PRESS RELEASE: Routes Americas officially handed over to Las Vegas

Karen O'Neill February 19, 2016

Routes Americas brings together leading airlines, airports and tourism authorities to discuss air services to, from and within the entire Americas region. Over the last three days Puerto Rico Tourism Company has been hosting Routes Americas 2016 in partnership with Aerostar Airport Holdings LLC and Meet Puerto Rico. The event in the Puerto Rico Convention Center has attracted a record number of 750 delegates, an increase of 80% over the last two years.

Routes Americas 2017 (14-16 February 2017) will mark the second time that Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and McCarran International Airport bring a Routes event to the city. After hosting World Routes in 2013, the airport gained over 120 weekly flights with an estimated annual economic impact of $450 million in non-gaming revenue.

Las Vegas is the ideal destination for Routes Americas because the tourism and convention industries are so high on the city’s agenda. Nearly half of Las Vegas’ 42 million visitors a year travel by air. Aviation helps drive tourism which is the lifeblood of the local economy.

Katie Bland, Director of Routes, said: “As a host of both World Routes and Routes Americas, Las Vegas can be described as a trailblazer for air service development. Las Vegas is already a top destination but it constantly strives to improve its connectivity with the rest of the Americas and the world.

“We very much look forward to returning in 2017 and working with the dynamic teams at Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and McCarran International Airport.”

Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said: “As a global destination for both leisure and business travel, Las Vegas attracts millions of visitors every year from all over the world.

“We are excited to host Routes Americas and show airline executives and route planners why Las Vegas is an ever popular and exciting travel destination that fills all sections of their planes.”

Rosemary Vassiliadis, Director of Aviation for Clark County, Nevada, which owns and operates McCarran, said: "McCarran International Airport saw first-hand the value that comes in hosting a Routes event, which brought airline decision makers from around the world into our facility and our community. We look forward to building upon our success in 2013 with a spectacular Routes Americas event this time next year."

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

About Routes

Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of new air services which bring together airlines, airports and destinations to meet, plan, discuss and negotiate new and existing flights.

Five ‘regional’ route development forums are held between February and July in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa/Middle East and Silk Road/Russian Commonwealth, and the flagship World Routes event takes place in September. routesonline.com

The events revolve around pre-scheduled meetings and an exhibition and conference which are delivered in partnership with hosts. The hosts tend to be a collaboration between airports, tourism authorities and investment partners (the bidding process takes place two to three years before the event takes place).