Travel Roundup: Las Vegas' $480K to Fight Terrorism, MGM Mirage Soothes Condo Buyers, Hilton's $10K Event Contest and More

(MoneyWatch)  Las Vegas tourism pays $480,000 for counterterrorism expert -- The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authorityboard voted to pay $480,000 to hire a terrorism expert to reassure conventioneers Las Vegas is safer than any other U.S. city. The single position, funded for the next three years, will work alongside Las Vegas police and the Southern Nevada Counterterrorism Fusion Center. So far, officials said there haven't been any major terrorist threats found against Las Vegas. [Source: Associated Press]

MGM Mirage deals with disgruntled CityCenter condo buyers -- MGM Mirage officials, once reluctant to meet with disgruntled CityCenter condo buyers, are now staging meetings with their customers. The buyers, leery of dropping real estate values and other costs, hope the meetings signify price reductions on current sales contracts. There is some concern that some of the 950 condo buyers may not close on their units, so MGM Mirage is inviting customers to air concerns about construction problems, discrepancies and using the property's amenities. The condo buyers say MGM Mirage is trying to fight off potential lawsuits before escrows begin closing in December. [Source: Las Vegas Sun]

Hilton hotel launches $10,000 business event contest -- The Hilton Alexandria Old Town is requesting that company and meeting planners apply to win a $10,000, two-day meeting or event at the hotel next year. The planners will write 200 words or less on one of three themes: how a meeting could stimulate a company's business; how the meeting would benefit the local economy; or a description of the organization's philanthropy. The hotel will choose a winner by Nov. 30. [Source: Associated Press]

Ryanair to close nine routes from Manchester, UK -- Ryanair reported Monday it will close nine of its 10 Manchester, UK routes to protest the airport's higher charges. The company said it planned to either end the flights or move them to East Midlands, Leeds Bradford or Liverpool airports, a loss of 44 weekly flights. The routes affected fly to Barcelona, Brussels, Cagliari, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Marseille, Milan and Shannon. [Source: Reuters]