‘Only Vegas Moments’ Tourism TV Spots Include Same-Sex Spot During NBA Playoffs

By ALAN SNEL

LVSportsBiz.com

 

During the NBA playoffs on TV, there was an advertisement spot for Las Vegas tourism that caught my attention this week.

 

Two young women in love return to Las Vegas where they met and the couple ultimately get married by the end of TV commercial.

 

Looking to build on the 43 million annual Las Vegas visitors, the public agency charged with promoting Las Vegas and filling hotel rooms in Southern Nevada has released four digital short films and broadcast spots with this theme: “Only Vegas Moments.”

 

Jeremy Handel of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) said the agency issued this statement, “Our advertising and marketing strategy targets a wide audience and utilizes channels that will reach that audience. We have advertised during major sports broadcasts, late night talk shows, daytime television and other major broadcasts to promote the destination for many years. The NBA playoffs provide us an opportunity to reach a wide audience to attract visitors to the destination.”

 

The four diverse TV spots are all about adult freedom, according to the LVCVA.

 

“The introduction of ‘Only Vegas Moments’ celebrates the long-standing promise of adult freedom in Las Vegas by embracing contemporary storylines that are relatable to a wide range of potential visitors,” said Cathy Tull, LVCVA chief marketing officer.

 

“Through authentic and empowering experiences, the new stories highlight Las Vegas as a destination where being whomever you want is not just allowed, but encouraged,” Tull said in the prepared statement.

 

This three-minute, 19-second short was distilled into a TV spot that ran during the NBA playoffs this week. It’s the latest ad used by the LVCVA during sports programming or at sports venues to promote Las Vegas.

“Las Vegas’ release of ‘Only Vegas Moments’ is a cutting edge approach to create culturally relevant global tourism,” said John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). “Now & Then is a perfect example of the inclusive environment that awaits all travelers in the destination.”

 

Here’s another take.

 

“It was surprising to see the new ads running during an NBA playoff game. I’m sure there was a lot of ‘WTF’ all over the country. It’s a bit of a risky move by the LVCVA but I think it’ll have an overall positive impact on tourism,” wrote JC Martin of the Las Vegas Locally Twitter handle.

 

“Also, apparently the Vegas marriage industry is in a slump, so the commercials are a smart way to remind the LGBT community that Vegas is the best place to get married,” Martin said.

 

The LVCVA is one of the state’s biggest public agencies with an annual budget of about $448 million. The spots were released at a time when visitor volume is down slightly in 2018, while convention attendance is also down. Check out the numbers.

 

All four “adult freedom” spots are produced well. I haven’t seen the other three shorts or TV sports during sports programming this week, but here they are:

 

Rejuvenation Happens Here

 

Rekindled Happens Here

 

Reinvention Happens Here

 

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