Weekend destination feature: Viva Las Vegas!

As city break destinations go, Las Vegas is a bit far flung but for clients prepared to make that extra commitment, it won't disappoint.

Because say what you like about Vegas, it doesn't hold the title of the world's entertainment capital for nothing and there are several reasons why the city saw almost an 18% increase in international visitors and a 20% rise in direct UK flight arrivals last year.

For a start, Vegas has been reinventing itself. Gambling is no longer the city's main draw and revenue earner; instead, there's a big focus on day-time pool parties hosted by international DJs to draw a younger, trendier crowd, fine dining to lure the high spenders and shopping to suit most budgets.

On September 25, DJ Peter Tong will take his signature pool party to the Encore Beach Club, a recently-opened $65m adult-only pool complex. Several other hotels are now host their own swanky 'beach clubs' such as Nikki Beach Club at the newly renovated Tropicana Las Vegas, the Marquee at The Cosmoplitan (the city's newest hotel), the Rumor Las Vegas pool, Wet Republic at MGM Grand and Bare at The Mirage.

Caesars Palace, one of the older hotels in Vegas, has just added not one but five new pools, including Venus, an adult-only area. That's not to say that gambling isn't every present though – Caesar's has a swum-up roulette table.

One thing to be sure of when selling Vegas is to match your client to the hotel as most are resorts within themselves – some clients never venture outside – and each has its own unique vibe. For instance, Wynn Las Vegas and its interconnected twin Encore are pretty sophisticated as is the Bellagio, which has an Italian ambience, whereas Caesars Palace with its mock Roman statutory, swim-up black jack pool and topless sunbathing area feels more decadent.

My personal favourite was the newly refurbished Tropicana, once the jewel of Las Vegas which has been given a much-needed $180m facelift. Smaller than many other hotels on The Strip (it has just 1,375 rooms) it's been injected with a South Beach vibe, thanks to the addition of the Nikki Cafe, Beach Club and Nightclub.

New building projects have been mothballed for the time being – developers have run out of cash – but Caesars Palace is transforming one tower into a 182-room Nobu Hotel, the first in the world, which will also have a Nobu restaurant. The Flamingo Hotel, one of the oldest on The Strip, is also getting a refurb.

All 2,700 rooms in the Wynn have recently been freshened up and even the smallest is large by most hotel standards. The hotel has also recently added a new Lakeside restaurant and a less formal tapas-style eatery, La Cave.

For some clients, the choice will come down to price and there are some good deals to be had, even at some of the top-end hotels where rates have dropped to as low as $100pn on certain dates.

Holidaymakers searching for the heart of Las Vegas will have to head off the Strip to the downtown area, the spot where it all began in the 1930s. This is also being spruced up with plans for a new Mob Museum, due to open next spring at the same time as a visitors' centre at the city's boneyard where you can see old neon signs from some of Vegas' most iconic nightspots, and a new arts centre which will include shops, restaurants and galleries.

Not everyone will want to stick to the city and for those with the time – and the money – a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It costs about $400 per person with Maverick Tours (www.maverickhelicopter.com), so it's not cheap, but definitely worth it – which pretty much sums up my thoughts on Vegas.

By Linsey McNeill flew with Virgin Atlantic which introduced direct flights from Manchester to Vegas in April in addition to its flights from Gatwick. British Airways flies from Heathrow.