Steve Hill Replaces Rossi Ralenkotter as CEO of Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

August 14, 2018

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors selected Steve Hill as the next Chief Executive Officer, effective Sept. 1.

Hill will be the ninth leader of the LVCVA, succeeding the retiring CEO, Rossi Ralenkotter.

“I am honored the Board of Directors selected me as CEO of the LVCVA,” Hill said. “The Authority is an integral part of the Southern Nevada economy.”

He added, “I look forward to working with our tremendous team and our mission partners to innovate, improve access to and around the destination and drive growth to keep Las Vegas the number one choice for business and leisure travelers alike.”

A Las Vegas resident for more than 30 years, Hill founded Silver State Materials in 1987 and supplied concrete and aggregates for many projects in the community.

After selling Silver State, Hill was appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to serve as the first Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) in 2011, where he guided the development of “Moving Nevada Forward’” the plan for diversifying Nevada’s economy.

During his tenure, Hill helped create numerous programs, including Workforce Innovations for the New Nevada, the Battle Born Venture Fund, and the Knowledge Fund, which will leave a lasting impression on higher education, workforce development, and business incubation.

“As an entrepreneur, Steve Hill helped build many resorts on the Strip and as the inaugural leader of my Office of Economic Development he helped make Nevada an attractive place to build businesses, bringing some of the world’s most innovative companies to the Silver State,” said Gov. Brian Sandoval.

He added, “I know Steve will be equally successful at the LVCVA; he is the right person, at the right time to lead the organization.”

His work with GOED played an integral role in bringing business such as Tesla, Apple, Solar City, Barclaycard, Amazon, and Hyperloop One to Nevada.

Gov. Sandoval went on to appoint Hill as the Chairman of the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee (SNTIC), which was charged with reviewing and recommending major economic development projects to the Governor and Legislature for approval.

The SNTIC reviewed several proposals and recommended approval for both the Las Vegas Convention Center District expansion and renovation project as well as the Raiders Stadium.

Hill also was chosen as the Chair of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority which provides oversight of the construction and operation of the stadium.

He also is a member of the Southern Nevada Sporting Event Committee which will recommend a process in which to attract major new events to the destination

“Steve understands this market, literally from the ground up, and brings operational prowess that will ensure our $1.4 billion expansion will be transformational in the meetings and convention business,” Lawrence Weekly said.

He added, “We know he will continue to transform the LVCVA to ensure we remain the top convention center and destination marketing organization.”

Hill takes over the LVCVA at an exciting time for the organization as it is about to get under way on the largest infrastructure project in its history, the expansion and renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The project will add 1.4 million square feet of new space, with at least 600,000 square feet of usable exhibit space. The project will allow the destination to attract more business and allow existing clients to continue to grow their conventions.

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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.