LVCVA hopes you will be "Vegas Bound"

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FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The tiny town of Cranfills Gap really needed a vacation.
That's why Las Vegas tourism officials decided to fly nearly half the 350 residents to the desert playground for a five-day getaway and publicity stunt.
Up to 120 people — those who could get off work and were over 21 — were treated to swanky hotels,fancy dining at "Strip Steak" in Planet Hollywood and glitzy shows like "Phantom Of The Opera" when they arrived Dec. 13.
It's all free with a catch: They'll be followed around by video cameras for tourism commercials to air early next year.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is spending $2.5 million for the trip and marketing campaign. Officials looked at 125 small communities around the nation before settling on the farming and ranching town that has one gas station, one bank, a bar and grill, and few other businesses.
Cranfills Gap, with two stop signs and no traffic lights about 75 miles southwest of Fort Worth, is more than ready for the getaway. Synthetic Pictures Director Justin Corsbie is heading up a multi-million dollar campaign for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "Vegas Bound" is the brain child of a collaboration between R&R Partners, Synthetic Pictures and the LVCVA.
Look for the documentary style commercials to air in the next couple of months.
By ANGELA K. BROWN
Associated Press Writer