Time for Fun & Learning! Tour Boost Improv Workshop – April 17, 2017

Tour Boost Improv Workshop for Tour Guides, Docents & Storytellers

Members and non-members are invited to attend the Las Vegas Tourist Guides Guild’s exceptional April continuing education event, “The Tour Boost Workshop for Tour Guides, Docents, and Storytellers,” led by “Second City” tour guide and comedian, Margaret Hicks. The workshop will be held Tuesday, April 17, 2017 in the Stratosphere Tower’s 104th floor Sunrise Room. Again, this event is open to both guild members and non-members, so invite all your friends and colleagues. RSVP is required to attend, RSVP below.

Margaret has been guiding for 10 years and is the official docent of the famed Second City Improv Theater. During this two-hour interactive seminar, Margaret provides interactive Improv Games and on-your-feet training that connects guides to their emotions while boosting presentation skills. Margaret says this workshop is not about tour content but about how to be physically and mentally present, cultivate listening skills, flexibility and gratitude, and how to share information while finding the fun in your tours.

After the workshop, we will continue with a Stratoshpere Hotel-hosted tour of the upper levels of the Stratosphere Tower, and conclude with hosted appetizers and cocktails. RSVP is a must.

To RSVP: Send an email with the Subject “Tour Boost Improv Workshop for Tour Guides, Docents & Storytellers” to thanksbabs@gmail.com or call Babs for more information – 702.370.6961.

Date: Monday, April 17, 2017, 5:00 pm
Location: Stratosphere Hotel – Sunrise Room 104th Floor
Cost: $10 for LVTGG members, $20 for non-members. BRING CASH
Tour Boost Seminar Time: 5pm to 7pm
Stratosphere Tower hosted tour and LVTGG gathering with beverage and snacks to follow: 7pm to 830pm
Directions: Use escalator near Roxy’s Diner, pass thrill rides security to VIP security, take elevator to 104th Floor. If asked, tell them you are attending the LVTGG event in the Sunrise Room
(there is no charge to access the 104th floor)
Parking: Free in self-park or tip to Valet

Clear your schedule for this valuable and entertaining training. Invite colleagues that you work with or other storytellers.
RSVP Today!

For more info about The Tour Boost workshop, see http://www.thetourboost.com/

The Tour Boost Workshop, by Margaret Hicks

NSM Folies Bergere exhibit opening and LVTGG member gathering

The glamour, the glitz, feathers, rhinestones, tuxes and tiaras! You are cordially invited to join us this Saturday, June 11 from 2-5 PM to mingle with Las Vegas glitterati and fellow LVTGG members, and relive the showgirl glory days at the opening reception and panel discussion of the Nevada State Museum’s new Les Folies Bergere Exhibit.

The reception begins at 2 PM and the panel discussion ends at 4 PM. Afterwards, LVTGG members will have an informal non-hosted gathering at the Springs Cafe until 5 PM.

Please RSVP to Sander Smiles via email and print this page with the flier below for entry into the museum and reception. Hope to see you there!

NSM Folies Bergere Exhibit Opening flier June 11, 2016

LVTGG Tourism Event – May 21, 2014 – Tourism, Hospitality, and the Lure of the West

 

TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, AND THE LURE OF THE WEST:

HOW THE HARVEY HOUSES PAVED THE WAY FOR LAS VEGAS

 Wednesday, May 21, 2014

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Art Square Theater, 1025 S. First Street, Las Vegas, Nevada

6:00 pm – Reception and book signing, featuring authentic Harvey House inspired menu items

Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, 1017 S. First

(behind Art Square, adjacent to Mingo’s)

Free and Open to the Public

Sponsored by Nevada Humanities, the Las Vegas Tourist Guides Guild (LVTGG) and UNLV’s College of Hotel Administration, with support from UNLV’s History Department and the City of Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission.

Vintage Harvey House postcard

Join us for a spirited panel discussion exploring how the Harvey House empire of restaurants and hotels, under the guidance of hospitality pioneer Fred Harvey, paved the way for the development of Las Vegas as a tourist destination. The panel includes:

  • Andy Kirk, moderator, UNLV Professor of Public History
  • Stephen Fried, author, Appetite for America: Fred Harvey and the Business of Civilizing the West – one meal at a time.
  • David Schwartz, Director, UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research
  • Jan Jones, Senior Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs, Caesars Corporation; former Mayor of Las Vegas
  • Opening remarks by Dean Stowe Shoemaker, UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration

The program includes the screening of an excerpt from the recently released documentary, The Harvey Girls: Opportunity Bound, a film that chronicles the first significant female workforce in the US. Fred Harvey was a groundbreaking entrepreneur who established the first national chain of restaurants, hotels and book stores along the Santa Fe Rail Road from Chicago to California.

The Harvey House model of cultural travel, hospitality and culinary invention in the late 19th and early 20th centuries set the stage for a thriving industry that would invigorate the economy and culture of the West. Considered the father of hospitality, Fred Harvey was a pioneer in branding and mythologizing the west.

