LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – Congresses and trade shows like Tobacco Plus Expo are extremely important to the Las Vegas Valley economy. When COVID-19 canceled them all for a full year, it had a devastating effect.
The LVCVA says meetings and conventions have an economic impact of more than $ 11 billion in Las Vegas during a normal year.
But now that these companies are returning, the industry is excited to do what it does best … have a great get-together!
Financial analyst Steve Budin says these meetings and conventions attract big funders, which is big business for Las Vegas.
“Trade shows and conventions are hugely important to Las Vegas. In general, the person attending these trade shows and conventions has a higher average income and tends to spend a lot more money visiting Vegas than the leisure traveler. These are the people that will fill the chic restaurants, theaters and high-end shops, “said Budin.
13 Action News interviewed Marco Villarreal last summer. At the time, he was producing, selling, and delivering snow to locals in to-go kits known as “snow pals”. Before the pandemic, however, he was known as the “Las Vegas Iceman,” who was known for creating elaborate ice sculptures for conventions on the Las Vegas Strip.
With the upcoming return of trade fairs and congresses, Marco now believes that his original business will recover.
“Now that things are opening up, we’re seeing more upsurge in weddings and birthday parties, future conventions. So we have older customers and new customers who say they’ll come in August, they’ll come in October. Pretty hard, actually,” said Villarreal.
Now, Villarreal is one of those Las Vegas business owners counting on conventions and trade shows hoping the industry will come back quickly and even better than before.
“It’s not when, it’s when. If it happens in the summer it’s great. The sooner the better, sure. Or will it stay calm until October when we’re usually busy? And then everyone is like, ‘Me I needed it yesterday! ‘and then we’re back in 2019, “said Villarreal.
After the Tobacco Plus Expo, there is only one conference on the calendar in May. But then there’s a big drag in business, with at least eight conventions planned for June.
