Sands, LVCVA announce show contracts

Monday, Feb. 28, 2000 | 10:45 a.m.

The Sands Expo & Convention Center and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority signed long-term agreements with organizations to bring thousands of conventioneers to the city for several years.

Many of the shows are midweek events and some are coming to Las Vegas for the first time.

The Sands Expo Center, operated by Las Vegas Sands Inc., owner of the Venetian hotel-casino, booked five shows that will bring more than 156,000 visitors to the city.

The 1.2 million-square-foot Sands signed agreements with SAP America, Wireless 2001, Safari Club International and the Communications Solutions Expo for shows in 2000 and 2001 and the Video Software Dealers Association through 2005.

SAP (Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing) and Wireless 2001 are high-tech shows making their Las Vegas debuts. SAP will bring 15,000 to the city in June and Wireless 2001 will arrive with 30,000 people in March 2001.

The Safari Club will return to Las Vegas for its 29th annual show in January after conducting a show for 11,000 people in Reno last month.

The Video Software Dealers Association is returning to Las Vegas after stints in Dallas and Los Angeles. About 15,000 attend the annual event highlighted by appearances by Hollywood stars.

Meanwhile, the LVCVA signed a long-term agreement with the operators of the World of Concrete trade show. Under the agreement, Las Vegas will host the show on odd years through 2025. The show will be staged in Orlando, Fla., in even years.

About 62,000 attended the World of Concrete show here in 1999.