Las Vegas doubles down on the LGBT tourist

Itay Hod at The Daily Beast has a big feature today on the progress Las Vegas has made in attracting LGBT tourist dollars by bringing in entertainment and attractions that have slowly made Sin City the fourth most popular travel destination for the gays (behind New York City, Chicago and San Francisco) in the US.

In addition to world-class entertainers like Bette, Cher, Celine, Elton, Shania and now Olivia Newton-John and Britney, Las Vegas provides top-notch restaurants, shopping and nightlife that makes for a big draw for the LGBT traveler.

For example, Scott Martin, a gay tech exec from Spokane, plans to celebrate his 40th birthday in Vegas with 20 of his closest friends. On the agenda are concerts by Olivia Newton-John and Britney, plus pool parties and five-star dining. Martin says his group will probably spend over $20K in one weekend.

Even the Chippendales, known for their “Ultimate Girls Night Out!” slogan, are embracing their gay side. Buy a ticket to their show and you might be surprised to see more than a few gay men in the audience cheering and hollering. Back in the ’80s the Chippendales were known as much for their Velcro pants as for their refusal to let men attend their show. “It really revamped itself,” says Jaymes Vaughan, Chippendales’ first and only openly gay stripper. “Vegas is definitely gay, and it’s only getting gayer. I mean, have you seen the sign to the city? It reads, ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas.’ I think that pretty much sums it up.” Vaughan has yet to pull a gay man up to the stage for a private lap dance, but he knows it’s only a matter of time. “Gay money spends just like straight money.”

“I think it’s great isn’t it? It’s wonderful!!!” says Olivia Newton John. “Cities are opening up to the reality of it and they’re embracing the whole idea.” Newton-John estimates at least a third of her audience is made up of gay men who have followed her career ever since she donned that pink jacket in Grease. “People are coming to see me from all over the world. That’s love, and I’m grateful for that.”

Check out Las Vegas' first-ever gay television ad, as part of its “What Happens Here Stays Here” campaign, currently running on Bravo, E! and Logo TV.