An extremely confused Las Vegas Cobras football player tackles his own teammate!

The world’s largest annual trade show for consumer technology, International CES (Consumer Electronics Show), will take place in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton and Sands Expo & Convention Center/The Venetian from January 7 to January 10, 2010.

The International CES features more than 2,700 exhibitors and draws more than 113,000 attendees annually from 140 countries such as retailers, manufacturers, broadband developers, content providers and creators, wireless carriers, cable and satellite TV providers, installers, government leaders, corporate buyers, financial analysts and the media. The 2010 International CES will feature the hottest product debuts covering more than 30 product areas, including the latest in content, wireless, digital imaging, mobile electronics, home theater and audio. Approximately 200 conferences will take place during the 2010 International CES, which is sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

Zhou Houjian, chairman of Hisense, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the 2010 International CES as part of the third-annual Technology and Emerging Countries Program, which focuses on technology’s role in advancing economic development.

The first CES trade show took place in the summer of 1967 with a total of 200 exhibitors and approximately 17,500 attendees. Products that have made their debut at CES over the years include videocassette recorder (1970), laserdisc player (1974), camcorder (1981), compact disc player (1981), digital satellite system (1994), digital versatile disk (1996), high definition television (1998) and plasma TV (2001).

Looking for great deals on comfortable accommodations during your Las Vegas visit for 2010 International CES? Look no farther than Westgate Flamingo Bay Resort. For more information about Westgate Flamingo Bay Resort, visit www.wgflamingobay.com.

The world-famous Las Vegas Strip offers something for everyone – including nonstop casino action, fabulous live entertainment, world-class dining, trendy nightclubs, relaxing health spas, eclectic attractions and abundant shopping opportunities!

A multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities can be found within a day trip of Las Vegas such as boating and swimming at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, hiking at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, picnicking at Mt. Charleston Recreation Area and sightseeing at the Grand Canyon National Park via airplane, helicopter or bus tours. For more information about Las Vegas outdoor recreation, visit www.vegasareaguide.com.

Film buffs will have a field day at the 11th-annual CineVegas Film Festival, which features a wide variety of independent films, documentaries and short films. The 2009 festival will be held June 10-15, 2009, at the Palms Casino Resort and Brenden Theatres. Seeking affordable accommodations during your trip to Las Vegas and CineVegas? Look no farther than the beautiful, tropically landscaped Westgate Flamingo Bay Resort lies just 3 miles from the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. For more information about the Westgate Flamingo Bay, visit www.wgflamingobay.com.

Boulder City, Nevada: Attractions include Hoover Dam, Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum and St. Jude’s Children’s Art Museum of Nevada, among others.

Mount Charleston, Nevada: Located Northwest of Las Vegas, Mount Charleston features Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Rental, Mount Charleston Riding Stable and Mount Charleston Alpine Resort Golf Club.

Reno-Tahoe, Nevada: Known as “America’s Adventure Place,” Reno-Tahoe boasts the highest concentration of ski resorts in North America, all surrounded by 30 feet of average snow pack and 22,000 acres of skiable terrain – with the added bonus of unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities, dining, live entertainment and 24-hour gaming action.

For more information about Las Vegas day trips, visit www.vegasareaguide.com.

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino is an immense, 1.6-million-gallon aquarium that is home to some of the world’s dangerous and exotic sea creatures, including sharks, rays, sea turtles, crocodiles, tropical fish and much more.

Criss Angel levitates a woman in Las Vegas. For more information about Las Vegas shows, visit www.vegasareaguide.com.

