Alan Feldman remembers the anxiety that reigned on Nov. 22, 1989, the evening when The Mirage first opened its doors. “There was the normal chaos that occurs anytime you open a new property with all the last-minute things that had to be done,” he recalled.

Alan Feldman remembers the anxiety that reigned on Nov. 22, 1989, the evening when The Mirage first opened its doors. “There was the normal chaos that occurs anytime you open a new property with all the last-minute things that had to be done,” he recalled.

In the Las Vegas Valley, local neighborhoods such as Chinatown and the Arts District have transitioned into prominent tourism hotspots. Recently, the Historic Westside has begun to experience a similar influx of tourists, particularly after an unexpected visit by Usher, the halftime performer at the Super Bowl with a successful Las Vegas residency. Katie Duncan from the Harrison House noted a significant increase in interest and inquiries about the Westside following Usher’s visit, demonstrating the profound impact that celebrity associations can have on local tourism.

Nevada Partners and UNLV are collaborating with Westside residents, businesses and non-profits to boost tourism on the Westside: UNLV Tourism Business Igniter. The program with federal dollars helps local businesses develop a business, marketing and social media plan to attract tourists.

When Hieu Nguyen arrived in Las Vegas, the 27-year-old native of Vietnam only knew about the city from watching YouTube. He also had no friends. That quickly changed while attending UNLV. Nguyen, a hospitality major, nurtured bonds with other international students and industry professionals — some of whom he now considers close friends.

Two multibillion-dollar resorts — both with arenas that would be capable of hosting a National Basketball Association team — are in the works for Southern Nevada. They leave the public wondering: Are both of them financially viable projects? Which would be more capable of hosting the fourth of the four Las Vegas-based major-league sports teams? If it’s a race, who wins? And is there a dark-horse rival lurking?

Recently, members of Culinary Local 226 at the Station Casinos facility made the decision to withdraw the union as their official representative. Decision on the desertification of the union: Most of the Culinary employees at Sunset Station, which is located in Henderson, have signed a worker-led petition to officially derecognize the union, according to the local casino operator. In addition, in June four years ago, aka in 2019, nearly 80% of employees decided to vote for union membership.

Culinary Local 226 members at a Station Casinos property have decided to remove the union as their representative. The locals casino operator said Monday that a majority of Culinary employees at Sunset Station in Henderson signed an employee-led petition to decertify the union. About 80 percent of workers voted to join the union in June 2019.

The explosion of legalized gambling has set the stage for a provocative new frontier in the world of risk-taking — betting markets for everyday events, ranging from Taylor Swift streams to hurricanes hitting major U.S. cities.

UNLVino, the decades-long fundraiser for student scholarships at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV, returns this year as UNLVino Presents Sake Fever, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m. April 19 at the Athena and Family pools at Resorts World. The college and Southern Glazer’s Wine, Spirits & Beer of Nevada organize UNLVino.

The transformation of the Tropicana has begun, and the public said farewell last week to one of the Strip’s historic gaming establishments. The next property headed for big change: The Mirage.

A planned 486-room kosher hotel located on a small parcel off of the Las Vegas Strip may face an uphill battle, but experts agree if the 46-floor property ever opens, it will meet the needs of the growing number of observant Jews.