Posted by
Vegasjackalope on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:58:37 AM
Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas. Thanks to the recession and some inappropriate comments by our president, this town is struggling to stay afloat. Nearly 15 % unemployment, visitor volume down 30%, sales tax revenue in the tank, major construction projects suspended or bankrupt, home values down 50%. Not to mention drastically reduced tip income for food servers, bartenders, cab drivers, and strippers.
The local trade show industry has taken a big hit as well. Meetings and trade shows canceled, massive layoffs, unpaid furloughs, reduced hours are now the norm for what was once a booming sector of the local economy. And a president who actively disparages anyone who should "party in Vegas".
I have worked shows in Orlando, Chicago, Las Angeles, New York, Atlanta. But there is no place like Vegas. Vegas boasts three of the largest convention centers in the country, as well as dozens of smaller venues for smaller shows and meetings. 10's of thousands of hotel rooms in a relatively compact resort corridor. There are more hotel rooms at the corner of Tropicana Blvd. and Las Vegas Blvd. than are in the entire city of San Francisco. Book a show in Chicago, and you might find yourself in a room 30 miles away from your venue, with the traffic to contend with.
First class rooms for Motel 6 pricing, world class restaurants, one of the most modern airports in the country, thousands of taxis to get around town, all go toward making the trade show attendees visit more enjoyable and less stressful than other venues.
As for party time, lets get this straight. The average visitor flies in the night befor the show. Up at dawn, the visitor makes his way to the venue for a 9 AM opening. He is on his feet all day, pitching his products, perhaps taking clients to dinner in the evening, and finally exhausted, falling into bed at ten or eleven at night. Then goes through the same routine for two or three more days, finally taking a cab from the convention center to the airport for the flight home.
Not a very glamorous week for the vast majority of visitors. But the average attendee does 30% of their annual business from leads generated during this time. That's not party time. Just good business, folks.
So lay off Vegas, Mr. President.