The beautiful, tropically landscaped Westgate Flamingo Bay lies just 3 miles from the world-famous Las Vegas Strip – convenient to everything “The Entertainment Capital of the World” has to offer but remote enough to provide a peaceful retreat from all the excitement once you just want to relax. Nearby attractions include the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam. Onsite amenities at Westgate Flamingo Bay include spacious villas, a heated outdoor pool with sun deck and lounge chairs, clubhouse, barbecue grills, picnic tables, shuffleboard and basketball courts, fully equipped fitness room and practice putting green. At Westgate Flamingo Bay, you’ll discover the accommodations you desire to enjoy the perfect Las Vegas vacation getaway! For more information about Westgate Flamingo Bay and other Westgate Resorts properties, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

“You know what I like most about Las Vegas? You can be whoever you want to be.” Inspired by a true story, 21 stars Kevin Spacey and deals (no pun intended) with the fascinating saga of the MIT Blackjack Team and was filmed at legendary establishments along the Las Vegas Strip such as Caesars Palace, Venetian, Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock.

National Mining Association Quadrennial MINExpo
September 22-24, 2008
Las Vegas Convention Center
MINExpo is widely recognized as the premier exposition of mining equipment and services in the world, featuring a wide range of new-product introductions and exhibits of some of the largest mining equipment. Expected Attendees: 36,000

Interbike Expo Annual Fall Show
September 24-26, 2008
Sands Expo & Convention Center
The Interbike Expo is the largest gathering of bicycle trade-only industry members in the Western Hemisphere and hosts manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retail businesses. Expected Attendees: 23,000

FABTECH International Aws Welding Show
October 6-8, 2008
Las Vegas Convention Center
North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, tube & pipe and welding trade show serves to connect an overwhelming array of products, services and technical experts together with thousands of industry professionals. Expected Attendees: 20,000

SEMA Show
November 4-7, 2008
Las Vegas Convention Center
The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. The show takes place as part of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. Expected Attendees: 120,000

G2e: Global Gaming Expo
November 18-20, 2008
Las Vegas Convention Center
G2e is the leading trade event for the international gaming entertainment community and hosts all gaming industry professionals, including executives, corporate management, tribal leaders and others. Expected Attendees: 31,000

NFR Cowboy Christmas Gift Show
December 4-13, 2008
Las Vegas Convention Center
The official gift show of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the NFR Cowboy Christmas Show offers cowboy wear and a “fun shopping experience for wranglers and wrangler wannabes.” Expected Attendees: 20,000

Free attractions are not hard to find in Las Vegas. The Mirage’s volcano erupts in a lagoon filled with waterfalls and palm trees every 15 minutes from dusk to midnight. The adjacent “Sirens of TI” at Treasure Island features a popular pyrotechnic war as renegade pirates battle the “sexy sirens” of Sirens’ Cove. The world-famous Fountains at Bellagio thrill visitors with more than 1,000 water-emitting devies choreographed to music by such legendary entertainers as Frank Sinatra, Elton John and Whitney Houston. At the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the newly reinvented “Show in the Sky” boasts dancers in costume fashions on floats suspended above the crowd. Downtown Las Vegas’ famous, casino-lined street is now the Fremont Street Experience, a 175,700-square-foot pedestrian area covered by a continuous canopy studded with more than 14 million lights. Each evening on the hour, this canopy comes alive with spectacular light-and-sound shows.

The Hardwood Suite at The Palms Las Vegas is the only suite in the world with an indoor half-court basketball court, as well as 10,000 square feet of party space.

For fans of legendary entertainer Liberace or those who just want to catch a glimpse of this Las Vegas legend’s life, the Liberace Museum is a must-see. The museum features “Mr. Showmanship’s” dazzling jewelry, rare antiques, unsurpassed wardrobe, unique pianos and custom car collection. The nonprofit museum supports the work of the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts, which has funded scholarships for the arts since 1976.

Anime fans will not want to miss AnimeVegas, which will feature special guests, screenings, workshops, contests, video games and a variety of anime dealers offering rare collectibles for sale. AnimeVegas will be held from August 31 through September 1, 2008, at the Renaissance Hotel in Las Vegas. Admission is charged.

Focused on preserving one aspect of Las Vegas’ vibrant history, the Neon Museum is a collection of classic neon signs from the 1940s to the present. The Neon Museum currently features 11 refurbished, vintage neon signs on display in downtown Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience. The Boneyard, a three-acre outdoor site, features nonrestored historic signs and is available to view by appointment only. The Neon Museum recently broke ground on its new building to house the nonrestored historic signs currently displayed at the Boneyard. Part of the new museum will include the historic La Concha Motel lobby.

