Heavy-hitters to address Nevada tourism conference

Friday, Dec. 11, 1998 | 11:55 a.m.

Tourism professionals attending the Governor's Conference on Travel and Tourism at the Bellagio hotel-casino next week will mix business with pleasure.

When a record number of delegates arrives for the three-day conference beginning Sunday, they'll get assessments of the state of the gaming industry from Mirage Resorts Chief Executive Steve Wynn and American Gaming Association leader Frank Fahrenkopf.

They'll also have a send-off for departing Gov. Bob Miller and witness an unofficial transition of the state's tourism leadership from Miller and Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren to Gov.-elect Kenny Guinn and Lt. Gov.-elect Lorraine Hunt.

The conference is important to the state because it will bring in people who plan and book tours, conferences, conventions, vacations and business meetings.

More than 1,000 delegates from around the world have registered to attend the 15th annual event, which will feature seminars on marketing Nevada to a domestic and international audience as well as a first look at the state's Millennium Celebration plans.

The 15-month Millennium Celebration begins on Nevada Day 1999 and concludes on Martin Luther King Day in January 2001. Mike Mecca, general manager of Mandalay Bay, is one of the local speakers on that panel.

Also at the conference, exhibitors will show what the Silver State has to offer in a ballroom full of displays that open Monday.

Last year's conference in Reno drew 637 people and the advanced registration numbers have even surprised organizers at the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

"This year's conference at Bellagio is a huge draw that is attracting delegates from hotel and casino management, consumer and trade publications, associations, convention services and other business groups," said Tom Tait, executive director of the commission.

Gaming industry discussions will play a major role in the event. Wynn will discuss the state of Nevada's tourism industry in a keynote address on Monday and Fahrenkopf will lead off a general session on Tuesday morning. The National Gambling Impact Study will be discussed in a panel featuring Nevada commission members Terry Lanni and John Wilhelm.

Other highlights: Eugene Conti, assistant secretary for transportation policy, and Howard Roth, senior economist for the BankAmerica Corp., will address tourism's transportation and economic issues. Also, a panel on how Nevada could capitalize on the growing "adventure travel" trend is scheduled.

Tuesday night, delegates will take time out from business to applaud Miller, who has been governor of the state longer than anybody and this year traveled to Asia, South America and Europe to drum up support for international visits. Comic Pete Barbutti will play host to a star-studded tribute to Miller that will feature tributes from Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., Guinn, State Sen. Bill Raggio and Assemblyman Joe Dini.