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Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | 7:32 a.m.
Sun Archives
Las Vegas has seen 402 conventions and meetings canceled from October to mid-March, USA Today reported.
The newspaper said Las Vegas and Orlando, the nation's top destinations for business events, respectively, have been among the hardest hit as the recession reduced convention activity. Compounding the problem, some companies have canceled events in order to avoid negative publicity over perceived extravagant spending.
Citing the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, USA Today said the 402 cancellations cost the Las Vegas area's economy $166 million -- not counting lost gambling revenue.
The numbers are in line with convention attendance numbers from the LVCVA. In Las Vegas, convention attendance totaled 583,168 people in February, down 35 percent from February 2008.
Orlando has had 114 meetings scheduled for this year canceled as of late last month at a cost to the local economy of $26 million, USA Today reported, citing the Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The LVCVA said last month it is working hard to provide its hotel partners, clients and the business community with the tools and incentives to "offer balance'' to the discussion of meetings and business travel.
"We have to ensure that the value and importance of the meetings and convention industry is made clear," Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA president and CEO, said in a statement. "It is essential that we work hard to continue to promote business travel to Las Vegas."
The LVCVA said it launched a comprehensive, online toolkit to provide information and resources for clients and hotel partners to stay abreast of developments in the meetings industry. Clients can access statistics, client testimonials and other information showing the reasons events are successful in Las Vegas, the LVCVA said. Hotel partners were provided tools to promote group travel to the destination, as well as updates on developments in business and Congress on the industry. The toolkit is online at www.vegasmeansbusiness.com.
"Recently, a prominent financial firm canceled a meeting in Las Vegas and moved it to another city because of the perception that Las Vegas is a 'fun' trip or an unwarranted extravagance. We admit, Las Vegas is more fun than any other place on the planet. Guilty as charged. However, serious business is done here every day. Las Vegas has been the No. 1 destination for meetings and conventions for many years now. We have more meeting space, more convention space and more hotel rooms in a concentrated area than any other destination in the world. It's the perfect infrastructure for successful meetings,'' the LVCVA said on the Web site.
The 22,000 meetings and conventions annually in Las Vegas provide 46,000 jobs and $8.5 billion in economic activity, the LVCVA said.
Waiting for the Geek Squad to show up to chide Obama for causing a total loss of less than 2%! OMG, Obama is evil!
I mean, these firms couldn't possibly have had other financial problems in this economy, right? No way!
It's Obama's fault! (TM)
Having the Mouth in Chief publicly chastise business for meeting in Las Vegas as extravagant had no effect on the cancellations at all. Especially those that rescheduled the same trips elsewhere at higher costs.
Agree ksand99........the ignorants with keyboards (neiman1) was right on time with his usual stupid, warped thinking!!
what happens here stays here.....unemployment, crime, illegals, high school drop outs, hepatitis; thanks LVCA for the money well spent!
I just laugh and shake my head when these politicians trash talk las vegas then come out here and raise more money in 1 day then they will raise in the next 5 citys that they visit. WHAT A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES
Powerplay, i think you are also related to neiman1. Blame the current government and your comments have NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ARTICLE> Get a life and get back in bed with Neiman1. Your IQ appears to be the same.
"Recently, a prominent financial firm canceled a meeting in Las Vegas and moved it to another city because of the perception that Las Vegas is a 'fun' trip or an unwarranted extravagance"
O-bama.....reinforced this view when he talked about Las Vegas in a negative context.
O-bama who has the grand total of 7 years being a state senator has learned a valuable lesson.
Do not talk in a negative context about an American city that is full of voters.
The big ear dufus is getting on-the-job training.
Give him time....he will eventually get it right.
ever think to blame the greedy corporations that have killed the vegas atmosphere. overpriced on everything, convention goers used to be able to stay up all nite and gamble, now your lucky to get a half hours play. most of us realize we're going to lose, but we want play for our money. the little patron made vegas, but vegas has left them to the wolfs. by the way, nevada has lost over $600 million to some of these companies claiming no taxes offshore.
Neiman1, if they did in fact schedule elsewhere at a higher cost then that explains why their companies are in such financial straits doesn't it - how dumb is that - and even dumber are those who refuse to accept that what Obama said was in regard to spending BAIL-OUT money - not their own money - I would imagine that Obama and the rest of the world could care less how they spend their OWN money........ I really don't think people believe their own bs when it comes to this issue - I believe they know EXACTLY what Obama meant but would rather refuse to acknowledge knowing it so they can have yet another thing to condemn the man for.......and believe me I am not an Obama supporter - but then again I don't support either party - BOTH are loaded with nothing but CROOKS whose only agenda is protecting their own pocketbooks.
Disney must not be as fun
http://www.disneymedialab.com/email/di/2...
"the big ear dufus is getting on-the-job training".
Hey nance, Bush is no longer in office.
Negative publicity??? In Sin City??? What goes around comes around!!
Awesome post formervegas76!!
it has nothing to do with obama, you morons. and it's always the same idiots on here saying that. do you people ever leave your house?
it has MORE to do with vegas had been sticking it to the convention business for years and a convention hall in denver looks the same as a convention hall in vegas.
Tired of all you people in Vegas blaming everyone else for your problems. Grow up and accept responsibility that you did it to yourselves.
Obama The Magnificent will save us all. You can't blame me, I didn't vote for him. Nobody has been able to give me a good reason he was qualified to lead our country. Can you?
torn, are you also in bed with neiman1? You are just as clueless as he is.
Now I can add torn and jfinance 32 to my infamous moniker for neiman1 "You can teach an old dog new tricks but you can't teach a dumb dog nothing".
READ the entire article, not just what you want to see and/or hear.
"Las Vegas has seen 402 conventions and meetings canceled from OCTOBER (Obama hadn't been elected yet) to mid-March, USA Today reported.
The newspaper said Las Vegas AND Orlando, the nation's top destinations for business events, respectively, have been among the hardest hit as the recession reduced convention activity. Compounding the problem, some companies have canceled events in order to avoid negative publicity over perceived extravagant spending".