Weddings are big business in Las Vegas.
It’s not just the day itself that can be catered for –
the city is alsopopular with stags and hens and
honeymooners.
| Picture: PCL |
As Las Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a party destination
for all ages, more operators are selling both romance and wild
times. The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino is even building a $7
million entertainment complex just for women – with a
Chippendales Theatre, cocktail bar, shops and, it claims, a
ladies’ room ‘like no other’.
UK airlines are also picking up the signals, with Virgin
Atlantic operating a direct four-times-weekly service from Gatwick
and BMI launching twice-weekly non-stop flights from Manchester on
October 31.
The most popular – and least expensive – wedding
packages are based on venues such as the Little White Wedding
Chapel and Little Chapel of Flowers.
Thomas Cook Signature US product manager Tom Samuel said: “We
work mostly with the Little White Wedding Chapel which can cope
with many requests, including Elvis impersonators and drive-through
ceremonies. Most people pick the standard package, which provides
everything for £180. “
But the luxury market is also booming with operators adding
their own product. Las Vegas operator Heli USA arranges helicopter
weddings, ceremonies on the Grand Canyon’s rim and on the
company’s Grand Canyon West ranch.
Funway Holidays features six different wedding packages. Product
manager Sasha Brendon said: “The Little Chapel of Flowers, the most
economical option, is performing best. The great thing about Las
Vegas wedding chapels is that they can tailor-make anything,
whether you want to include an Elvis impersonator or a ride in a
Cadillac.”
She added: “People come for four to seven days, sometimes with a
family group which returns home when the couple head off on
honeymoon, often to California.
“I arranged a trip for a group of 25 stags to go out for a trip
and they met lots of other English groups. The direct flights from
the UK allow you to stay in Las Vegas for a few days for an average
cost of about £380.”
Virgin Holidays product manager Angus Bond said the operator
also sends quite a few stag groups Las Vegas. But Bond added
it’s not just the clubs and bars that the boys come for. Many
also head to the Grand Canyon by helicopter to try life on a
ranch.
Gold Medal Holidays USA contracts manager Ian Matthews added:
“The groups market, particularly weddings and stag and hen parties,
is increasing and we’re working on some interesting
itineraries. Las Vegas is our star performer this year and bookings
for 2005 are exceptional.”
North America Travel Service, which has a dedicated Las Vegas
programme, said business, not least weddings, is booming. It
usually arranges wedding packages at the high-end hotels, and its
bestseller is the Bellagio, where a marriage ceremony with
trimmings costs £1,966, excluding travel and
accommodation.
Product manager Karen Farrer said: “It’s not a lot when
you think how much can be spent on a wedding at home.”
