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Feb. 07, 2008
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Las Vegas leaders meet with officials in Washington

Nevadans focus on tourism, other key issues

By STEVE TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Seeking a stronger voice on federal policies that affect travel and tourism, Las Vegas convention officials are in Washington this week for meetings with congressional leaders.

Mayor Oscar Goodman headed a delegation that included representatives of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, several resorts and other members of the board of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

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    • The coalition also included Patricia Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority; Jacob Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission; and University of Nevada, Las Vegas President David Ashley, according to a roster of participants.

    Besides tourism, the Nevadans were focusing on the region's needs for additional airport and highway funding. Mulroy attended separate meetings on the region's water needs, officials said.

    "We want to make sure that folks understand that Las Vegas and our state is a diverse community with different businesses," said Veronica Meter, vice president of public affairs for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. "We want the members (of Congress) to know the challenges our businesses face back home."

    It marked the first time the convention authority sent a group before Congress, according to Rossi Ralenkotter, the authority's president.

    The travel promotion board followed in the footsteps of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, which sent members and staff to Washington in a first-time organized trip in October, and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce that was in the capital in June.

    In two days of meetings this week, the Las Vegans were scheduled to meet with lawmakers including Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., chairman of the Senate tourism subcommittee; and Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., chairman of the House public lands subcommittee.

    The officials met with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Wednesday and discussed the foreclosure crisis, the economy and Southern Nevada growth in addition to travel, a Reid aide said.

    The Las Vegas officials were advocating legislation, the "Travel Promotion Act," that would allow industry contributions and user fees on foreign visitors to pay for new promotions that lure international visitors to the United States.

    They also were calling for streamlining federal rules that allow visitors from friendly countries to travel to the United States for limited periods without visas.

    With Las Vegas continuing to expand its hotel room capacity and visitor count, "it is important for us as an industry leader as well as for our members to be part of these discussions," Ralenkotter said.

    Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or (202) 783-1760.

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    GOD wrote on February 07, 2008 03:07 PM: Hey SB.

    Drink less beer or smoke less pot while you're writing your posts.

    Travel and tourism --- dum dum --- it's called gambling and gaming. Check the profits for the casino execs and major shareholders in the lead story! Now, why do the casinos through Goodman have to pander to Washington?!


    2zero wrote on February 07, 2008 02:34 PM: Odd. The big casinos are spending billions of profit made in Vegas on big casinos all over the world....they do not need tax breaks to get high roller here they can let them go to China, England or multiple other locations. Maybe we should expect more investment from Vegas casinos in Vegas....you know like fire stations and first responders so when another fire is in the news or a hotel floor collapses we look like a real city. God forbid we have freeways and an even marginal education system for our children.


    roger wrote on February 07, 2008 12:42 PM: Let's call it what it is..las vegas = casinos and tourism. Representing the best interests of LV is representing the best interests of casinos. Unfortunately this also means going to bat for these billionaire owners. If I am understanding this correctly casinos are basically asking the federal government for assistance in getting foreign visitors back to LV. But who is going to benefit most from this ? There was an article a few weeks back that pointed out that the casinos spent $2.1B in 'complimentary services to high rollers.' Are they basically saying "we are not making enough money, can you pick up this tab for us?" Seems that way to me. So these owners are losing money, so what. It's one thing for a multimillionaire's 401 plan to lose some money, when the smoke clears they are still multimilionaires. It's another for the avergae person to lose 401 money. I dont work in the casinos, so unless someone can prove to me my home value will increase due to these efforts I personally don't see this as a good use of federal tax money.


    LittleBird wrote on February 07, 2008 11:23 AM: SB,
    Who milked your cow? Sure this has to do with casinos. Who's building these mega hotels and casinos. It sure isn't the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Clark County,or the City of Las Vegas.I don't see anything in these post, other than yours, about getting into the casino executives pockets(heaven forbid), as they are already losing billions,as per todays R-J headlines.The issues are as I stated, entry into this country and bagging tourisum for the casinos.Before you call anyone ignorant,I would suggest you do a reality check,and after that,check your own intelligece (and spelling ,too).


    SB wrote on February 07, 2008 10:23 AM: Wow..GOD and LittleBird!! You guys are so out of tune with reality it is down right funny. You two sound so ignorant and uninformed it is laughable.

    This has nothing to do with casinos and forign high rollers, nor casino executives pocketbooks...but more to do with the health and economy of sothern nevada and educating the government (& I guess people like you) on the how this economy works. They are trying to enlighten the federal government on how important the travel and tourism industry is in southern nevada as well as the many other industries and factors that make us tick and or are in crisis i.e. the housing market in this city. As you probably might not know, but the travel and tourism industry here in souther nevada is one of the top in the nation and thus we should have a voice in washington. As well given that, we should not be facing the housing foreclosure crisis as we are and more legislature should be in place to help jump start cities like ours back to health in certain instances. So in other words this delegation is tryin to help the city and state that you live in have a more significant voice and puls in washington so WE as residents thrive in our beloved city. Remeber if those casinos and convention centers and hotels weren here then there would be no las vegas and we would be here.


    GOD wrote on February 07, 2008 09:27 AM: Well said LittleBird.

    Why should the government continue to fund what the casinos should shell out for? These "tourists" are coming here for only one reason --- GAMBLING, therefore, the casinos and tourism industry need to foot the bill.


    LittleBird wrote on February 07, 2008 06:49 AM: Give me a break!! They ( this delegation of partiers from Vegas ) are asking for special favors for foreign "high rollers" to get into this country without visas,and we can't get back into the country from neiboring friendly countries without visas or passports. What's wrong with this picture? Oscar must have opened a few extra bottles of gin on the plane.You have to love good old fashion politics.Another junket at taxpayer expense.If the casinos want to get the "high rollers" in, let them do it at their expense.