 LAS VEGAS—The New Year began with what has become a traditional high-tech flair for Las Vegas, when the destination hosted the annual International Consumer Electronics Show, a high-profile event that attracts an estimated 110,000 attendees. But that convention was only the start of a busy quarter for Las Vegas, an upward economic trend that augurs well for the meetings industry nationwide.
In the first quarter of 2010, Las Vegas will host 11 major conventions, resulting in an estimated economic boost of more than $620 million. “December featured numerous special events and America’s Party on New Year’s Eve, and we are excited to carry that momentum into 2010 with some of the world’s largest trade shows,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Other convention shows on the Vegas agenda include: the Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show (45,000 delegates), the National Association of Homebuilders (55,000 delegates), World Market Center Las Vegas Market (50,000 delegates), World of Concrete (65,000 delegates), and MAGIC International (70,000 delegates).
Las Vegas, one of the leading trade show destinations in the world, features more than 148,000 guest rooms and 10 million square feet of meeting and convention space. Conventions and tradeshow attendees represent approximately 15 percent of the overall visitation to Las Vegas. The industry segment employs approximately 45,000 people and generates as much as $8.5 billion for the Southern Nevada economy.
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