Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Encyclopedia
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is a public/private partnership that owns and operates the Las Vegas Convention Center
, Cashman Center
, and Cashman Field
and is responsible for the advertising campaign
s for the Clark County, Nevada
area.
The fourteen member board is appointed by various elected governing bodies in the County. Funding is provided by a room tax on all hotels in the county and through building revenue from the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. The Authority is responsible for "attracting visitors by promoting Las Vegas
as the world's most desirable destination for leisure and business travel."
The organization recently won the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award sponsored by the American Psychological Association
.
.
The authority is also responsible for the advertising campaigns for Las Vegas. Working with the same advertising company R&R Partners
since 1982 they have developed ad campaigns like:
According to internal LVCVA documents the advertising campaign "What happens here, stays here" has had little impact as most people, about 70% stated to R&R (the advertising firm who created the ad and conducted the market research) that the slogan had no impact on their decision to visit Las Vegas. A recent study by Applied Analysis shows that the advertising efforts of the LVCVA return $26 for every $1 spent.
. With Vegas known as the place built on big ideas, the LVCVA created VegasMeansBusiness.com to increase awareness around Las Vegas as the premiere location to foster innovation, new ideas and creativity.
The LVCVA posts research publications about Las Vegas visitors at
uncovered fiscal mismanagement with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a public agency in Las Vegas which is funded by visitor-paid room tax dollars. According to NPRI's investigation the LVCVA entered into a 10 year no-bid contract with R&R, a marketing firm, where R&R overcharged the LVCVA and despite the LVCVA uncovering the over-billing management refused to seek repayment. The LVCVA also allowed R&R to approve its own expenses, and failed to question or oversee most of the expenses being billed to them. The contract with R&R is worth $87 million, including a $40 million advertising contract, which includes a commission for R&R, where the LVCVA cannot identify R&R's expenses. Public records show that Rossi Ralenkotter approved approximately $30,000 in spending that included multiple dinners with bottles of wine, veal, fillets, chocolate mousse dessert and a $25,000 donation to the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, a Denver-based hospital which was giving Mr. Ralenkotter an award that year. The documents also show that Mr. Ralenkotter used taxdollars to pay for limousine services and a tuxedo.
According to NPRI, the LVCVA is funded by the room tax ($220 million in revenue), taking in more money than the Clark County School District, and is also a state agency subject to state laws regarding employees, benefits, and travel expenses. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority the problems uncovered by NPRI's reports were already documented by an internal auditor and the problems have been addressed by management.
Las Vegas Convention Center
The Las Vegas Convention Center is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in Las Vegas, Nevada....
, Cashman Center
Cashman Center
The Cashman Center or the Cashman Field Center is a complex on a site in Las Vegas, Nevada. Operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority it includes Cashman Field and a convention center...
, and Cashman Field
Cashman Field
Cashman Field is a stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Its primary use is for baseball, and is the home field of the Las Vegas 51s Triple-A minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Cashman Field opened in 1983...
and is responsible for the advertising campaign
Advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
s for the Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
area.
The fourteen member board is appointed by various elected governing bodies in the County. Funding is provided by a room tax on all hotels in the county and through building revenue from the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. The Authority is responsible for "attracting visitors by promoting Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
as the world's most desirable destination for leisure and business travel."
The organization recently won the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award sponsored by the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
.
Branding
One of the primary tasks for the LVCVA is the promotion of the Las Vegas brand. Since 2007, the Las Vegas brand is the second most recognized brand in the US following GoogleGoogle
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
.
The authority is also responsible for the advertising campaigns for Las Vegas. Working with the same advertising company R&R Partners
R&R Partners
R&R Partners is an advertising, marketing, public relations, and public affairs firm with offices in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno, Salt Lake City, and Washington D.C.....
since 1982 they have developed ad campaigns like:
- Only in Vegas
- What happens here, stays here
What Happens here, stays here
After the $1 sale of the "What Happens here, stays here" copyright to R&R Partners on November 9, 2004, the LVCVA paid $321,000 in attorney's fees because of an investigation into the legality of the controversial sale. The sale was later overturned by a federal judge who claimed that the sale was made without the knowledge of the board.According to internal LVCVA documents the advertising campaign "What happens here, stays here" has had little impact as most people, about 70% stated to R&R (the advertising firm who created the ad and conducted the market research) that the slogan had no impact on their decision to visit Las Vegas. A recent study by Applied Analysis shows that the advertising efforts of the LVCVA return $26 for every $1 spent.
VegasMeansBusiness.com
In March 2009, the LVCVA launched VegasMeansBusiness.com, a resource for the business community to keep up-to-date on the latest news and events in Las Vegas and the Meetings & Conventions industry. The website also promotes Las Vegas' attributes as a leading destination for meetings and conventions, including the 140,000 rooms and nearly 10000000 square feet (929,030.4 m²) of meeting space available and close proximity to McCarran International AirportMcCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
. With Vegas known as the place built on big ideas, the LVCVA created VegasMeansBusiness.com to increase awareness around Las Vegas as the premiere location to foster innovation, new ideas and creativity.
