Shopkeepers in Amalfi and Capri complain about day-trippers much like the folks who lament the invasion cruisers to their shores. They, too, arrive en masse on ferries or buses, spend minimally and clog the streets monumentally, especially at photogenic sites on influencers’ lists.

For many influencers who make content as a career, chasing down followers and sponsorships takes precedent over painting a nuanced picture of a destination. They need to keep up appearances – and promote their brand – even at the expense of a destination’s quality of life.

In southern Italy, TikTok vs. reality pits a cliffside paradise against endless climbs, bus lines and traffic jams.

It’s illegal to smoke or consume cannabis products in Nevada casinos, but marijuana use on the Resort Corridor is still prevalent. From the storefronts on Fremont Street advertising various types of flower to the tourists crammed into alleyways or in parking garages adjoining Strip resorts enjoying a smoke, many people aren’t aware that cannabis has been outlawed from gaming establishment properties.

Shadi Sabra, who has worked at his parents’ party store in south Las Vegas for five years, said the store starts focusing on Halloween after July Fourth. Tiffany Ellinger owns a store in southwest Las Vegas called the Halloween Emporium and Haunted Tea Room, which has the phrase “spooky all year” written across its front door. Ellinger said she regards July 5 as the start of Halloween season.

It was a typical bros’ trip to Vegas. Right? A group of friends calling themselves The Hockey Guys posted a 48-second clip on TikTok that chronicled them flying to town, attending a Golden Knights game, toasting drinks, driving dune buggies, riding zip lines and taking a helicopter ride.

Marla Royne Stafford — a UNLV Lee Business School professor, researcher, and advertising and marketing expert — is available for interviews on Olympians' potential as social marketing stars. Dr. Stafford led a study which dissected 27,000 tweets of Summer Olympians to explore how medal status impacts their clout and authenticity in engagement, and ultimately their potential as social media influencers.

During this year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas, fans were stunned to see hotel rates skyrocket, with budget properties charging ultra-luxury prices. The following month, I received my own surprise: A night at some of the same lodgings on the Strip cost less than a stadium beer and pretzel.