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This Just In

Budget, Timeline and Design Approved for Las Vegas Convention Center Makeover; LVCVA Takes Stand Against Room-Tax Hike

DARLENE GUDEA, VP, PUBLISHER & EDITOR & HIL ANDERSON, SENIOR EDITOR

Las Vegas, NV – The design, timeline and budget for the first full-facility makeover of the nearly 50-year old Las Vegas Convention Center was approved on  May 8th  by the board of directors of the  Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA).  The  $890 million project is expected to be completed for the most part by late 2010. Some meeting room renovation is scheduled for 2011.

The enhancement project will add a grand lobby that will tie the building’s three exhibit halls; add a meeting room concourse in the south hall to improve the facility’s ratio of meeting-to-exhibition space; upgrade the technology and electrical infrastructure; and improve signage and curb appeal.   “This design improves the functionality, usability and life span of our building for decades to come,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president & CEO of the  LVCVA.

With the addition of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Substation and a Clark County Fire Station on the premises, the Las Vegas Convention Center will be  the only facility in the country with those on-site amenities.

LVCVA Took Pre-Emptive Stand against Raising Room Tax

Although there are no immediate plans to raise the 9% room tax, the LVCVA took a pre-emptive stand during the board meeting, opposing any notion the Nevada Legislature might have about increasing the room tax to bolster the state budget or cutting out a larger slice for the general fund.

Nevada is in the home stretch of crafting a two-year budget of some $7 billion that is estimated to need more than $150 million in cuts. At the same time, Gov. Jim Gibbons has proposed reducing business taxes and taxes on banks as a means of stimulating the economy.

The state currently received 53% of room-tax collections for construction of schools, roads and parks. The remainder goes to fund the LVCVA.

Reach Rossi Ralenkotter, president & CEO, at (702) 892-0711 or rralenkotter@lvcva.com;  Chris Meyer, vice president of convention center sales, at (702) 892-0711 or cmeyer@lvcva.com

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