For more information about this program, call Richard Hooker, LVTGG, 702.592.2164

A WSJ review of Stephen Fried’s book can be found at this link.

You can view, print, and share the event flyer from this link.

The Las Vegas Tourist Guides Guild is a professional association of tour guides and travel industry professionals promoting the scope and integrity of tour guiding in Nevada. The Harvey House event, cosponsored by the Guild, is part of a series of educational and informational programs developed and presented by LVTGG in partnership with other organizations.

Downtown Grand preview & site visit! November 2013 LVTGG Meet & Greet

LVTGG members and travel industry guests are cordially invited to a special preview and site visit to the soon-to-open Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. The LVTGG is participating in this visit with the local OSSN chapter and other travel industry partners.

The Downtown Grand (the completely remodeled Lady Luck Hotel & Casino) is the anchor of the Downtown Third (dt3), an exciting mixed-development project on Third Street north of Ogden.

Be one of the first to tour this completely-renovated property which will boast comfortable, modern rooms and spaces, 18 restaurants, and a third floor pool.

In addition to the property tour, the LVCVA’s Kelly Messina will present a talk about all that is new and exciting in Las Vegas.

Wine, soft drinks and appetizers will be served, and bring some business cards as there will be an exciting giveaway!

This is a don’t-miss-it opportunity. The Downtown Grand will be a game-changer downtown and all Las Vegas guides should get acquainted with it asap!

So that we can provide our hosts with an accurate count and so that F & B can be coordinated, it is important that you RSVP. RSVP now to thanksbabs@gmail.com!

Swag bags will be handed out – if you or your business would like to donate items for the swag bags or an item for a door prize, please mention this in your RSVP.

Lastly, there will be a pet food drive for a downtown animal shelter. If you’d like to participate, please bring a can of pet food to donate. 

Where: Downtown Grand, 206 Third Street, Las Vegas, NV

When: Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Time & Place: 4:30 PM, Meet in the Lobby, please be on time.

Parking:  The Downtown Grand garage should be open, and there is validated parking across the street, or park at any of the downtown garages.

In case of last minute changes or questions, call Babs at 702 370 6961.

The tour and presentation will last approximately 2-3 hours.

Downtown Grand Resort in Downtown Las Vegas

Downtown Grand Las Vegas is bringing nearly 600 slot machines, 28 table games, 634 hotel rooms and 800 permanent jobs to a resurgent Downtown Las Vegas. Fifth Street Gaming is the operator of the gaming space, DTG Las Vegas Manager is the operator of the Hotel & Restaurant Operations, and CIM Group is the owner of the property. Located on the site of the former Lady Luck Hotel & Casino and in the center of the Downtown’s 3rd metropolitan district, Downtown Grand Las Vegas is the first property to open in downtown Las Vegas in more than 20 years.

18b Arts District Walk – Oct 2013 Members Meet & Greet

18b Arts District Walking Tour

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Mingo Kitchen and Lounge at Art Square

1017 S First Street #180.

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Members of the Las Vegas Tourist Guides Guild are invited to be part of a 2 hour walking tour of the  18b Arts District located near Charleston Boulevard and Arts Way – the historic hub of the arts scene in the Las Vegas Valley. http://www.18b.org/las-vegas-arts-district/

Coordinated by arts professional & guild member, Richard Hooker, the tour is intended to give LVTGG members more familiarity with the 18b neighborhood and its resources.  The tour will focus on three key sites: Art Square, the Arts Factory and Antiques Row on south Main.

This tour is scheduled for Preview Thursday, Oct 3, the day in which neighborhood art galleries and studios launch their monthly exhibitions prior to each First Friday.

The tour begins at 6:00 pm with a 30 minute reception and orientation in the courtyard patio of Mingo Kitchen and Lounge at Art Square 1017 S First Street #180. http://www.eatmixmingo.com/ There is free parking available behind the Arts Factory, adjacent to the Artifice bar, Art Square and Mingo Kitchen, as well as additional street parking throughout the area. Be sure to not park in any area marked with no parking signs.

Wine, beer and appetizers will be provided. The group will then visit 5 galleries and boutiques located in the complex that houses a total of 15 businesses. Next stop is the famous Arts Factory with visits to three galleries considered  tops inthe local arts industry.  The third leg of the tour takes us to Antiques Row on Main Street to visit two noted stores dealing with vintage collectables.

The group returns to Art Square for the conclusion of the tour.

The tour is open to LVTGG membership only, and is limited to 20 person’s so don’t delay, RSVP to Babs at thanksbabs@gmail.com today.

In addition to being one of our regularly-scheduled social and educational Guild get-togethers, the 18b Arts District Walk is the first of our get-togethers to be designated as an “Elective and Continuing Education” offering as part the Guild’s Las Vegas tour guide certification program. This designation signifies that the topic covered (in this case, the Las Vegas Arts District) is an important but supplementary subject of knowledge for a Las Vegas guide. Guides who will be enrolled in the certification program will need to complete a number of electives as part of their training, and past graduates of the program can receive recognition for completing continuing education. Those wishing to receive credit for elective or continuing education will need to complete a short, post-meeting written multiple choice quiz about the topic covered.

