Las Vegas banks on family reunions

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Some Las Vegas hotels and casinos say they're increasingly courting family reunions as a way to help make it through the economic downturn.

"This is the perfect place for families with kids," Darla Grant says of Las Vegas and Texas Station, the location of her family reunion. About 200 members of her extended family came from California, Arizona and Nevada to meet at the hotel-casino Aug. 4-8.

Michael Toney, vice president of corporate hotel sales for Station Casinos, says family reunions have become a lucrative market.

"We do quite a few family reunions, as a matter of fact. During the summer months, they become our bread and butter on weekends," he said.

Toney declined to say how many reunions the company hosts, citing increasing competition for those events. Family reunions haven't always been viewed as attractive business to Strip hotels because weekend volume was routinely high and conventions absorbed blocks of hotel rooms and event space.

"Reunions have been popular for Las Vegas, but not everyone ... took that business as seriously, due to the availability of the more lucrative corporate market," says Valerie Moon, director of sales and convention services for Luxor and Excalibur.

Georgia resident Gary Jones organized a family reunion at Excalibur last month. About 75 members of his wife's family, including small children, stayed for four days. The group saw shows, held a banquet and took short trips around the valley.

"There's a lot to do in Vegas other than gamble," Jones says. "It's very kid friendly."

Veronica Smiley, director of marketing for Harrah's Entertainment, says Las Vegas is able to offer entertainment options for all members of a family. She says Las Vegas has also become a good value for families. She says the Flamingo and Caesars Palace are two Harrah's properties that are popular for reunions.

Last year, management noticed guests were asking for help planning itineraries for their reunions, so the company instituted a program called Total Experience.

Guests who book five rooms or more receive what amounts to personal concierge service at no charge. A resort representative will organize outings for the family, make restaurant reservations, book spa visits and perform other duties.

"We were getting more and more calls from groups wanting to celebrate occasions with us and they were looking for some kind of help with planning," Smiley says. "I think this went hand in hand with some changes in the economy."