operators who can answer questions. Call 1-888-883-4278.

Tell them Howard sent you.

New competition

Vegas.com has been so successful, it's spawned competitors. Just last month, a new site, www.lasvegas.com was launched by partnership between two large hotel enterprises, the Mandalay Resort Group (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus and Monte Carlo hotels) and Park Place Entertainment Corp. (with interests in 28 casinos worldwide, including Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Hilton, Flamingo Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Bally's Las Vegas).

Still new, this upstart site lacks the depth and independent point of view of Vegas.com, but it's a useful source of information for travelers who are contemplating a Vegas visit.

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