The City

The past several years have brought grand changes to Las Vegas, which now offers world-class shopping, fine dining, nightlife, spas, attractions, art galleries, entertainment, golf and so much more, in addition to the gaming and good times that Vegas has long been known for.

Over the past ten years, Las Vegas has evolved from a town of gambling grit and tongue-in-cheek dining and entertainment to a mecca of sophistication and luxury. The old Vegas casinos and theme park entertainment have all but disappeared, replaced by behemoth luxury multi-million and billion dollar resort-casinos - each one competing to offer better amenities than its competition.

The success of chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Palmer, Julian Serrano and Emeril Lagasse in the mid to late 1990s proved there was a craving for gourmet fare in the desert. Now a cosmopolitan dining city, dozens of the world's top chefs have opened signature eateries in Vegas, including Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys), Daniel Boulud (Daniel Boulud Brasserie), Joël Robuchon (L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon), Michael Mina (Seablue, Nobhill and Michael Mina), and sushi chefs Nobu Matsuhisa (Nobu) and Hidebumi Sueyoshi (Shibuya).

Cirque du Soleil and Broadway are the new standard of entertainment in Las Vegas, replacing the classic Vegas lounge acts the city was once known for. Shows like KÁ, 'O' and Blue Man Group are now shown along every block of the Las Vegas Strip providing a dense array of critically acclaimed shows rivaled only by Broadway in New York City.

With the anointing of Pure Nightclub as the #1 club in the nation by E! Entertainment Television and many of the city's top spots landing in the top 10, Sin City's position as nightlife king has been confirmed. With other top spots such as the Pussycat Dolls Lounge, Tao, Ghostbar, Mix and Tabú, Vegas residents and visitors never have to worry about running out of places to go.

If nightlife is King, shopping is Queen. Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Christian Dior, Fendi, Carolina Herrera; the list of high-end designers with shops along the Strip goes on and on.

In today's Las Vegas, no upscale hotel or resort would be complete without a full-service spa and salon. Spas like Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Venetian, the Spa Bellagio and bathhouse at THEhotel guarantee the ultimate comfort for guests. The posh clientele that flock to Vegas haven't escaped notice of some of the top celebrity stylists hairdressers like Michael Boychuck (Kirsten Dunst, Paris Hilton) and Christophe (Barbra Streisand, Bill Clinton) operate trendy salons at the Palms, Caesars Palace and MGM Grand.

The Las Vegas Valley offers more than 60 private and public golf courses, designed by some of the biggest names in the sport including Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus. Both beginner to advanced golfers will enjoy scenic and challenging courses – and a wide selection of courses to choose from.

All of these entities are within just a few square miles, and now you can enjoy the luxe offerings of Vegas just a few steps away from your very own doorstep.

Los Angeles Times (11/24/05)
"Vegas Stripping LA of its Luxury Luster"

Relocating to Las Vegas

For the entire decade of the 1990s and now into the 21st century, Las Vegas has been the fastest growing metro area in the nation! Low unemployment, an expanding skilled labor force, an exceptional tax structure, a pro-business environment and a great climate all give Las Vegas the "total package."

Each month, a spectacular 2.5 million visitors and 6,000 new residents flock to Las Vegas to enjoy its warm climate, fabulous resorts, unparalleled entertainment, southwestern lifestyle and economic prosperity. The current population is estimated at 1.6 million.

Las Vegas has continued to rank first nationally in employment growth since 1995, according to the Arizona State University Economic Outlook Center. With Clark County's consistently low unemployment rate, Las Vegas is projected to maintain its position well into the millennium.

The population explosion has resulted in great opportunities for new businesses and more jobs. Las Vegas continually ranks among the top cities in job growth - an important factor torelocating individuals and families.

• Outlook recently named Las Vegas as one of the top five cities in the country to live.
• Inc. rated Las Vegas as the # 1 entrepreneurial city in America, citing the thousands of new businesses that start in Nevada each year.
• Fortune named Las Vegas as the #2 city in the country in which to do business.

Because tourism adds up to nearly one-third of the state's annual tax revenue, business owners are not subject to corporate income tax or franchise, inventory or unitary taxes. Residents pay no personal income tax. The minimal tax burden means that Nevadans can keep more of the money they earn. U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Analysis Bureau ranks Las Vegas as the top metro area for income per capita, with anannual growth rate of 2.3%.

If you are planning to relocate, Las Vegas should be at the top of your list of desirable locations. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce extends a warm welcome inviting you to get to know our residents, become involved in commerce and call Las Vegas home.

Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce