Arizona Tourism on the increase - Breaks Record

[AZ4me]

Record Breaking Tourism
ARIZONA - The Arizona Office of Tourism reports 2007 was a record-setting year. The state office reports there were 35.2 million visitors last year, including two-million international visitors. That’s about 1.5 million more visitors than in 2006. Spending in the state totaled $19.3-billion in 2007, and $2.7-billion of that went to local, state and federal tax revenues. The Grand Canyon remains the state's top tourist attraction. There are numerous others, including the Sedona area, which is also booming. The bureau points out that every single county in Arizona depends on tourists to not only bring money into their location, but also to make them “a very vibrant destination."

[SarahD]

Great little quaint place to visit just outside Laughlin.
Almost 500,000 folks a year stop by for some fun.

Oatman,, Check it out!

http://www.cultimedia.ch/ghosttowns/ghostsari...

[gableguy]

Did you guys know Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were married in Kingman and honeymooned at the Oatman Hotel right there in Oatman?
Pretty cool bit of trivia for ya

[flyswitheagles]

awsome just simply awsome

http://priceoffreedom.files.wordpress.com/200...

[AZ4me]

Interactive e-map guides Arizona anglers

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 9:52 AM PDT


Ever wish you could see a map of Arizona showing all the places to go fishing, along with what types of fish you can find and maybe even something about the facilities at each lake, river or stream?

Well, just wave a magic wand over your computer because your wish has been granted - thanks to a little computer magic from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The Game and Fish Department now has a computerized interactive fishing hole map of Arizona on its Web site under "Where To Fish."

Most of the information for the interactive computerized map was taken from the popular “Arizona Fishin' Holes” booklet published by the Game and Fish Department.


One of the cool things about this interactive map is it gives you the ability to locate places to fish for specific species.

“Want to know where to fish for rainbow trout? Simply click on the words ‘rainbow trout' at the bottom and the map will only show those locations with trout,” said web master Brian Ference, who headed up the project.

Do you need directions to a particular fishing hole?

Those are there too. You can even choose the type of map you want, including topographical or satellite imagery. There are even links to Wikipedia to provide more detailed information.

Are you curious about the current weather over your prospective fishing hole? Just click on the link to “View on Google Earth” at the top of the map and with a couple of tweaks, you can see for yourself.

Don't forget, you can also sign up to have the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Weekly Fishing Report delivered directly to your computer each and every week. It's always good to find out what fish are biting where, and what baits or methods to use as well.

To complete your friendly arsenal of relevant fishing information, you might want to purchase the $6 “Arizona Fishin' Holes” publication as well. It is sized to fit most vehicle glove compartments.

To obtain an order form, visit www.azgfd.gov/i_e/pubs/publications.shtml .

[SarahD]

Tourism

Survey says: Bullhead wants airline service; Many surveyed said they would fly 4-to-7 times each year

By Neil Young

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:14 PM PST



News West

BULLHEAD CITY - Almost 100 percent of the people who filled out a Mohave County Airport Authority survey said they would use a regular air carrier service at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport if one existed. The Authority's board of directors' Air Service Development Committee is collecting additional information to turn over to a consultant, who will pitch prospective airlines in May.

Out of 2,682 surveys returned, 94.5 percent of respondents stated that they would use the service.

About half said they would use it 1-3 times a year and another one-third would use the service 4-7 times annually.


Regarding current behavior, the vast majority fly out of Las Vegas. Other airports used in descending order were Los Angeles, Laughlin/Bullhead, Phoenix, Kingman and Lake Havasu City.

Highest priority was given to reliability, followed by connections, low fares, use of a local airport, proximity, convenience and aircraft size.

The airport had a banner year in 2007, with a 24.9 percent increase in traffic over 2006. Parcel carrier cargo volume increased by 25 percent, fuel flowage fees increased 89 percent; rental car gross was up 3 percent.

A $3 million terminal rehabilitation project will add 5,000 square feet and will allow for the more orderly screening and flow of passengers. It's expected to be completed next month.

