Today saw the official launch of the 19th World Route Development Forum which will take place on October 5-8, 2013 co-hosted by Las Vegas Convention&Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.

World Routes is the largest and most important commercial aviation networking forum of its kind, and 2013 will see Routes head to the United States for the first time ever when the event takes place in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada. Tourism is the number one industry in Las Vegas, with record visitation of nearly 40 million visitors last year, and the city is also a thriving business destination hosting more than 21,000 annual meetings and trade shows with almost 5 million attendees in 2012.

The event attracts all manner of airlines with low-cost, charter, regional, and flag carriers all in attendance and represented by delegates who are responsible for making decisions on both new and existing routes. Early registrations indicate a strong presence from all regions with more than 100 carriers already registered to attend, including Air Canada, British Airways, AirAsia X, easyJet, UPS, Delta Air Lines, Southwest, Emirates, Allegiant, Etihad, COPA Airlines, Virgin America, Volaris, and American Airlines.

This year’s event will see a number of content streams running throughout the four days, including the World Routes Strategy Summit, held in partnership with ICAO and the World Bank; the World Tourism Summit, held in partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), and TTG; Invest and Manage; and a program of social media briefings.

The summits bring together senior leaders and key stakeholders from aviation, tourism, and cargo to participate in discussions that will set the commercial and political agenda for the industry. The events attract airline and airport CEOs, Ministers of Tourism, and leaders of industry associations worldwide such as Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways; Alain St.Ange, Minister for Tourism&Culture for the Seychelles; Angela Gittens, Director General of ACI World; Sani Sener, President&CEO of TAV Airports; and Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention&Visitors Authority, who have all confirmed their participation.

“Las Vegas is honored to host the first World Route Development Forum in the United States,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “As the entertainment and convention capital of the world and an emerging international business center, Las Vegas offers a truly unique experience to the world’s aviation leaders. From our new US$2.4 billion state-of-the-art international Terminal 3 to our ability to continually reinvent Las Vegas as an international tourism destination, Las Vegas is the perfect stage for industry leaders to connect and gain key insight into what the future of travel and tourism holds.”

David Stroud, Executive Vice President, Routes, said: “For Routes, taking the event to the United States for the first time will further strengthen our position in the world’s largest aviation market. We expect over 3,000 delegates to join us in Las Vegas this year, including senior representation from over 300 carriers from around the world. McCarran International Airport’s expansion offers airlines new opportunities, and hosting World Routes will allow the city to increase their air services which is fundamental to the prosperity of the region.”

“Last year, McCarran International Airport opened its doors to an increasing number of travelers from around the world when we opened our fantastic Terminal 3 expansion,” said Randall H. Walker, Director of Aviation for Clark County, Nevada, which owns and operates McCarran. “This fall, we look forward to welcoming Routes attendees from around the globe, providing each guest a first-hand opportunity to experience all that our airport and community have to offer.”