Bikini-Clad Skydivers Storm 'The Strip'

LAS VEGAS, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has its groundhog; Las Vegas has the showgirl – its prognosticator of warm weather!

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080421/LAM532LOGO)

Today, in front of a crowd gathered at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, Judy Jubilee! emerged from a cabana to reveal her tan line – a tell-tale sign summer has arrived.  Upon consultation with Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins, "Mr. Las Vegas" Wayne Newton and Holly Madison, the early start of summer was confirmed. Mayor Goodman and Commissioner Collins sealed the announcement by mayoral and county declaration, effectively beginning summer in "The Entertainment Capital of the World" almost two months ahead of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere.

Early Summer Call Set To Jump-Start Warm Weather Travel:

Las Vegas hosts more than 36 million visitors annually and has experienced recent increases in visitor volume driven by the tremendous value in the destination and a marquee line-up of special events.  Despite the recession, Las Vegas continues to invest in the future and reinvent itself.  This summer, several new multi-million dollar pool oases debut including: the new $67 million Encore Beach Club, the $60 million Garden of the Gods Pool at Caesars Palace, SKYBAR at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, LIQUID at Aria located in the CityCenter complex, and The Hideout at the Golden Nugget among others.

"Las Vegas is a unique place to visit any time of year, but the summer season really defines the destination for leisure travel," said Cathy Tull, senior vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). "The destination has invested significantly in creating a vibrant pool culture that is unlike any other in the world.  Nowhere is the pool more celebrated than in Las Vegas where our world-class resorts have lavish pool settings that millions of visitors enjoy each year."

Bikini-clad Skydivers Storm Las Vegas Boulevard, Herald Early Summer:

To cap off the celebration, traffic along the famed Las Vegas Boulevard was stopped as bikini-clad skydivers descended upon "The Strip." Mayor Goodman, along with the help of Holly Madison officiated the proclamation by revealing a change to the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.  For the next 36-hours the national historic landmark has been altered to read "Welcome to Fabulous Camp Vegas," a nod to the new LVCVA summer marketing campaign.

"The 'Camp Vegas' campaign is a twist on the notion of summer camp being for kids," said Mayor Goodman, who serves as LVCVA board chairman. 'Camp Vegas' is for grown-ups and there's no better place in the world to indulge in an adults-only getaway than Las Vegas.  In addition to the heavy investment the resorts have made in our pools, Las Vegas offers great summertime entertainment including indoor and outdoor concerts featuring today's A-list entertainers, as well as our headliners and production shows. Our nightlife scene rivals that of any destination and, of course, our shopping, spa and golf amenities are second-to-none.  Not to mention, dining in Las Vegas, which has become an international culinary crossroads featuring the best from the world's most decorated chefs."

Launch activities for "Camp Vegas" also extend to Chicago and Los Angeles, where swimsuit-clad skydivers will drop into Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium inviting fans to head to Las Vegas and start their summertime fun early.  In addition to the skydiver drop, Las Vegas-based celebrities will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  Cast members from The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil will be in Chicago, while celebrity Chef Kerry Simon and Palms Casino Resort owner George Maloof, will toss out the first pitch in Los Angeles.

Video and still photographs of events in Las Vegas, Chicago and Los Angeles can be found at http://br.thenewsmarket.com/lvcva.  For additional information, go to VisitLasVegas.com.

ABOUT THE LVCVA

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center.  With approximately 148,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 10.5 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA mission centers on attracting everincreasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.  For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.VisitLasVegas.com.

SOURCE Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)