Nevada drivers are saying "Tanks a lot," for the lower gasoline prices. The least expensive street prices for gasoline in Nevada are in Elko and the most expensive are in Reno. In September, the average gasoline price in the state was $2.41 per gallon.

Demand for gasoline is running about one percent ahead of last year, yet there is a major difference from last year: the price of crude oil. At this time a year ago, crude oil was $55 a barrel. At this time, it is $64 a barrel, explaining why we are paying more for retail gasoline than we were one year ago.

Gasoline prices didn't curtail thousands of motorists from California who arrived to celebrate the three-day Labor Day holiday in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is one of the front-runners in the race for the nation's highest cab fares. On October 1, passengers will be charged a "drop fee" of $3.30 for the initial cost of hiring a cab.

The cost per hour for the time spent traveling slower than 8-12 mph (called the wait fee), will rise to $28 from $22. Cab drivers complain they don't make enough money because of the close proximity of the city's major destinations. While the regular per mile charge also raised in October, it won't be noticed by consumers because the 20-cent-per-mile fee has been dropped.

Plan ahead: The 55th WPMA Annual National Convention will be held February 19-21, 2008 at the Mirage Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mark your calendars and call for reservations at the Mirage Hotel 1-800-499-6311 or register on-line at www.wpma.com.

This year's convention theme is "Tradition of Service." The keynote speaker is John Stossel, ABC News correspondent and co-anchor of 20/20. His keynote address will be Wednesday, February 20, 8:30-10 a.m. You won't want to miss it!

The day before his speech you can unwind at the Scholarship Golf Tournament.

Destinations Travel has lined up not one, but two exciting and unusual post-convention trips. If you've always dreamed of going on an African Safari, now is your chance! Immediately after the close of the Convention, you and your WPMA friends are invited to fly to Nairobi, Kenya. Upon the arrival of your flight you will begin your trek which includes stops at Mt. Kenya, Samburu and Masai Mara Game Reserves where you will view African game animals in their natural habitat.

If you prefer a "tamer" adventure, sign up for the 16-day WPMA-sponsored Exotic Asia Cruise October 22-Nov. 7, 2008. After your flight to Bangkok, your ship will cruise to Singapoere, two ports in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Okinawa, Shanghai, China, Nagasaki, Japan and Beijing, China.

Originally published in the October 2007 issue of the O&A Marketing News.
Copyright 2007 by KAL Publications Inc.