If you are planning to participate in the next certification class(dates to be announced shortly,) you can choose to have the 18b Arts District Walk count as an elective for your training requirements. Just inform us with your rsvp and be sure to take the post-tour quiz.

For more information regarding certification, please contact jerry@lvdetours.com

RSVP for the 18b Arts District Walking Tour  to: thanksbabs@gmail.com today.

See you all there.

Neon Museum – July 2013 Members Meet & Greet

This Tuesday, July 2, 2013!

What’s as hot as the chrome bumper of a cherry red 1955 T-Bird reflecting the mid-day July sun onto the curvy white walls of an iconic mid-Mod piece of Vegas architectural history?

 

1955 Ford Thunderbird

 

If you answered “The Neon Museum and Boneyard” – you’re right on the money! Since the recent opening of its visitor center in the relocated lobby of the former La Concha Motel, a visit to the Neon Museum has been at the top of many locals’ and visitors’ wish lists. Stay hip daddy-O and be in-the-know about this fabulous attraction!

So, with no further ado, the LVTGG cordially its members to the Las Vegas Tourist Guide Guild’s July 2013 Meet & Greet for a private evening tour of the Neon Museum and Boneyard.

This is going to be one groovy visit, and space is limited to the first 20 respondents. At last last count, we’re almost full – so RSVP now to thanksbabs@gmail.com!

We would like to thank a friend of the LVTGG, Dawn Merritt,  for extending complimentary admission to Las Vegas Tour Guide Guild members.

Where: Neon Museum & Boneyard, 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV 89101, (702) 387-6366

When: Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Time & Place: 6:45 PM, for a 7:00 PM tour. Meet at the La Concha Visitor’s Center.

Parking:  Park in the lot on McWilliams Avenue, behind the Neon Boneyard Park. It is after Bonanza Road and before Cashman Center.

In case of last minute changes or questions, call Babs at 702 370 6961.

The tour will be over by 8:00 PM and those wishing to continue socializing will meet up downtown, location tba.

Rules of Engagement:

Photos can be taken for personal use only (no fine art or commercial use, no professional blogs or websites, absolutely no stock photography) and the museum asks that a release be signed complying with those requirements. No video cameras or videotaping is allowed.

NO backpacks, camera bags, tripods, or any type of additional camera equipment are allowed on tours. The Boneyard is full of broken glass and rusty metal so we ask that everyone stick with the group for personal safety and the safety of their collection. They reserve the right to ask individuals to leave if they refuse to follow guidelines.

The museum reserves the right to cancel tours due to construction or extreme weather conditions (this includes winds over 25mph). If this happens, we will e-mail you.

If you are a journalist, please contact media at 702-387-6366 with any questions.  Separate photo use arrangements are necessary for journalistic purposes, and they are happy to provide complimentary stock photos.

Web: www.neonmuseum.org

 

About the Neon Museum:

The Neon Museum and Boneyard is a non-profit group comprised of its collection of restored, vintage Vegas neon signs and  its world-famous “boneyard” of non-restored vintage Vegas neon signs.

The Neon Museum officially “opened” with the installation of its first refurbished sign, the Hacienda Horse and Rider, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street.

Today, the Neon Museum’s refurbished signs are displayed and can be viewed in downtown Las Veags as public art and visited on a self-guided tour twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Signs are located on Las Vegas Boulevard North, Fremont Street, and 3rd Street. The gallery includes, among others, The Flame Restaurant, Chief Court Motel, Andy Anderson, The Silver Slipper, Binion’s Horseshoe, The Red Barn, Nevada Motel and Dot’s Flowers, the Landmark and 5th Street liquors.

Most of the Museum’s signs are exhibited in “The Boneyard” where they serve as inspiration to fascinated artists, students, historians and designers.  The Boneyard is home to some of the most treasured and world-famous signs of Las Vegas – Caesars Palace, Binions Horseshoe, the Golden Nugget  and the Stardust. The two-acre campus which includes the Neon Boneyard houses more than 150 historic signs. As part of guided tours, the signs are available to be viewed at ground level and up close. Each has been donated or loaned by individuals, businesses and sign companies such as the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO).

The Neon Museum visitors’ center is located inside the historic La Concha Motel lobby.  This distinctive shell-shaped building was designed by acclaimed architect Paul Revere Williams. The curvilinear La Concha Motel lobby is a striking example of Mid-Century modern design characterized by Atomic- and Space Age shapes and motifs. Originally constructed in 1961 on Las Vegas Boulevard South (next to the Riviera Hotel), the La Concha lobby was saved from demolition in 2005 and moved in 2006 to its current location to serve as the museum’s Visitors’ Center. References to many of the lobby’s original interior design elements have been included in the newly refurbished facility, with two of the motel’s original signs – the mosaic lobby sign and a section of the main roadside sign – restored and illuminated as part of the museum’s rehabilitation efforts. Administrative, educational, research and event facilities are housed inside a new addition located behind the main lobby.