Gay Days is doubling down on a second annual event in Las Vegas.
Gay Days Las Vegas will debut Sept. 4 -10 and the host hotel is the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. Orlando attendees will recognize some familiar elements: the Gay Days Expo, pool parties and a kick-off party at Macy's. However, the Vegas version of Gay Days will change some things up. According to GayDays.com co-owner Chris Manley, it won't host nighttime pool parties because Vegas is known for its nightlife.
Prize fight: Orlando vs. Vegas
Manley said the Gay Days Vegas idea sprouted two years ago, when he attended an event in Las Vegas which gave them the idea to gamble on gay.
â┚¬Å”We realized Orlando and Vegas are the top two tourist destinations in the country,â┚¬Â he said.
Manley said Vegas city officials have welcomed Gay Days with open arms which he calls a â┚¬Å”night and dayâ┚¬Â difference from Orlando.
â┚¬Å”The city as an overall entity has been so welcoming and that is a big difference from Orlando,â┚¬Â Manley said. â┚¬Å”Over the years, the [Orlando] government has been more supportive of Gay Days Orlando, but our first year being here [in Vegas], there’s more acceptance and its more welcoming than our 22nd year in Orlando.â┚¬ÂÂ
Manley called it a â┚¬Å”nice new changeâ┚¬Â and added that he hopes â┚¬Å”Orlando learns from Vegas on marking to the LGBT community and making them feel welcome.â┚¬ÂÂ
He said Vegas tops Orlando when it comes to dining, as well.
â┚¬Å”Vegas blows Orlando out of water on the number of fantastic dining opportunities,â┚¬Â Manley said. â┚¬Å”Shopping as well, Orlando doesn’t come near what Vegas offers.â┚¬ÂÂ
He said organizers are seeing some duplicate bookings from people who attend Gay Days Orlando, plus a new crowd who don't attend Orlando's event because â┚¬Å”the parks are not for them. Hopefully Vegas attendees will find out more about Orlando than just the parks and go there next year as well.â┚¬ÂÂ
2-for-1 Pride
Manly said Las Vegas Pride contacted Gay Days Vegas organizers when they got wind of the new event and decided to move their eventâ┚¬â€ which has taken place in May for the past 11 yearsâ┚¬â€Âto align with Gay Days Orlando.
â┚¬Å”Whenever I'm in a city where there’s a pride parade and festivals going on, I'll see it,â┚¬Â he said. â┚¬Å”We’re cross-promoting.â┚¬ÂÂ
Vegas' Pride Parade is at night, because of the heat, and will kick off 8 p.m. Sept. 7. Josh Strickland, reality star and lead male role in PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort, is the Las Vegas PRIDE Parade Celebrity Grand Marshall. Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho and Joan Rivers are the 2012 Honorary Parade Grand Marshalls and will kick off this year's 2012 Las Vegas Pride Night Parade on the main stage in Downtown Las Vegas.
Crowds and cost
Manley expects about 40,000 to attend the debut of Gay Days Vegas, and 200 of the Tropicana rooms have been booked as of press time, leaving 200 rooms available.
He said there's a two-night minimum at the host hotel which costs $270 for both nights and includes â┚¬Å”pool parties and two nighttime outdoor under the stars parties.â┚¬ÂÂ
As always, the Expo is free.
