Travel Roundup: Las Vegas Tourism Down, Icahn May Buy Tropicana, Hilton's Dillon Dies and More

(MoneyWatch)  Las Vegas 2008 tourism down -- The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority released its 2008 tourism report which says that visitor volume fell 4.4 percent to 37.5 million, occupancy rates fell to 86 percent and the average daily room rate dropped almost 10 percent to $119.19 a night. The authority blamed 2008's lackluster performance on the foreclosure crisis, unemployment, credit markets and dwindling consumer confidence. [Source: Las Vegas Sun]

Billionaire Carl Icahn may buy Tropicana Casino and Resort -- Carl Icahn, former owner of the Sands Casino Hotel, may buy the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City at a bankruptcy auction next month. Icahn's attorney said he and other lenders hold a $1.4 billion mortgage on the casino and will make a minimum bid at a bankruptcy court auction. If no other bidders go higher, he could be one of its new owners. [Source: Associated Press]

Gregory Russell Dillon, former Hilton Hotels Corp. executive, dies -- Gregory Russell Dillon, a Hilton Hotels Corp. executive and friend of founder Conrad Hilton and confidant to chief executive Barron Hilton, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. Dillon was part of the 1954 merger with the Statler hotel chain for $111 million. In 1963, he joined the Hilton corporation as an assistant to Conrad Hilton and traveled around the world to negotiate contracts. As an executive he held various posts before being elected to the corporation's board of directors. In 1996, he was named vice chairman and director emeritus. [Source: Associated Press]

U.S. State Department renews Mexico travel advisory -- The U.S. State Department again warned Americans about escalating violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The department specifically advised tourists to stay away from areas known for prostitution and drug dealing -- where violent crime is most prevalent. [Source: Associated Press]