Hunkering Down in Bad Times …
Diane Taylor -- Tradeshow Week, 9/12/2008 11:45:00 AM
What does a major convention and tourist destination do in bad times? It hunkers down, tightens its belt, gets creative and recognizes that it still must plan for better days ahead.
Such was the subject at the Sept. 9 meeting of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors.
Outside the boardroom, construction equipment occupied most of the Las Vegas Convention Center Silver parking lots as utility work began on part of the $890 million master plan enhancement program.
Inside, LVCVA President & CEO Rossi Ralenkotter noted that the current economic climate was one of the most demanding he had faced in his 35 years with the bureau.
He pointed to an “imperfect storm” of factors causing concern: rising oil prices, inflation, unemployment, weakening consumer confidence, the loss of 75,000 airline seats per week because of a 13-percent reduction in flights to McCarran Intl. Airport and a projected addition of 9,200 new hotel rooms by early next year.
In response to challenging times, Ralenkotter and colleagues Chris Meyer, vice president of convention sales, and Terry Jicinsky, senior vice president of marketing, reported on a number of efforts to position LVCVA for success.
Among the strategies were continuing the ongoing relationships with McCarran Intl. Airport and individual airlines to bring more flights to Las Vegas, the establishment of 15 focus groups whose opinions are reflected in the master plan enhancement project design, prioritizing international markets for marketing efforts, providing pre-convention call services to boost the participation of prospective attendees and exhibitors and continuing the flexibility of Las Vegas area branding campaigns to meet current conditions.
Budgets are always an issue during tough times, said Brenda Siddall, vice president of finance. A continuing decline in room tax revenues is being carefully monitored, she said, as well as expenses.