Las Vegas’ newest cultural and historic attraction, the Springs Preserve, opened in 2007 on a 180-acre historic site commonly known as “the birthplace of Las Vegas.” The Preserve features historic museums, galleries, outdoor concerts and events, educational and play areas for children, the future Nevada State Museum, an interpretive trail system, a botanical garden and more.

The Cine Vegas Film Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year at the Palms Casino Resort and Brendan Theatres, June 12 – 21, 2008. Each year the festival highlights creative films from up-and-coming filmmakers and visionary veterans, in-depth celebrity tributes and feature film world premieres. Cash prizes will be awarded for select films, including $10,000 for the Grand Jury Award for Feature Film, $1,000 for the Grand Jury Award for Best Short and $500 for the Best Nevada Filmmaking Short. There will also be a special award for the best film in La Proxima Ola, a section at CineVegas highlighting Mexican filmmakers and their films.

Legendary actor, filmmaker and artist Dennis Hopper will continue to serve as Chairman of the Creative Advisory Board. He has been dedicated to growing the national presence of the CineVegas Film Festival since he was honored in 2003 with CineVegas’ prestigious Marquee Award for his lifetime achievements in the film industry. CineVegas has also honored such film greats as Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Holly Hunter and Robin Wright-Penn.

Film buffs will have a field day at the 10^th-annual CineVegas International Film Festival, which features a wide variety of independent films, documentaries and short films. CineVegas will take place at the Palms Casino Resort at 4321 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, June 12-21, 2008.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) announced that Las Vegas’ visitation grew to 39.2 million in 2007 – marking the fourth consecutive year Las Vegas set a new visitation record. Last year’s visitation count represents a 0.7 percent increase over the 2006 figure of 38.9 million.

Las Vegas also matched its highest occupancy level in history, reaching 90.4 percent for 2007, tying the previous record set in 1996. The destination’s average occupancy level now stands at 27 percentage points above the national average.

The LVCVA also issued a projection that 39.8 million people will visit Las Vegas in 2008. In addition, more than 9,000 new guestrooms are slated to be added to Las Vegas’ hotel inventory this year.

Held for three days in early April (April 10-13, 2008), the Clark County Fair & Rodeo features a carnival, arts & crafts, professional rodeo, live music, barbecue and a variety of exhibits. The Clark County Fair & Rodeo takes place at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Logandale, Nevada.

Source: HotelsCorp.com Travel Events Blog

Billed as the “world’s largest motorcyle event,” the Laughlin River Run draws more than 50,000 bikers from throughout the country and around the world. In addition to various motorcycle competitions along the banks of the Colorado River, festivities at the Laughlin River Run include live entertainment, demo rides, parts exhibits, nonstop gaming action and more.

Monster Jam World Finals
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
March 29, 2008
The ultimate monster truck competition of the year takes place each March at Sam Boyd Stadium and features the some of the best drivers in the sport.

Monster Jam World Finals Video

Race fans of all ages will descend upon the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for 2008 NASCAR Weekend, a spectacular weekend of racing that starts with qualifying on Friday, February 29, followed by the Sam’s Town 300 on Saturday, March 1 and the UAW-Dodge 400 NASCAR Spring Cup Series on Sunday, March 2. 