[AZ4me]

Bullhead City, Arizona
Across From Laughlin

Bullhead City Az sits on the eastern shores of the Colorado River just across the river from its sister-city of Laughlin, Nevada, a city of bright lights 24-hour entertainment and hot casino gambling action. Bullhead City on the other hand is quieter, laid-back kinda place with small western town charm.

Both Laughlin and Bullhead City share something in common....the water recreation wonderland of the Colorado River and nearby Lake Mohave. Whether you choose to lounge of beach shores, jet ski, water ski or fish, there's plenty of water here to satisfy tourists of all ages.

Over five million people every year travel to or through Bullhead City, a city of about 30,000 residents that balloons to thousands and thousands more during the spring and summer vacation months seeking to enjoy this oasis on the river. It's such a great place for outdoor enthusiasts that also find a thrill for casino entertainment and gaming.

[SarahD]

Report: 97 percent of visitors satisfied with stay in Laughlin

By JIM MANIACI, Laughlin Nevada Times

Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:45 PM PDT

LAUGHLIN - The Laughlin Town Advisory Board received lots of numbers July 8 about the local tourism-gambling industry in presentations and comments from two industry organizations.

Sean Hammond, chair of the Laughlin Tourism Commission, and Meg McDaniel of the Laughlin Visitors Bureau of the Las Vegas Convention-Visitors Authority, spoke. The commission is made up of all except one Casino Drive property; the bureau is one of three branches of the authority.

After Hammond covered a series of other topics, he introduced McDaniel who explained PowerPoint slides on recent visitor research and brand research.

Much of the information is covered in an annual book the authority publishes for Laughlin, based on 1,200 surveys conducted in the local hotels and casinos.

What are called “daytrippers” have been all but eliminated in the last eight years. They were people bused in from big cities and returned home in one day. Many only sought a free meal and most did not have large gambling budgets.

Since peaking at 4.3 trips a year in 2002, the frequency of journeys to the river each year dropped to 2.3 in 2007.

With the industry having latched onto more lucrative customers, visitors budget much more to spend, just under $790 the last two calendar years, compared to $385 in 1999 - which rose gradually to about $575 in 2005.

The good news, she said, was that travelers emphasized Laughlin much more as their major destination. From 1999-2002, the “Fewer Visiting Nearby Places” went from an average of 9 percent to a 23 percent peak in 2004, with a drop to only 2 percent in 2007.

When in town, they went to less than half the number of casinos in 2007 (1.5) compared to 3.4 in 2000.

And Laughlin's visitors have become, gradually, more satisfied with their stays. From a low of 92 percent in 2002, satisfaction reached 97 percent in 2007.

With that satisfaction comes a 99 percent probably-definitely will recommend Laughlin to friends. That compares with 90 percent for Las Vegas and 96 percent for Mesquite.

McDaniel then turned to brand research, which has led to the replacement - just starting - of Laughlin's slogan from “Founded on Fun” to “It's Like You Own the Place.”

That research in February showed people perceived Laughlin as having a laid back, unpretentious and friendly personality with a unique location and setting (the river). The information was collected from some 600 travelers who were 21-years-old-plus who were not opposed to gambling and lived within 250 miles.

Of the 600, 55 percent (about 330) had never visited Laughlin, but 60 percent of that group (which would be around 200) were at least somewhat likely to do so.

Topping the scale of important factors were the cost of the trip, the cost of the lodging, the quality of the accommodation, location convenience, being a friendly or inviting place to visit, the weather, gambling, restaurants-dining, and being on the Colorado River.

All received a rating of at least 3.2. More than 3.0 on the scale was important.

Hammond also said his group will be at the Aug. 12 board meeting about the proposed changes to the county's ordinance setting standards to open a casino.

The LTC vehemently opposes reducing the Clark County standards, including a $50 million investment, which far exceeds the state's standards. The proposed alteration would return Laughlin to close to the state standards.

