(Images of Cowboy Christmas at the Las Vegas Convention Center)
Las Vegas Convention Center board reviews Grand Prix impacts, $600M renovations, and global travel efforts to boost conventions
By Ray Smith, Exhibit City News
When it comes to earning a living as a limousine driver in Las Vegas, the National Finals Rodeo runs laps around the Las Vegas Grand Prix, according to a speaker at December’s LVCVA board meeting.
“Frankly, we make bank at NFR,” the limo driver for Bell Transportation boasts during his three-minute public comment allowance. Conversely, he took a $2,000 loss of income at last year’s F1 race.
And he’s not alone. Thousands of taxi, shuttle, Uber and Lyft drivers suffer from the disruption caused by the Grand Prix around the Strip, which is worse than any other event in the year, including New Year’s Eve, the driver says.
While tourism officials gushed over the second-year success of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, praising social media influencers contracted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for generating 1.2 billion impressions, comments from the public were far less congratulatory.
Cyrus Hojjaty, an urban planner, referred to struggles of small businesses such as Ferraro’s restaurant and traffic tie-ups resulting from construction of the 3.8-mile road course. His suggestion: Widen the Flamingo Road bridge over Koval Lane from two lanes to four. “It’s been pretty rough for drivers,” he tells the board.
Kate Wik, LVCVA’s chief marketing officer, labels the Grand Prix as one of the “marquis events” that can be used as a marketing platform to drive visitors to Las Vegas throughout the year. She says the Sphere became “sort of the poster child” for the race with dazzling LED displays shown on television.
Wik played a short video highlighting some of the 100-plus race-related events and activities, including free music and DJ concerts at Las Vegas Grand Prix Fan Experience. “Our heads are down on how to optimize and build on this year for future events,” she says.
UTILITY SERVICE AGREEMENT
The board delegated authority to CEO Steve Hill to execute revenue agreements with the Las Vegas Convention Center utility service providers. Annual revenue is estimated at $10 million.
Hill explained that LVCVA receives 17 percent of installation and dismantling costs for providing services such as environmental, lighting and security for show organizers.
LVCVA allows licensed contractors to perform electrical services, plumbing services, and compressed air services for conventions and tradeshows that take place at the convention center. Show customers and exhibitors contract directly with contractors for the work.
Contractors who currently perform work at LVCC include Convention Technical Services; Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services; Freeman Expositions; and Global Experience Specialists.
CONVENTION CENTER FURNITURE
The board approved an agreement with Create Spaces for $1.7 million to provide furniture for the LVCC North and Central Hall concourse and for the Central Hall third-floor administrative office.
The new furniture is part of the $600 million LVCC renovation project previously approved by the board. Miller and Ham Project Development solicited Create Spaces for the furnishings. LVCVA staff established mutual use agreements with cooperative purchasing organizations, NASPO ValuePoint and OMNIA Partners, as authorized by the Local Government Purchasing Act, to obtain lower prices from certain suppliers to reduce procurement costs.
UNITED AIRLINES TICKETS
The board ratified past expenditures in excess of the CEO’s signature authority in the about of $35,265 and approved future expenditures of $300,000 to United Airlines for staff’s airplane tickets.
The convention authority’s sales, marketing and special events staff travel both domestically and internationally to industry tradeshows, conferences and other events to achieve the agency’s business objectives. These events enhance brand visibility, generate sales leads, and build relationships with key partners and customers.
REED EXHIBITION PAYMENT
The board approved payment of $18,093 to Reed Exhibitions. Over the course of the contract ending in November, LVCVA staff attended the World Travel Market (WTM), which brings together the international leisure travel community during its world tradeshow, and IBTM, a leading global event for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) industry.
