Everyone knew it was coming, but it wasn’t official until all the numbers were tabulated. A record 41.1 million visitors came to Las Vegas in 2014, exceeding the previous record of 39.7 million in 2012 by more than a million.

City officials have set a goal of 45 million visitors this year.

Meanwhile, the gambling win dipped slightly from $11.1 billion statewide in 2013 to $11 billion in 2014, a decline of 1.1 percent. Casino revenue increased overall, however, as spending in nongaming areas was up 5 percent.

Expensive eats: There’s been an across-the-board increase in prices for Caesars Palace’s Bacchanal Buffet. Breakfast ($30.99), lunch ($37.99) and dinner ($52.99/$55.99 weekends) were all raised by $2, while the weekend brunch has been bumped $4 more to $49.99.

Five diamonds: Twist in Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter was one of six restaurants in the world to be added this year to the AAA Five Diamond Award list. Las Vegas’ other Five Diamond restaurants are Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, and Le Cirque and Picasso at Bellagio.

First pools: Fewer pools than usual have announced plans to begin operation in March. Hard Rock will open Rehab, Nirvana and Breathe pools (the latter two are for hotel guests only) on Friday. Palms Pool and Dayclub opens March 13 with the first "Ditch Friday" party of the year. Cowabunga Bay Water Park opens March 28.

QUESTION: Last week you wrote that the dimming of the lights on the Strip for Jerry Tarkanian marked the ninth such tribute. Who were honored with the other eight?

ANSWER: It’s more like who and what. In addition to the tribute for former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, the lights were dimmed after the deaths of John F. Kennedy, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, George Burns, Frank Sinatra and Ronald Reagan, as well as after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and to mark Earth Hour in 2009.

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