[SarahD]

AZ4me wrote:

Interactive e-map guides Arizona anglers
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 9:52 AM PDT
Ever wish you could see a map of Arizona showing all the places to go fishing, along with what types of fish you can find and maybe even something about the facilities at each lake, river or stream?
Well, just wave a magic wand over your computer because your wish has been granted - thanks to a little computer magic from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The Game and Fish Department now has a computerized interactive fishing hole map of Arizona on its Web site under "Where To Fish."
Most of the information for the interactive computerized map was taken from the popular “Arizona Fishin' Holes” booklet published by the Game and Fish Department.
One of the cool things about this interactive map is it gives you the ability to locate places to fish for specific species.
“Want to know where to fish for rainbow trout? Simply click on the words ‘rainbow trout' at the bottom and the map will only show those locations with trout,” said web master Brian Ference, who headed up the project.
Do you need directions to a particular fishing hole?
Those are there too. You can even choose the type of map you want, including topographical or satellite imagery. There are even links to Wikipedia to provide more detailed information.
Are you curious about the current weather over your prospective fishing hole? Just click on the link to “View on Google Earth” at the top of the map and with a couple of tweaks, you can see for yourself.
Don't forget, you can also sign up to have the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Weekly Fishing Report delivered directly to your computer each and every week. It's always good to find out what fish are biting where, and what baits or methods to use as well.
To complete your friendly arsenal of relevant fishing information, you might want to purchase the $6 “Arizona Fishin' Holes” publication as well. It is sized to fit most vehicle glove compartments.
To obtain an order form, visit www.azgfd.gov/i_e/pubs/publications.shtml .

The Laughlin ,Bullhead ,Kingman ,Golden V , Havasu area is an outdoor activity lovers paradise..

[AZ4me]

Laughlin sparkles after sunset

http://www.laughlinnevadaguide.com/images/riv...

[flyswitheagles]

http://havasufalls.net/

A must see

[SarahD]

http://nevadatourismbureau.com/images/laughli...

Nice map of the Northern Arizona/Nevada area , Sunrise & Sunsets are a must see

[flyswitheagles]

http://images.google.com/imgres...

Winter break in Laughlin located just across the river from Bullhead City - Golden V - Kingman ETC.

It's a great time for all and if you attend I think it would be well worth the time to discover and explore the entire majestic and magical region.

[Michelle NYC]

flyswitheagles wrote:

http://havasufalls.net/
A must see

Absolutely a must see
Was just there and what u see in the pics is just a taste of the true beauty
Stayed with relatives in Golden V and it's just a short road trip from there.

Looking to relocate to Golden V in the very near future I'm already snow blind with cabin fever and its only December here in New York

Merry Christmas from the east coast and I'll be wishing everyone a Merry Christmas from Golden V this time next year, Can't wait !

[George in Georgia]

SarahD wrote:

Tourism
Survey says: Bullhead wants airline service; Many surveyed said they would fly 4-to-7 times each year
By Neil Young
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:14 PM PST
News West
BULLHEAD CITY - Almost 100 percent of the people who filled out a Mohave County Airport Authority survey said they would use a regular air carrier service at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport if one existed. The Authority's board of directors' Air Service Development Committee is collecting additional information to turn over to a consultant, who will pitch prospective airlines in May.
Out of 2,682 surveys returned, 94.5 percent of respondents stated that they would use the service.
About half said they would use it 1-3 times a year and another one-third would use the service 4-7 times annually.
Regarding current behavior, the vast majority fly out of Las Vegas. Other airports used in descending order were Los Angeles, Laughlin/Bullhead, Phoenix, Kingman and Lake Havasu City.
Highest priority was given to reliability, followed by connections, low fares, use of a local airport, proximity, convenience and aircraft size.
The airport had a banner year in 2007, with a 24.9 percent increase in traffic over 2006. Parcel carrier cargo volume increased by 25 percent, fuel flowage fees increased 89 percent; rental car gross was up 3 percent.
A $3 million terminal rehabilitation project will add 5,000 square feet and will allow for the more orderly screening and flow of passengers. It's expected to be completed next month.

