Inaugural Accent West Conference Makes Waves IN NEVADA

networking activities, a trade show and local area touring were among the activities offered to delegates.

Big business is done in small groups - and Accent West was the perfect example. Delegates got to know each other while discovering the cultural and historical treasures of the Southwest. Relationship-building and the sharing of best practices are what makes the Accent brand so popular.

The next day, Rafael Villanueva, managing director of Beyond Global Solutions discussed “Defining YOUR New Reality and Moving Forward.” Everyone knows what we have been through the past couple of years, and it’s easy to get stuck there. But it is important to move forward and adapt to the new normal.

A trade show matched operators with all the different suppliers preceded a lunch, sponsored by the Las Vegas Territory. The day concluded aboard the New Grand Celebration luxury yacht for a dinner cruise on the Colorado River, sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Travel Nevada.

The next day began with the Koffee Klatch. During the trade show, partners had the opportunity to schedule Koffee Klatch meetings with those they needed to get additional information from or finalize bookings.

Delegates from around the United States and Canada converged on the banks of the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada last week to take part in the inaugural Accent West Tourism Conference.

Produced by Mid-Atlantic Receptive

Services (MARS) and hosted by Visit Laughlin and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the conference was designed to better acquaint tour operators with destinations, hotels, attractions, and restaurants in the Southwestern United States. Speakers, brainstorming, itinerary planning,

“We had a fantastic experience at Accent West 2023,” said Carol Edwards from the SIX Show in Branson. “We especially enjoyed the group exercises. It gave us insight into each other’s challenges and ways for us all to improve. This was the best conference I’ve ever attended.”

Prior to the conference, operators explored Southern Nevada by air

(helicopter); water (raft and luxury yacht), train (Nevada State Railroad Museum) and motorcoach. The FAM began with a hosted lunch and a tour of LaQuinta Airport hotel followed by a tour of the Mob Museum.

Next, the group checked into the Gold Coast for two nights. The Gold Coast offers true local hospitality.

The evening concluded with a Maverick helicopter tour over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. The next day, a stop was made at Hash House A-Go-Go for a hearty breakfast before experiencing FlyOver Las Vegas.

The Golden Nugget, located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas treated everyone to a delicious lunch and Js Travel Consultants provided a walking tour of downtown, ending at the Container Park, an open-air shopping center filled with boutique retail shops, unique restaurants, and live entertainment.

The evening concluded with an interactive dinner show “Marriage Can Be Murder.” The comedy slayed the group with a dash of intrigue, mixed in shenanigans, and to top off the wacky evening, a suspect hiding among the guests. The next morning, Treasure Island hosted breakfast and a stop was made at Senor Frog’s, located in

Treasure Island. The Hoover Dam Rafting Postcard Tour was next on the agenda. An overview tour of historic Boulder City followed and the FAM concluded with a “Best of Boulder City Box Lunch,” with several local restaurants each contributing one of their specialties, enjoyed aboard the historic train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.

Big business is done in small groups and Accent West was the perfect example.

Future Accent Travel Conference dates are as follows:

• 5th Annual Accent East : November 28-30, 2023 – Beaufort SC

• 2nd Annual Accent West : May 10-12, 2024 – Branson MO

• 6th Annual Accent East : November 12-14, 2024 – Traverse City MI

Registration information is available online at www.accenttravelnetwork.com . For more information, contact Sue Arko at sue@takeafuntrip.com or 602-999-5749.