Grand Canyon Deal News

For the fifth year in a row, Maverick Helicopters has earned the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Operator Safety Award.

The HAI Operator Safety Award is presented to companies that meet strict safety guidelines and for safe operations in the previous year. During 2009, Maverick Helicopters flew more than 23,000 hours, operated more than 30 helicopters and had zero (0) accidents. With regards to pilot safety training, the company, which received its first HAI Operator Safety Award in 2005, mandates aircraft flight and ground, as well as Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA), training annually.

“From the beginning we have been dedicated to providing our customers with the safest and most incredible helicopter tours possible,” said Greg Rochna, owner and operator of Maverick Aviation Group. “When customers fly with Maverick Helicopters, we want them to feel like they have seen every light in the Las Vegas Strip and every inch of the Grand Canyon – but we never forget that safety must always be the top priority.”

Maverick Aviation Group, with locations in Nevada and Arizona, is the parent company of Maverick Helicopters, Mustang Helicopters and Maverick Airlines. This tourism-based company has the largest fleet of ECO-Star helicopters in the world. The Las Vegas, Nevada location offers helicopter tours of the Las Vegas Strip and to Grand Canyon West. The Grand Canyon, Arizona location offers tours over the South Rim of the canyon. The company also operates Beechcraft 1900D fixed-winged aircraft that provide direct flights to both Grand Canyon South Rim and Grand Canyon West from the Henderson Executive Airport. Custom and private aircraft charters are also available.

So Katie Price (aka Jordan) and Alex Reid tied the knot in Las Vegas this week. Well, you don’t have to be famous to have a “private, simple” (sure…) ceremony like they did, even if at the last minute.

Viator.com has nearly 10 Wedding packages in Las Vegas to choose from, ranging in price from £39 for the World Famous Drive-up Wedding in Las Vegas to £638 for the Ultimate Grand Canyon Helicopter Wedding. The wedding of your dreams (or Alex and Katie’s) is just a few clicks, and a flight, away.

Spend less and experience more.  It is easier than ever for meeting and event planners to book once-in-a-lifetime Grand Canyon experiences for attendees.  Papillon Airways, Inc. has eliminated all existing packages.  In its place: a new, simplified way to book groups to the Grand Canyon by helicopter, airplane or bus.

Once planners select how they would like to travel, they have the option to upgrade, whether it be traveling during sunset or adding adventure components such as ATVs, kayaking, pontoon tours or walking on the Grand Canyon’s Skywalk, the transparent walkway composed of glass and steel extending 70 feet beyond the rim with a nearly 4,000 foot drop below to the canyon floor.  Basic tour prices begin at $127 with add-on prices starting at $30 with additional price breaks available depending upon the group size.

“Making this as simple as possible to book with the greatest value was the goal,” says Robert Graff, vice president of marketing, Papillon.  “Demand is there and if groups are going to spend money, they want to control the experience from start to finish.  That’s truly what we have empowered them to do by creating basic tours with add-ons.”

Papillon Grand Canyon tours are customizable for all planners, whether booking incentive groups or structuring programming for traveling spouses or team-building activities.  Papillon can accommodate groups up to 1,000.  Special group pricing is available depending upon size, time of year and scheduled activities.

Additional services can include placing company logos on seats inside the helicopter, airplane or bus or creating welcome signs and banners for groups upon arrival to the terminal.  Papillon can also provide champagne tastings prior to take-off and create customized Grand Canyon-themed gift bags for attendees.  In addition, all tours are commissionable up to 20 percent.

No matter the planner’s budget or desire for the event programming, Papillon can fulfill.

“We can do anything and everything groups need,” says Robert Graff, vice president of marketing, Papillon.  “We can fly attendees to the floor of the Grand Canyon and serve sushi.  We can have Elvis impersonators greet or fly with guests.  A 3-piece orchestra can be waiting in the Grand Canyon when the helicopter arrives.  Really, the planner’s wish is our command.”

Papillon Airways Inc. has once again raised the bar in sightseeing air and ground tours. Aside from being the largest air tour company in the world they have now set the standard in passenger comfort with their new Boulder City AeroCenter in Boulder City, NV. Located just outside of Las Vegas, NV at the Boulder City Municipal Airport the new Passenger terminal is a focal point for all that arrive at the airfield.

