Meetings and travel are vital to the economy. That’s the upshot of a new message from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Given the current economic conditions, it’s no surprise businesses are looking to cut costs. And that will directly impact cities like Vegas that heavily rely on the business travel dollar.
“We are extremely concerned about the unintended consequences of restricting corporate meetings, events and incentive travel programs. Business-related travel creates 2.4 million jobs, $244 billion in spending and $39 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state and local level,” Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a news release.
Each year, Sin City hosts 22,000 conventions, which brings in 6 million visitors and an $8.5 billion economic impact for the city. On top of that, the tourism industry also supports tens of thousands of employees in Vegas.
“The meeting industry is one of the most vital parts of travel and tourism in Las Vegas, and the destination has committed innumerable resources to ensuring the success of these events,” Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “The perception that Las Vegas is merely a gaming and leisure destination is antiquated and uneducated. The meeting facilities in Las Vegas are among the best in the world, and the resorts represent major international companies, many of whom are publicly traded on Wall Street.”