Nevada Plans to Fully Re-Open for Events by June 1

April 19, 2021
Nevada Plans to Fully Re-Open for Events by June 1

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is aiming for the state’s many hospitality and events venues to allow 100% capacity by June 1. The welcome news is well-timed, as Las Vegas has an increasingly full slate of events scheduled starting this summer, many of which were predicated on allowing large crowds indoors.

 “Our state health officials are comfortable setting a goal for a full reopening to 100% capacity on June 1,” said Sisolak during an April 13 press conference. “A safe and responsible reopening is a path forward to bringing back conventions and getting Nevadans back to work.”

The governor added that the state’s mask mandate would remain in effect and urged locals to adhere to health and safety regulations even as the number of vaccinated adults surge. 

Confidence is high that Las Vegas, in particular, is poised for a rapid comeback after COVID-19 forced much of the famed Strip dark last year. Last week’s announcement further encourages event organizers, venue workers and others that the industry is poised for a comeback.

"Southern Nevada’s tourism industry took another important step forward with Governor Sisolak’s confidence Las Vegas can safely allow full occupancy at all venues starting June 1,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of LVCVA in a statement. "The wide availability and rapid administration of vaccines will allow our valued events industry to reconvene with confidence and in its entirety.”

He added, “Las Vegas will continue providing the gold standard for health, wellness and safety precautions for the benefit of its workforce, the community and our visitors.”

In June, thousands of attendees will start to descend on Las Vegas for trade shows, conferences, conventions and other events. MPI is predicting that 1,500 event professionals will attend its World Education Congress at Caesars Forum June 15-17, with another 1,500 attending remotely.

Numbers at other upcoming events will vary by industry. Even a fraction of the World of Concrete’s typical numbers would drive tens of thousands to the city. Meanwhile, UFC, the mixed martial arts company, announced a sell-out crowd of more than 20,000 spectators will be in attendance at T-Mobile Arena in July.

Ahead of the resurgence, the Las Vegas CVA provided a sneak peak of the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop, the famed new transportation solution developed by Elon Musk featuring electric Tesla vehicles. The short rides shave about 20 minutes getting from venue to venue when compared to walking. It will be operational by the time World of Concrete opens, the CVA said.

Click here for more updates about the reopening Las Vegas.

Also dependent on tourism dollars, both leisure- and business-related, is the Reno-Tahoe region. The area has already announced several high-profile sporting events, including the Northern California Volleyball Association Girls Far Western National Qualifier April 17-19 and April 23-25 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The event, including 700 teams, consisting of approximately 9,000 players and an additional 8,000 coaches and family members, is the center’s first major event since the pandemic. Soon thereafter, the region will continue its love affair with volleyball via the No Dinx/NCVA Girls Power League returning, April 30 through May 2; the No Dinx/NCVA Boys Far Western Bid Tournament being held May 7 through May 9; all in addition to the No Dinx/NCVA 18’s Sierra National Qualifier, which was held at the RSCC, April 9-11. Combined, these represent more than $10.7 million in economic impact.

Also, the monthslong United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships rolls into town April 23-July 3 at the National Bowling Stadium. Further out, USA Climbing’s Youth National Championships and its inaugural Youth Climbing Festival will occur in July.

According to Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority officials, it’s just a matter of time until meetings, convention and trade shows return to Reno, as well.

“The reopening of Nevada is crucial to our state, but also to our industry; and here in Northern Nevada it has already begun,” said Charles Harris, president and CEO of the RSCVA. “With five weeks of events for Northern California Volleyball Association and more than two months of competition for the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, more than 50,000 people will soon visit Reno Tahoe specifically for events.”

He added, “The research shows that demand is steadily increasing for domestic travel, as well as meetings, conventions, and trade shows, and we are already experiencing increased levels of interest throughout that segment.”

 

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

 

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.