Mr. Mayor: Sin City’s Cheerleader

Oscar Goodman, halfway through his third, four-year term as mayor of Las Vegas, has been around for some of his city’s best years – and now some of its worst.

Though the Strip and the principle tradeshow venues do not actually lie within Las Vegas city limits, as chairman of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, he certainly considers it part of his territory.

To call Goodman colorful does not do him justice; he brings a lively sense of humor to every meeting of the LVCVA board that he chairs. On the serious side, Goodman is a fierce advocate for rebuilding downtown Las Vegas and even more fierce about protecting his city’s lucrative meeting and tradeshow business. He recently went toe to toe with President Obama, who he thought made unfair remarks about Las Vegas.

Tradeshow Week Contributing Editor Diane Taylor recently spoke to Goodman about his go-round with the president and his love for all things Las Vegas.

Question: The Strip doesn’t lie within the Las Vegas city limits. It’s actually in Paradise Township, so why do you care what goes on there or at, for instance, the Las Vegas Convention Center?

Answer: I’m not the mayor of Paradise Township, but I pretend I am. However, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, which I chair, does cover all of the interests in, and near, Las Vegas.

Q: You recently were in the news defending your city against President Obama’s comments regarding Las Vegas. What’s happened since?

A: The president is an excellent speaker when he uses the monitors, but, when he was off the monitor, he made a very unfortunate reference to Las Vegas. I’ve asked him in a letter to rectify his comments, but I haven’t heard back. His press secretary, in a briefing, gave a rather moderate response that the president has nothing against Las Vegas, but that didn’t do it.

I’m the mayor, in my opinion, of the greatest city in the world, I’m very protective of my city and I don’t care if it’s the president who tries to demean us or anybody else. I’m going to stick up for my city.

The president is coming here at the end of this month. I’m hoping somebody places me close to him so I can get him to do the right thing and tell people that he recognizes Las Vegas as a great spot for serious meetings.

Q: You were part of a group that recently went to Washington, D.C., to boost support for business meetings in Las Vegas. How did that go?

A: Our purpose as a group ... was to meet with others in the travel industry and to clear the air in terms of reminding our political leaders that travel is very important to the American economy, ... part of the fabric of the way we do business.

You can even have meaningful conventions in a spot where, after your hard work is done, you can enjoy yourself. I think we were able to get our message out, but there’s still more to do.

Q: How important is the LVCVA to Las Vegas?

A: It is critical. I have people every day suggesting slogans and mottos and ad campaigns, and the bottom line is that these suggestions are promoted by (the) LVCVA. It’s a unique organization ... not too many like that are public-private partnerships where competitors sit at the same dais and work for the best interest of the community as a whole, instead of tooting their own horns. The message we send out applies to all of us here – it’s the opposite of the Tower of Babel.

If everyone was on their own, it wouldn’t be one strong, effective message. A message that Vegas is the best bargain in the world, (and) you owe yourself the opportunity to come out and take a break. All those kinds of thing are common ground for us, (and) without that advertising campaign, we’d be at a loss and not be the No. 1 destination that we are.

Q: Do you personally get involved in promoting conventions and tradeshows?

A: (Yes), I had a meeting with a State Farm executive after they postponed their convention here – (LVCVA President and CEO) Rossi Ralenkotter and I. ... (We) got him to commit that they will be coming to Las Vegas, and they will be having their convention here. ... I’m a troubleshooter.

Q: Do you make appearances at conventions?

A: Yes, I welcome everybody. (I recently) welcomed a group of librarians who (were) coming to town. They were from all over the country – librarians for independent schools. ... I greet whatever group asked me to greet them. Four or five times a week I do that.

Q: Any message for the tradeshow community?

A: I will embrace all of the folks who come to Las Vegas to enjoy the amenities that we offer. One of the coolest places to come to is ... my office, which is like a little museum in itself with all sorts of memorabilia. If they want to come up and see the coolest office and coolest mayor right here, they’re all welcome. Bring gifts!