• In 1931, Nevada became the first state to legalize casinos statewide.
• The Hotel El Rancho Vegas opened in 1941 as the first full-scale casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
• Legendary gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel founded the original Flamingo Hotel in 1946. Siegel was murdered the following year.
• Las Vegas hosted a record 38.9 million visitors in 2006.
• Gaming revenue in Las Vegas amounted to approximately $6.6 billion in 2006.
• The Las Vegas area currently boasts approximately 133,000 hotel and motel rooms.
• Las Vegas average 320 days of sun and just 4.19 inches of rainfall annually.
• Opened in 1959, the Folies Bergere at the Tropicana is the longest-running show in Las Vegas.
• Several classic movies have been filmed Las Vegas such as The Godfather, Part 2, Casino, Diamonds are Forever, Rain Man and Leaving Las Vegas.
• The high-tech Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas features 2.1-million lights and 550,000 watts of concert sound.
• Rising 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States and the tallest building West of the Mississippi.
• The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park contains remnants of Las Vegas’ first settlement, which was founded by the Mormons in 1855.
• In 1925, Fremont Street became the first paved street in Las Vegas.
• Las Vegas is home to both the “world’s largest gambling superstore” (Gamblers General Store) and the “world’s largest gift shop” (Bonanza Gifts).
• The Las Vegas 51s, a Triple A minor league baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was named after the nearby “Area 51,” a secret U.S. government base that has been rife with UFO sightings over the years.
• First opened in 1959, the Las Vegas Convention Center has evolved over the years into a state-of-the-art, 3.2 million square foot facility.
• Reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes purchased the Desert Inn in 1967 and later bought the New Frontier, Landmark, Sands, Silver Slipper and Castaways.
• The Manhattan Express, a Coney Island-style roller coaster that reaches speeds up to 67 miles per hour and heights of 203 feet (along with a 144-foot drop!).
• The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art houses an outstanding collection of paintings and sculptures from such renowned artists as Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Picasso.
• In 2006, more than 46 million passengers passed through McCarran International Airport, which ranks as the sixth busiest airport in North America.
• Ron Lee’s World of Clowns, which boasts one of the world’s finest collections of Limited Edition clown and animation figurines, as well as a wealth of rare clown memorabilia.
• Adventuredome at the Circus-Circus is billed as “the world’s largest indoor amusement park!”
• One of the few indoor skydiving facilities in the country, Flyaway Indoor Skydiving offers a vertical wind tunnel that generates wind up to 115 miles per hour, providing all of the thrills of actual skydiving.
• The Fiesta Hotel & Casino – Rancho is the self-proclaimed “Royal Flush Capital of the World.”
• Las Vegas annual events include the Monster Jam World Finals, World Series of Poker, CineVegas and Professional Bull Riders World Finals, among many others.
•  ”Mr. Las Vegas,” Wayne Newton, has performed in Las Vegas well over 25,000 times.
• Cirque du Soleil currently boasts five Las Vegas shows: LOVE, Ka, Zumanity, “O” and Mystere.
• The 34-story Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel is the tallest hotel in downtown Las Vegas.
• Billed as “ Las Vegas’ most historic hotel/casino,” the historic Golden Gate Hotel & Casino first opened its doors in 1906!
• The Sahara Hotel & Casino features Speed – The Ride is a state-of-the-art roller coaster reaches speeds of 70 miles per hour and reaches heights up to 224 feet.
• Old Nevada, a replica of an 1880’s mining town, is located at 115-acre Bonnie Springs Ranch, which lies 30 minutes from Las Vegas.
• Located approximately 10.5 miles West of Las Vegas, Summerlin is a planned community built by The Howard Hughes Corporation and named after Hughes’ grandmother.
• Held in Las Vegas each January, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) draws more than 140,000 people.
• A National Historic Landmark, the Hoover Dam, which was completed in 1936, weighs more than 6,600,000 tons and is 726.4 feet tall.
• Las Vegas is home to the world’s largest Harley-Davidson store.
• The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort lies within the Lee Canyon Ski Area and boasts an elevation of 9,510 feet and a 1,000-foot vertical drop.
• Opened in 1940, Wee Kirk O’ the Heather is the oldest continually operating wedding chapel in Las Vegas.
• Nevada ’s largest and oldest state park, Valley of Fire, comprises 34,880 acres and was dedicated in 1935.
• The award-winning Bali Hai Golf Club is the only Las Vegas golf course located directly on the Las Vegas Strip.
• The Wynn Las Vegas is the only casino resort in the world to have the AAA 5 Diamond and Mobil 5 Star ratings.

For more information about Las Vegas, visit www.vegasareaguide.com.