With the building’s bright red roof and stone exterior it sets itself apart from any surrounding structures. Once inside you are greeted with an amazing view of the runways and aircraft loading areas as well as the vast desert through a two story bank of windows. Taking a look around reveals large gift shop, small cafe, and comfortable seating areas for guests waiting to board their tours. A large service counter accommodates the variety of brands that are offering service. While waiting to board, passengers who look up will notice the giant ceiling fan made of 5 helicopter rotor blades. Clearly, no detail was overlooked in the creation of Chairman Elling Halvorson’s vision for the ultimate Grand Canyon passenger center.

On March 23, 2009 Papillon Airways held a Grand Opening to celebrate the completion of the new AeroCenter. Elling Halvorson kicked off the event with a history of the Halvorson Family of Flight. Mr. Halvorson took the guests on a trip down memory lane from 1965 when Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters began operations over the Grand Canyon’s South Rim to present status with growth to five world famous brands servicing all rims of the Grand Canyon and operating from 3 cities. The entire Halvorson family was in attendance for the celebration including Elling’s wife Barbara, daughter Brenda Halvorson, son’s Lon, Rod, Randy, and Kent. The entire family played a major role in the creation of the new terminal. Elling Halvorson had the vision, Lon Halvorson made the financial arrangements, and Kent Halvorson was the general contractor with his company E. Kent Halvorson Contracting. Brenda Halvorson is the CEO and oversees operations in Boulder City, Las Vegas, and at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Many others were in attendance from employees and friends to dignitaries from the FAA, EUROcopter, the U.S. Senate, Boulder City, the Navajo Nation, Hualapai Nation, Havasupai Nation, as well as other tour companies and partners. It was quite the event with singing, blessings both in English and Hualapai, and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Once inside the new terminal guests enjoyed cocktails and a spectacularly catered meal by the Blue Martini Las Vegas. Guests were able to take tours of the new facility and others enjoyed the festivities well into the night.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and the rest of the “Family of Flight” have once again set the standard with their new Boulder City AeroCenter. On average, 1500 passengers a day will pass through the new facility and be provided with a comfortable, spacious, and beautiful environment to begin and conclude their Grand Canyon Experience.

This week marks the 90th Anniversary of the Grand Canyon receiving its National Park status back in 1919. The experience experts at Viator are featuring some great discounts on many of their most popular activities throughout the different parts of the Grand Canyon so travelers can easily add big value and excitement to any trip to Las Vegas.

“Travelers who have never been to Las Vegas before are always surprised how many opportunities there are to explore the Grand Canyon from Sin City,” said Rod Cuthbert, founder and chairman of Viator. “With really competitive deals for getting to and staying in Las Vegas out there right now, travelers can come to Viator, browse through our selection of more than 100 things to do there and book an experience that will really make their trip something to remember.”

# 1 Tour in Viator’s # 1 destination

• More than 20% off – The half-day Grand Canyon All American Helicopter Tour, boasting a Viator 4-star rating and 621 traveler reviews, includes a descent deep into the canyon with a champagne picnic 3,200 feet below the rim. This tour, which sells out frequently so travelers should book early, is $287 per person*.

Other Top Sellers on Sale

• Nearly 50% off – Travel to the Hoover Dam and explore Black Canyon during the Grand Canyon South Rim Day Trip from Las Vegas (from $90) which includes stops at the visitor center, Bright Angel Lodge, the Hopi House and Indian Art Museum.
• Nearly 50% off – See incredible IMAX footage at the National Geographic Visitor Center during the Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tour with IMAX (from $94). Relax during the journey but have a camera ready for photos of Hoover Dam, Yavapai Point, Mather Point and the Colorado River.
• 30% off – With the casinos of the strip in the rearview mirror, take off on the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam Day Trip from Las Vegas with Optional FREE Skywalk (from $149). Enjoy the newly created Skywalk; explore Eagle Point Indian Village, the Hualapai Ranch Wild West show and a Cowboy Cookout.
• 30% off – The Grand Canyon West Rim Air and Ground Day Trip from Las Vegas with Skywalk (from $220) journeys by fixed-wing airplane providing breathtaking views of Las Vegas, Boulder City, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon and includes a barbecue lunch at Guano Point, 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.
• 20 – 30% off – The Grand Canyon Helicopter and Ranch Adventure (from $289) visits the exclusive Grand Canyon West Ranch for a taste of the old Wild West including a horse-drawn wagon ride, an authentic western meal, and entertainment from real working cowboys.
• More than 20% off – The Grand Canyon West Rim Air Adventure Day Trip from Las Vegas (from $325) includes a flight to the West Rim by fixed-wing airplane, a helicopter flight beneath the rim, a cruise down the Colorado River and a barbecue lunch.
• 20% off – Enjoy panoramic views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Iceberg Canyon, the Valley of Fire and the Bowl of Fire during the Grand Canyon West Rim Helicopter Tour from Las Vegas (from $269).

