LVCVA chief to retire

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 | 11:05 a.m.

Manny Cortez, president and chief executive of the agency that markets Las Vegas to the world, announced his retirement today.

Cortez, 65, who has headed the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for 13 years, presided over the organization during a period of substantial growth for Las Vegas, helping establish publicity campaigns that led the city to attract more than 35 million visitors in 2003.

"It's time to move on," Cortez said in a telephone interview this morning. "We've accomplished just about everything we've wanted to accomplish. Business is back, times are good. It's time to move on."

Cortez said he has no plans for public service, employment or consulting opportunities at this point.

Cortez considers himself a builder "so the next level here is to reinforce the brand and turn it over to a marketer" -- a clear reference to the person expected to succeed Cortez, LVCVA Executive Vice President Rossi Ralenkotter.

Cortez said a succession plan was put into place about a year and a half ago at the request of the board in the event of an emergency.

"The emergency plan was put in place in case something happened, but I would hope that they (the board) would follow that plan," Cortez said. "Rossi would be my recommendation for the job, but the chief executive officer serves at the pleasure of the board, so they could make some other decision."

Ralenkotter was promoted to his current position when the succession plan was approved after serving as the organization's senior vice president of marketing.

Ralenkotter is executive vice president for the LVCVA, and is a 30-year employee of the authority. He also has served as the authority's senior vice president of marketing.

Ralenkotter has lived in Las Vegas for more than 50 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the Arizona State University and a master's degree in Business administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Ralenkotter is a member of the Las Vegas Ad Club, which inducted him into the Las Vegas Advertising Hall of Fame for lifetime marketing achievements. He also received Lifetime Achievement honors from the American Marketing Association, and the Travel and Tourism Research Association.

Cortez notified LVCVA board chairman James Gibson, the mayor of Henderson, of his plans to retire in a letter that Cortez hand-delivered on Friday. Cortez said he notified other board members of the decision with letters sent Monday and follow-up telephone calls.

"There was mixed reaction," Cortez said of the response. "Some were taken by surprise, but most of them understood why I wanted to go. I assured them that there was a very sound team in place and they will be able to move forward seamlessly after I leave."

Gibson could not be reached for comment today on when the board expects to consider a successor.

The 13-member LVCVA board of directors, comprised of resort executives and elected officials, next meets a week from today and is expected to take the initial steps toward naming Cortez's replacement.

Cortez presided over the LVCVA in the early 1990s when Las Vegas' widespread appeal took off. He led the effort to expand the Las Vegas Convention Center and directed advertising and marketing efforts to broaden the reach of the city's appeal for visitors.

He also was in charge during the dark days following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., helping guide a plan that was sensitive to the mood of the nation while keeping the city's name before potential guests.

He also oversaw the city's most recent advertising campaign, telling visitors "what happens here, stays here," a campaign with a degree of controversy, since some local residents said it presented the wrong message about Las Vegas.

Prior to taking his executive position at the LVCVA, Cortez was a four-term Clark County commissioner who served as chairman of the LVCVA board of directors.

Cortez has been a Las Vegas resident since 1944. He began his service on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors in 1983 and was chairman from 1985 to 1990. On July 2, 1991, he became president of the LVCVA.

Travel Agent magazine named Cortez the United States Person of the Year for 1999, calling him "one of the most astute marketers in the tourism industry."

Among his community service, Cortez was elected in 1976 to the Clark County Commission and went on to serve four terms, during which time he was chairman of the commission as well as chairman of the Clark County Sanitation District and the Clark County Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board. He also was on the governing boards of the University Medical Center and the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Prior to taking office as a county commissioner, Cortez served as an administrator of the State of Nevada Taxicab Authority by appointment of the governor.

In 1999, Cortez was honored with the dedication of the Manuel J. Cortez Elementary School.

The LVCVA operates on revenue generated from room taxes and is charged with marketing the city and operating convention facilities. The organization operates the 2 million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center and the 98,000- square-foot Cashman Center in the downtown area.