Editorial: First big convention for city in new year

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002 | 8:39 a.m.

Las Vegas' first major convention of 2002, the International Consumer Electronic Convention, kicked off this week. Due to the lingering economic uncertainties after Sept. 11, the convention won't rival last year's show that brought 126,000 people to Las Vegas. Only about 100,000 people are expected to attend the CES convention this week, a turnout that many tourism industry leaders here would view as an off-week, but it shouldn't be forgotten that other cities would love to have this kind of business.

This week's convention also marks the debut of the $150 million, 1.2 million-square-foot expansion of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's Convention Center, an expansion that CES strongly supported. Right now it might seem strange to talk about the benefits of a convention center expansion when attendance is down at the big shows. But the competition among cities to lure conventions will continue to be intense, likely more so during an economic downturn when everyone is scrapping to give their economies a boost. That expansion very well could give Las Vegas the final advantage in bringing conventions here, which are a key part of the valley's economic success.