Back from the Canyon

• 30% off – The Las Vegas Night Strip Helicopter Tour (from $70) begins with a glass of champagne before boarding the luxurious A-Star Jet Helicopter for a tour of the bright nighttime lights of the Las Vegas Strip.
• Viator has a vast selection of show tickets, city passes, sightseeing tours and desert adventures (with many currently on sale) to meet every travelers’ preference and budget.

Viator.com offers more than 130 experiences in and around Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, all backed by a low price guarantee and pre-screened for quality and service. Booking activities before travel through Viator, the leading online resource for researching and booking more than 5,500 activities around the world, saves valuable vacation time for exploration and excitement and guarantees travelers will get to do what they want, when they want. Visit the Viator Travel Blog for more great travel ideas and inspirations.

The Native American Indian tribe, the Hualapai, has constructed a 70-foot promenade made of glass and steel and secured it to the edge of the West Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, adding a new dimension, a Skywalk, to the beautiful wonder that nature has continued to carve for millions of years.

The West Rim of the Grand Canyon, and the Skywalk which opens to the public today, are a short journey from Las Vegas. Travelers can choose from a variety of air and land options from Viator’s vast collection of Las Vegas and Grand Canyon excursions, including those that feature the Skywalk experience, to customize their own West Rim adventure. Booking in advance through Viator provides travelers with peace of mind that their preferred option won’t be sold out when they arrive. In addition, all Viator activities are tested for quality and service by Viator’s in-house travel experts and backed with a low-price guarantee.

Travelers Take to the Skywalk with Viator
The late-nights often associated with the bright lights of the Vegas Strip are not always conducive to an early morning wake-up call. Travelers who want to start the day at their own pace can choose either the Self-drive Tour (standard vehicle) or the Self Drive Hummer Tour, to the Grand Canyon West Rim. With their own wheels, a full tank of gas and an interactive map, travelers take in Boulder City, Lake Mead, and the Hoover Dam on their way to the Canyon. The journey continues with a visit to Guano Point, Hualapai Ranch, Indian Village and Eagle Point. A horse-drawn carriage delivers travelers to the rim for the Skywalk experience of a lifetime. The Grand Canyon West tour enables travelers to relax and take in the scenery on their way to the base of Diamond Road to begin the tour along the West Rim. The wagon ride and Wild West Show can be accompanied by a visit to the Skywalk (Grand Canyon West with Skywalk upgrade) or a helicopter ride to the canyon’s base for a brief Colorado River boat ride (Grand Canyon West Explorer upgrade).

On the Road Again
The Grand Canyon Luxury SUV Tour is the perfect choice for couples or small groups. A professional guide takes travelers from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and onto rugged Joshua Tree Forest before heading to the West Rim where visitors have more than three hours to explore the canyon or choose to take a separate Skywalk experience.

A Taste of History and Adventure
Travelers hoping to mix it up can travel to the West Rim in a helicopter, travel back to the city in a fixed-wing plane, and enjoy a horseback ride or wagon ride in between during the Grand Ranch Adventure. Cowboys on the Hualapai Ranch prepare lunch for their guests before their own exploration of Eagle Point and the Skywalk begins. The Indian Country Deluxe Air and Ground Tour features a flight over Las Vegas, Boulder City, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and the West Rim of the Grand Canyon before landing at Hualapai Indian Nation Airport. A tour guide from the Hualapai Nation narrates during a five mile motor coach tour, stopping at both Eagle and Guano Point. A barbeque lunch is served in time for travelers to enjoy the Skywalk on their own.

Earth, Sky and Water
The Ultimate Grand Canyon Tour Combo features a few stops along the way to Diamond Bar Road (Indian Hwy.) before arriving at the crest of the Grand Canyon. Sandwiched between a 4,000-foot descent and ascent by helicopter, travelers enjoy a brief pontoon boat ride down the Colorado River and a deli style lunch, after which there is plenty of time for Skywalk exploration. The Grand Voyager Exclusive Helicopter Tour departs Las Vegas taking in the views before descending into the Canyon and landing alongside the Colorado River. A short pontoon boat ride is followed by the trip back to the Rim where a motor-coach departs for a tour to Eagle Point, Indian Village and Guano Point, where travelers can enjoy a Native Hualapai Indian Buffet lunch and breathtaking views enhanced by a visit to the Skywalk. The return to Las Vegas is made by helicopter.