I go to laughlin at least once a year for the abundant sunshine and outdor recreation

Fun place for fun times

[AZ4me]

CLOUD'S JAMBOREE ROCKS THE DESERT

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:42 AM PST

Gems, minerals and just plain pretty rocks have always fascinated people. We're not just talking the A-list of gold, emeralds, rubies and diamonds here. We're talking crystals, garnets, agates, turquoise, jasper and geodes.

Part of that fascination lies in the magic of finding something lying on the ground, cutting it and polishing it and watching it take shape as a thing of beauty. Art by God-with a bit of help from a water wheel. Then, when you add the further craft of turning those pretty “rocks” into pieces of jewelry, the fascination for pretty rocks increases.

That entire world of the gem and stone gets its time in the spotlight each January in Laughlin in the form of Cloud's Jamboree-a confab of lapidary experts and vendors and jewelry makers of all stripe-even those with the A-List stones of diamonds and sapphires.

This year, Cloud's Jamboree is centered at the Avi Resort Casino in three venues for three separate time periods (some overlapping).


Now through January 31-vendors will be set up adjacent to the KOA RV Park at the Avi;

January 14-18-vendors within the Avi Convention Center;

January 14-26-vendors within the Avi's River Garden Pavilion.

Hours for the inside shows are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the outside vendors open a little earlier, from 9 a.m. until dusk. There is no admission charge for any venue.

The “Jamboree” attracts rock hounds and collectors-as well as jewelers looking for that new rock or perfect gem to add to their inventory or turn into precious jewelry. It also attracts the curious and those simply interested in looking at pretty stones.

[AZ4me]

In addition, food and beverage vendors also are on the grounds for a quick bite in between browsing.

As a small sample of what to expect at the “Cloud's Jamboree,” the following is a list of a few of the vendors to scheduled for this year's event:

* Makata Mining - a large supplier of smoky quartz. The Makata Mining Company is owned by Avi show manager Mike Butts and is a staple at the “Jamboree”. Their smoky quartz crystals are mined in Northern Nevada; this year the mine will display more than 10,000 smoky quartz crystals.

* Silver Rainbird - one of the largest jewelry and silversmith companies in the United States. A direct manufacturer of sterling silver and gold charms, findings, liquid silver, southwestern and contemporary handmade jewelry and arts and crafts; based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

* Buckskin Traders - part of the “Jamboree” for more than 20 years. Buckskin Traders specializes in products directly from Navajo, Zuni and Hopi jewelry artists, including earrings, rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, bolo ties, belts, dream catchers, kachina dolls, pottery and Indian artifacts.

* El Marr Enterprises-jewelry maker, all different kinds of rings, necklaces, bracelets, and more, from Florida.

* Jirar-precious and semi-precious stone dealer from South Carolina.

* Mark-silver dealer from New York.

* John Kline Silversmithing-California.

* Dorothy Moore-artist who paints on various surfaces, including rocks.

* Linda & Gary-jewelry makers from Missouri who use a wire-wrapping technique to make rings, necklaces and more.

If you have art to show...

“I know there are a lot of talented artists in the Tri-State Area who aren't aware of how reasonable our show is or that they can still reserve spaces,” explains Cloud.“We'll continue to sign up vendors throughout show-as long as we have spaces. And for those who don't need accommodations, we'll discount the show fee. We even can supply tents and tables if need be.

“While the ‘Jamboree' showcases faceted stones, uncut gems and rocks of every kind, we're open to a lot more. The only requirement we have is quality. We try very hard to maintain the integrity of the show-but other than that, anything goes. What builds a great show isn't the promoter but the people involved.”

[SarahD]

COMING SOON
April 2009

http://www.laughlinriverrun.com/msriverrun.ph...

[AZ4me]

flyswitheagles wrote:

http://havasufalls.net/
A must see

Saw a Nicholas Cage movie the other night filmed on location at Havasu Falls....Pretty awsome

[SarahD]

Exciting stuff! Just found out about a new movie studio in Chloride! What fun! Tourists are the stars! Excellent idea and perfect location for such a fun time!