Las Vegas must keep other cities in its rearview mirror

By Steve D. Ross

Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Editor's note: MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren has called the proposed expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center a “must-have” and a “tremendous, tremendous, dire need.” Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson responded by calling it “not even a nice-to-have.” The Sun aligns squarely with Murren on the $1.4 billion expansion project, and we’re not alone. Today, we offer guest columns from local leaders and clients of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in support of the project. The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee has endorsed the expansion, agreeing to recommend a 0.5 percent hotel room tax increase to fund it. But amid discussions about whether to also provide $750 million in public funding for a domed stadium that would attract the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, it’s critical for the Legislature to know that the project remains a top priority for the community. But enough of our words on the topic. Here’s how our guest columnists feel about it.

Las Vegas is the No. 1 tourist destination in the world, known for our amazing resorts, five-star restaurants, top-notch entertainment and recreational opportunities.

People want to visit because we are an exciting destination that challenges the imagination while at the same time living up to our visitors’ dreams.

What may not be as well-known is that we are also the No. 1 convention destination in the United States. Las Vegas is a place to have fun and enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences, but just as important is that Las Vegas is the place to do serious business.

We have the hotel rooms and amenities for mega-conventions like CES, Comdex, SEMA or MAGIC, to name just some of the large shows that choose Las Vegas. We have 1.3 million annual attendees coming for trade shows at the Las Vegas Convention Center, resulting in a staggering $2.1 billion in economic impact. Those are dollars that flow into our schools and infrastructure projects. They help build parks and create jobs.

We have to listen to our customers and not only maintain our convention track record, but improve upon it. The expansion and renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center and related facilities have to be a priority.

The estimated incremental economic impact of the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention District to our area is $400 million to $700 million a year. We have the opportunity to add to our midweek occupancy rate in our hotels, and add flights coming into McCarran International Airport.

Our convention facilities have served the community well for 55 years, but we must modernize to keep Las Vegas on top.

When you are on top, people look to knock you off — and that is what is happening with convention business across the country. In Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston and Orlando, Fla., plans are on the books or underway to expand convention capacity. These cities see the impact that this revenue stream can have and want a piece of it.

In Las Vegas we always build bigger, better and before anyone else. We are a city of visionaries, and we need to tap into that now to ensure this industry continues to put Las Vegas at the top of the list as a trade show destination.

I also am a big proponent of bringing professional sports leagues to Las Vegas to join the National Hockey League. This city is ready to be a major-league city and we will see those teams here in the next few years.

There is no doubt that a state-of-the-art, NFL-ready stadium is key to these plans. I’m excited by the prospect of building this stadium in Southern Nevada, and I believe it will be a significant boost to our economy. What we cannot allow is for the stadium to stall the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center District. We must have the expanded convention capacity and a new stadium, not one or the other.

All too often politics finds its way into situations like this, and that cannot be the case here. The expansion of the convention district is much too important to our city’s economic future.

Las Vegas is a special place. It’s a place that rises to the challenge and exceeds expectations. We don’t follow in Las Vegas; we lead, and we are recognized as the best because of that.

We cannot afford to do nothing to improve our convention facilities and hope to stay on top when it comes to being a trade show destination. To do so would be irresponsible to our residents who depend on this industry and to the city we call home.

Steven D. Ross is Las Vegas’ mayor pro tem.