Attend the Nevada Tourism Summit!

NEVADA TOURISM PROFESSIONALS SHOW THEIR SUPPORT! On March 19, a joint Assembly and Senate subcommittee conducted the first major public hearing on the Governor’s proposals to essentially dismantle NCOT. Tourism professionals showed their strength in numbers!
To download schedules from the March 19th hearing, please go to:
Assembly Agenda
and,
Senate Agenda

Tourism officials from across the state converged on the state’s capital on March 18 for the first Nevada Tourism Summit.
To read more, go to:
Nevada Tourism Summit Press Release.

China is a huge tourism target market, and the Nevada Commission on Tourism has actively pursued these visitors.
To read more, go to:
Chinese Leisure Tour Group to Silver State.

Tourism is one of Nevada's greatest source of revenue. Other states have attempted to cut their funds to support tourism, and in each case it has yielded negative results.
For examples, go to:
Colorado: The Denver Post.

Exactly how much does tourism help our economy? We hear a lot of estimates, but what is the actual return on investment? How much have other states lost when they've made the wrong decision?
If you want to see the unbiased statistics, check out:
Public tourism promotion ROI.
Cutting the promotional budget is tempting. Is it worth it?

Just how important is tourism to the state of Nevada? Just check out the numbers at the link below:
To see the financial benefits of tourism, download this .pdf file:
2008 Financial Benefits

Thank you to everyone who attended the
Nevada Tourism Summit!

Many guest speakers, tourism professionals, and concerned Nevada residents attended the first Nevada Tourism Summit. We had a great turnout and the speakers presented excellent facts on the importance of Nevada's tourism efforts. Thank you to everyone who participated in this highly successful gathering of tourism professionals, and to the Gold Dust West Hotel/Casino who hosted the event. You can view photos of the event on

For a YouTube broadcast of keynote speaker Bill Siegel's presentation, go to:

SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS:
A copy of each speaker's presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the these links:
Ryan Sheltra
Candy Duncan
Dean Runyan
Dennis M. Castleman
Bill Siegel

A copy of past Governor Richard H. Bryan can be downloaded by clicking on the link below:
Richard H. Bryan Letter

A copy of Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association (NH&LA) letter of supportcan be downloaded by clicking on the link below:
NHLA Letter of Support

A copy of Van Heffner's testimony Before the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Finance Joint Subcommittee on General Government and Accountability on March 19, 2009.
Van Heffner's Letter

Nevada Tourism Summit Photo

SPEAKERS AT THE SUMMIT INCLUDED:

Lorraine T. Hunt-Bono:
Panaca photo2 A Las Vegas and Nevada hospitality industry executive for 30 years, Lorraine was the first woman to chair the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors. She served two terms as Nevada’s Lieutenant Governor and led the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s successful effort to secure an exclusive license to market Nevada in the People’s Republic of China. Lorraine was first appointed to the Commission on Tourism by then Governor Richard Bryan in 1983. She has been a strong advocate of rural and state tourism. For her leadership, Lorraine was the recipient of the first Lifetime Achievement Award at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in 1993. In 2007, she was reappointed to NCOT by Governor Jim Gibbons where she currently serves as commissioner representing the private sector.

Bill Siegel:
Panaca photo2 Bill is Chairman and CEO of Longwoods International, a market research consultancy that is highly respected within the tourism industry. He is the author of the well-known Longwoods study of the Colorado Tourism industry; his luncheon address is entitled “What Happens When You Stop Marketing? The Rise and Fall of Colorado Tourism.” He wants to provide us with important information, hoping that Nevada does not travel down the same path as Colorado did, slashing its marketing budget and losing market share for many years as a result. Since founding Longwoods in 1978, Bill Siegel has built an international organization that has assisted clients in six countries and 37 states. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. His work has been cited in broadcast and print media around the world, including The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, and The Times of London.

THE SCHEDULE WAS AS FOLLOWS:

9:00 to 10:00   |   Registration, coffee and networking

10:00 to 10:15   |   Summit welcome and opening remarks
                                 Ryan Sheltra, General Manager, Bonanza Casino, Reno, Nevada
                                 Why We’re Here – to Save Nevada Tourism!
                                 Marketing and promotion is an investment in generating State and Local Revenue

10:15 to 10:30   |   Overview of proposed budget impacts and legislation impacting the
                                              Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT)
                                 Candy Duncan, Executive Director, Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau

                                 Note: Legislative hearing scheduled for March 19th before the Joint Assembly and
                                 Senate Subcommittee on General Government and Accountability
                                 8:00 am, Room 2134, Legislative Building, Carson City

10:45 to 11:00 | Significance of travel industry to Nevada economy
Presented by Dean Runyan, President, Dean Runyan Associates

11:00 to 11:15 | NCOT budget implications and impacts on rural Nevada
Bob Perchetti, former NCOT Commissioner Representing Rural Nevada

11:15 to 11:35   |   How the United States Travel Association partners with State and Local
                                              destinations to increase travel to and within the U.S.
                                 Dennis M. Castleman, Vice President, Industry Relations, U.S. Travel Association
                                             (USTA)

11:35 to 11:50 | The Honorable Lorraine T. Hunt-Bono
Former Nevada Lt. Governor and Current NCOT Commissioner

11:50 to 12:00 | Presentation on resolution in support of Nevada Tourism
Van V. Heffner, President & CEO, Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association

12:00 to 1:30   |   Luncheon Keynote – What Happens When You Stop Marketing?
                                              The Rise and Fall of Colorado Tourism
                                 Bill Siegel, President & CEO, Longwoods International

1:30 to 2:00   |   Review of Legislation Action Strategies