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 edit

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]

In popular culture edit

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 edit

References edit

  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.