Spend any length of time with me, and one of the things you'll quickly learn is that my second home is Las Vegas. I love it there. My husband and I visit at least once a year - in fact, not long after this issue of EBN hits your inbox, I'll be heading to the airport for our annual sojourn.

Although I know the city's bones well, one of the great things about Vegas is that there's always something new going on every time you visit. So, in preparation for this year's trip, I've spent a lot of time on tourism sites, checking out the latest developments in my beloved Sin City. I easily find information on new construction projects, shows, attractions, restaurants - all within a few minutes.

If only most corporate sites were as fun and attractive, or at least as easy to navigate. That's why I want to draw your attention to Associate Editor Lydell C. Bridgeford's report this month on how to spruce up your internal Web site ("No more FAQs, and other digital makeover tips for HR Web sites," page 18).

Bridgeford spoke with Joseph Rotella, chief technical officer at Delphia Consulting, LLC, an Ohio-based company that specializes in HR technology.

Rotella explains that the fundamental purpose of a tourism Web site is to attract and keep people coming back to a certain city or attraction. Employers can learn a thing or two from such sites because - ding, ding, ding! - they're trying to do the same thing: attract and retain talent to their organization.

"People have distinct questions when traveling to a city for vacation. For instance: What does the city [have] to offer in terms of good restaurants, nightlife and other entertainment? You will see that good online tourism sites address those issues through their Web sites," Rotella tells EBN.

"If you look at tourism Web sites promoting the state of Maine, you will see beautiful pictures of its coastline, lighthouses and lobsters. Likewise, look at tourism sites on Las Vegas and you are going to see exciting photographs and graphics of the Vegas strip, live performance concerts, casinos and other entertaining events." In other words, stay away from the stock photo images of fashionista professionals that don't actually work at your company. Your employees are smart and talented (that's why you chose them, right?). Showcase their talents and let potential recruits know what they have to gain by joining your ranks.

Further, Rotella says of tourism sites: "You could see that they have spent a great deal of time making sure they have data that people really want to know about." he says.

So true. So what do your employees and prospective employees want to know about? Have you asked?

Obviously, the info that your current employees want and need - info about upcoming open enrollment, how to request vacation time or change their address when they move - is going to differ from what you offer potential workers.

But, Rotella argues, the fundamental concept is the same: Give the people what they want, present the information in an attractive manner and make it easy to find/navigate. It should be as easy for your employees to buy Cirque show tickets in Vegas as it is for them to request the time off to get there. For prospective employees, gaining information about Bermuda or your company's benefits package should be equally simple.

Does your company have a tourismesque Web site? Send me the url; I'd love to take a look around - as soon as I get back from Vegas.

Send letters, queries and story ideas to Editor in Chief Kelley M. Butler at kelley.butler@sourcemedia.com.