PHOTO: Nightlife is still a big seller in Las Vegas.

There are numerous ways to sell a destination as diverse as Las Vegas, but there are several tried-and-true strategies and resources that have worked for years for travel agents.

In November, Agent@Home attended the US Airways Vacations Scavenger Hunt in Vegas, where top-selling agents had the opportunity to win $15,000 in shopping gift cards and air travel. We got a chance to speak with a variety of agents from across the country when agents weren’t scurrying about and following clues. Specifically, we asked agents for advice on the best ways to sell Vegas and then compiled the most common answers into a handy guide for agents and marketers.

Here are some of the top ways to sell Sin City, no matter what your client likes.

Use LVCVA’s Website

If you aren’t familiar with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) official website by now, it’s about time you got familiar with it. The LVCVA’s comprehensive website is always updated with the latest news, agent incentives, commission rates and happenings in Vegas. The dedicated section for travel professionals, www.lasvegas.com/travel-professionals, is a particularly helpful resource for those looking to sell Vegas.

In LVCVA’s travel professional section, agents will find a wealth of information, including transportation options for their clients, unique entertainment listings, average climate and clothing suggestions, options for special-needs visitors and those under 21 years of age, hotel comparison guides, sample itineraries and — of course — the wide range of Vegas’ offerings, from hotels and spas to live entertainment to dining venues to tours. The site’s “Commissionable Vegas” webpage is incredibly helpful for agents. The page has dozens of listings, complete with contact information and commission rates for each experience.

Being knowledgeable about a destination is the first step toward selling it effectively. When you have a tourism authority that boasts a first-class website, it makes the job much easier. While having a comprehensive online resource should be a priority for all destination marketers, agents know from experience that not all tourism authorities have even a decent website. The LVCVA’s travel professionals section is top-notch, rivaling the premier tourism websites in the world.

Given the relationship between agents and the LVCVA, it’s no wonder why a healthy percentage of Vegas business goes through agents.

Personalize

There is a breadth of options for any type of traveler in Vegas, but not every agent has extensive knowledge of what Vegas offers or tries to sell anything apart from the traditional Vegas experience.

A little FYI for Vegas sellers out there: If you aren’t selling all of Vegas, you are losing out on a lot of business.

A common misunderstanding about potential Vegas travelers is the notion that they all want to reenact a scene from “The Hangover,” complete with wild parties, excessive drinking and all-nighters. And, sure, there are certainly a good deal of visitors who want that experience. But there are also many visitors who want something different than the cliché Vegas experience.

Personalization, or catering to an individual’s specific desires, is more important than ever now, with more travelers seeking an itinerary that speaks to them as individuals. And there is plenty of opportunity to sell a variety of Vegas experiences to clients these days, from magical shows to boutique hotels to outdoor jeep tours on the outskirts of Sin City.

More travelers not only want unique experiences when traveling to Vegas, but also expect to be offered them. If you are lacking in that department when selling Vegas, you run the risk of disappointing your clients.

On the other hand, some travelers don’t even know Vegas has such a wide range of experiences. If you surprise them with out-of-the-ordinary offerings, you could easily get more business from them in the process. It could also strengthen their trust in you as a reliable and in-the-know agent.

It can be incredibly rewarding—both personally and monetarily—to see a client’s face after going on her first helicopter tour over Vegas’ underrated surrounding scenery.

Sell Experiential Vegas

PHOTO: The Container Park is part of the downtown revitalization.

Not only is personalization valued by travelers these days, but experiential and authentic travel has also become a focus for tourists. In that respect, it’s important to offer clients options that truly embody the spirit and nature of Vegas, from experiencing the Strip, and finding out firsthand why it is a premier party destination, to exploring the recent development of Downtown Las Vegas.

When it comes to selling experiential Vegas, the downtown area may be a good place to start. Downtown Project, founded by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, is working on revitalizing a downtown area that has been lying in the shadows for decades as the Strip has boomed. The project is not just about throwing a bunch of proven moneymakers on the map, though. The Downtown Project promotes startups, local family companies and restaurants and eateries that draw from local sources. Several agents at the US Airways Vacations Scavenger Hunt told Agent@Home they were promoting Downtown Las Vegas to clients and seeing additional revenue as a result.

Of course, there are plenty of options for experiencing authentic Vegas on the Strip, too. From restaurants boosted by local chefs to off-the-wall shows that are exclusive to Vegas (Cirque du Soleil’s productions are obviously huge sells) to the world-famous Bellagio Fountains, there are countless attractions that have long been big sellers and keep travelers coming back to Sin City.

And don’t forget about those casinos and gambling opportunities that have made Vegas a desired destination for years. There may be casinos all over the world, but there’s something different about playing that game of poker in Vegas.

Know the Buzzworthy Hotels and Attractions

PHOTO: The SLS was one of the most buzzworthy hotel openings of 2014.

To expertly sell Vegas, you need to be an expert on all of Vegas, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook the fact that some hotels and attractions are more popular than others. If you are looking for a quick overview of some of the latest buzzworthy hotspots in Vegas, you’ve come to the right place.

For one, if your client likes boutique hotels, there are now a handful of selections in that category. The Cromwell (the Strip’s first standalone boutique property) and Delano Las Vegas (adjacent to Mandalay Bay) have raised plenty of eyebrows. There’s also Oasis at Gold Spike in Downtown Las Vegas. Vdara Hotel & Spa is a great option for business travelers who want to relax after a busy day.

Proven longtime favorites include such AAA Five-Diamond winners as Aria Resort & Casino, Bellagio, Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, the Palazzo, the Venetian and Wynn.

As for attractions, Downtown Las Vegas’ Container Park—an outdoor shopping, entertainment and dining venue—shows a different, offbeat side of Vegas. Many of the stores within the park are even made out of recycled shipping containers.

And, of course, you have the countless live shows and nightclubs that are spread throughout Vegas. Cirque du Soleil productions are, of course, stunning (my personal recommendation is to see “Michael Jackson ONE”). Drai’s Beach Club Nightclub (on top of the Cromwell), Marquee Nightclub at the Cosmopolitan, Light Nightclub at Mandalay Bay and Foxtail at SLS Las Vegas also are a few popular choices.

Be There for Your Client

When selling adventure-laden destinations like Vegas (where anything can happen), it’s important to assure clients that you are just a quick phone call away if they need help.

Whether a client lost a bit of money gambling and needs some cheaper accommodation and attraction options ASAP, or simply finds himself wandering around Sin City feeling lost, it’s good to know that travelers have an angel on their shoulder, so to speak. Vegas can be an overwhelming place at times and you don’t want your client feeling helpless and/or confused. In fact, being there every step of the way for your client isn’t just a Vegas-specific suggestion. Ongoing availability in general helps distinguish a travel professional from the many, less-personal online travel agencies.

One big difference between individual travel agents and OTAs is that with agents, customers can talk to a real live person instantly when they need help. If you aren’t there for your clients through thick and thin, there is no reason for them to do business with you. It is absolutely vital that you build a bond of trust with your client before, during and after the trip or, well, you know what the consequences are.

When it comes to foreign destinations or wild destinations like Vegas, the agent’s value can really shine through to the client. There is a huge opportunity for positive promotion, whether you are making a name for yourself or building a case for the power of travel agents. Make sure your client knows what the benefits of using a travel agent are right away when selling Vegas.