Las Vegas bets on Australia as Qantas launches Sydney service

With nonstop air service between Las Vegas and Sydney, Australia, due to begin at the end of the year on Qantas Airlines, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Tuesday authorized spending up to $1.45 million to market Southern Nevada to Australians.

Board members voted unanimously to contract with GTI Tourism PTY of suburban Sydney’s Surry Hills for $475,000 in fiscal year 2027 with the potential of spending $475,000 in fiscal year 2028 and $500,000 in fiscal 2029.

Fletch Brunelle, the LVCVA’s vice president of marketing, said the Australia connection would tie in to sporting events of interest to Australians, including the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix and the opening games of the National Rugby League at Allegiant Stadium.

Las Vegas has always been a popular destination for Australians and New Zealanders with an estimated 4.7 million visitors in 2025, the city’s second best overseas market.

Brunelle said Australian visitation delivered an estimated $442 million economic impact to the city.

With Qantas planning to operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, starting Dec. 29, the LVCVA sees a great opportunity to expand visitation from down under. Qantas has assured operations through March 12.

Qantas, the flag carrier airline of Australia and the nation’s busiest air carrier, is known for its distinctive livery with an image of a kangaroo on the tail of its planes. The airline will use twin-engine Boeing 787 Dreamliners capable of carrying up to 300 passengers on the Las Vegas route.

It’ll be the second time around with GTI in Australia.

GTI represented the LVCVA from 2014 to 2020 with public relations and trade marketing representation services on a project basis.

The LVCVA’s international marketing and PR teams returned to Australia in 2022 following the short gap in having international office representation, gathering market intelligence and maintaining an annual presence alongside Brand USA.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.