What Happens Here, Stays Here

What Happens Here, Stays Here (also referred to as What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas) is a slogan and advertising campaign for the city of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Background

The original slogan was created in 2003 by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and advertising agency R&R Partners. The idea was to brand Las Vegas as more than a gambling destination,[1] promoting adult freedom and empowerment.[2]

In 2020, the campaign was updated and launched as "What Happens Here, Only Happens Here."[3]

When the "What Happens Here, Stays Here" ads debuted in February 2003, they became an almost instant "cultural phenomenon" according to Advertising Age.[4] The phrase was referenced by numerous pop culture mainstays, including Saturday Night Live, Meet the Press, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune,[5] the Academy Awards, and others.[4] Two years after the campaign debuted, then-First Lady, Laura Bush, used the tagline in a discussion with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.[5] A survey in USA Today called the campaign the "most effective" of 2003.[4]

The slogan became the name of the 2008 American comedy What Happens in Vegas. It also inspired a song of the same name by Usher, as well as the film series The Hangover.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Shankman, Samantha (1 October 2013). "A brief history of 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas'". The Week. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  2. ^ Belotta, Richard N. (22 May 2018). "'Only Vegas Moments': Las Vegas tourism group launches new TV ads". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  3. ^ Komenda, Ed (26 January 2020). "WATCH: Las Vegas' new slogan 'What happens here, only happens here' has landed". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Friess, Steve (28 March 2004). "A firm hits jackpot on Las Vegas ads". Boston.com. Archived from the original on 2005-01-30. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b Katsilometes, John (29 September 2011). "A look back at the advertising magic of "What Happens Here, Stays Here"". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
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