Activities
The authority works to bring events to the Las Vegas area, sometimes by providing funds to subsidize events. These events include:- The National Finals Rodeo
- Professional Bull Riders World Finals
- The 2009 NASCAR Champions Week
- The 2009 NHL Awards Ceremony
- The 2007 NBA All-Star Game2007 NBA All-Star GameThe 2007 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It was the 56th annual All-Star Game. It was the first time the All-Star Game was played in a city without an NBA franchise and...
- The 2006 Tennis Channel Open2006 Tennis Channel OpenThe 2006 Tennis Channel Open was an Association of Tennis Professionals tennis tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States. The tournament was held from February 27 to March 6.-Men's Singles:...
Tennis Tournament
Visitor Profile Study
Since the mid-1970s, the LVCVA has published a Visitor Profile Study, based on thousands of personal interviews with visitors. The latest study (covering the year to 31 Dec 2007)shows that:- Las Vegas hosted a record-breaking 39.2 million visitors in 2007.
- The overall average age of a Las Vegas visitor is 49 years old.
- International travelers represent approximately 13% of Las Vegas visitors.
- The average gaming budget per trip, per person, was $556
The LVCVA posts research publications about Las Vegas visitors at
Members
The authority is governed by a 14 member board. Of those 8 are required to be elected officials and the other 6 are appointed by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and Nevada Resort Association.- Chairman, Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
Mayor - Vice Chairman, Keith Smith, Boyd GamingBoyd GamingBoyd Gaming Corporation is a Paradise, Nevada based business engaged in the development, ownership and operation of hotels and casinos throughout the United States...
President/CEO - Secretary/Treasurer, Tom Collins, Clark County Commissioner
- Lawrence Weekly, Clark County Commissioner
- Gary Reese, Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
Mayor Pro Tem - Susan Holecheck, Mesquite, NevadaMesquite, NevadaMesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and northeast of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,277. The city is located in the Virgin River Valley...
Mayor - Steven D. Kirk, Henderson, NevadaHenderson, Nevada-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
City Councilman - William Robinson, North Las Vegas, NevadaNorth Las Vegas, NevadaNorth Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The city was incorporated on May 16, 1946.-Geography:...
Mayor Pro Tem - Cam Walker, Boulder City, NevadaBoulder City, NevadaBoulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....
City Councilman - Kara Kelley, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce President
- Chuck Bowling, MGM MirageMGM MirageNot to be confused with the Las Vegas, Nevada based casino/resort operator Resorts International Holdings.MGM Resorts International is a Paradise, Nevada based corporation that brands itself as a global hospitality company. It is the second largest gaming company in the world by revenue - about...
Executive - Tom Jenkin, Harrah's EntertainmentHarrah's EntertainmentCaesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
Executive - Andrew Pascal, Wynn ResortsWynn ResortsWynn Resorts Limited is a publicly traded corporation based in Paradise, Nevada that is a developer and operator of high end hotels and casinos. It was formed on October 25, 2002 by former Mirage Resorts Chairman and CEO Stephen A...
Executive - Scott Neilson, Station CasinosStation CasinosStation Casinos Inc. is a gaming company based in the Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin, Nevada, founded by Frank Fertitta Jr.Station Casinos along with Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, and Herbst Gaming, dominate the Locals market in Las Vegas.The...
Executive
Controversy
The Nevada Policy Research InstituteNevada Policy Research Institute
The Nevada Policy Research Institute is a private non-profit, free-market and limited-government policy research organization based in Las Vegas, Nevada...
uncovered fiscal mismanagement with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a public agency in Las Vegas which is funded by visitor-paid room tax dollars. According to NPRI's investigation the LVCVA entered into a 10 year no-bid contract with R&R, a marketing firm, where R&R overcharged the LVCVA and despite the LVCVA uncovering the over-billing management refused to seek repayment. The LVCVA also allowed R&R to approve its own expenses, and failed to question or oversee most of the expenses being billed to them. The contract with R&R is worth $87 million, including a $40 million advertising contract, which includes a commission for R&R, where the LVCVA cannot identify R&R's expenses. Public records show that Rossi Ralenkotter approved approximately $30,000 in spending that included multiple dinners with bottles of wine, veal, fillets, chocolate mousse dessert and a $25,000 donation to the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, a Denver-based hospital which was giving Mr. Ralenkotter an award that year. The documents also show that Mr. Ralenkotter used taxdollars to pay for limousine services and a tuxedo.
According to NPRI, the LVCVA is funded by the room tax ($220 million in revenue), taking in more money than the Clark County School District, and is also a state agency subject to state laws regarding employees, benefits, and travel expenses. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority the problems uncovered by NPRI's reports were already documented by an internal auditor and the problems have been addressed by management.