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Las Vegas Suspends Ads over War Concerns

LAS VEGAS --War concerns have prompted the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to temporarily suspend television ads promoting the city.

Las Vegas-based R&R Partners, which in January launched the first phase of its $17.2 million, 20-month ad campaign on behalf of the convention authority, said Wednesday it will not purchase any television ad slots on behalf of Las Vegas until at least WednesdayMarch 26.

"Any TV ads we had scheduled to run the week of the 19th have been pushed back until the week of the 26th," said R&R Partners account leader Sophie Poulter, who added she could not break down any financial impact associated with the postponement.

R&R's decision to pull ads this week was based on President Bush's address on Monday, before the first strikes on Iraq on Wednesday evening.

Following a Wednesday conference call that included representatives from local government agencies, McCarran International Airport and several prominent gaming companies, authority spokeswoman Erika Brandvik said the ad cancellation was appropriate given the likely start of hostilities between the United States and Iraq.

"Television is going to be overrun with war coverage and that's not necessarily the best venue for us to be getting our message out," said Brandvik, who added print ads touting Las Vegas have so far been unaffected by the war.

Despite the war's potential to negatively affect local tourism, Brandvik described the 30-minute conference call as "encouraging." So far, she said no major Las Vegas resorts have reported significant cancellations among expected convention and leisure visitors.

"We understand there is going to be an impact (from the war), but at this point we're not feeling it," Brandvik said.

Conference calls among tourism leaders have been common since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Brandvik said. A similar call is likely next week to help ensure the industry continues to work together to promote tourism in Las Vegas, she added.

"We want everyone to have as much information as a resort industry because we're all under the same umbrella," Brandvik said. "It's important to stay on top of the traveling public's perception so they'll continue to come here."

One resort participant, who asked not be named, also found encouragement in the tourism industry's willingness to work together in times of crisis.

"You don't want to sound upbeat when faced with a war, but it seemed like the LVCVA is well in tune with the situation and is watching the right data," the source said. "The resorts are eager to face this challenge as a united city. We're all in this together."

Several major U.S. advertisers are expected to pull media ads temporarily if war breaks out. Toyota Motor Corp. announced Wednesday it will stop all television advertising in the event of war.

On Wednesday, Newsday reported major networks such as CNN, CNN Headline News and Fox News plan to broadcast commercial-free coverage for one to three days after the start of a war.

David Miller, an analyst with the Los Angeles office of Sanders Morris Harris, an investment firm, said the large broadcast networks average about $95 million to $100 million a week in ad sales.

If the broadcast networks were to go to commercial-free, all-news formats after the start of war, he expects it would last no longer than three days, he said.

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