Ralenkotter named to UNLV’s Nevada Business Hall of Fame
Las Vegas marketing giant Rossi Ralenkotter has joined UNLV’s Nevada Business Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed by the school on people who have helped drive the regional economy.
Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, joins past recipients that include casino magnate Steve Wynn and real estate developer Hank Greenspun. UNLV’s Lee Business School presented the award during a three-hour ceremony Thursday evening inside the MGM Grand Convention Center.
“This has special significance for me,” Ralenkotter said, noting that he obtained a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1971. “It’s a recognition of all the work of the people that are in our industry … it’s a tribute to all of us.”
The award joins a long list of accolades bestowed on Ralenkotter, who is credited for overseeing one of the most successful branding campaigns in tourism history — an effort best known for its tagline, “What happens here, stays here.” Among other honors, he has received lifetime achievement recognition from the American Marketing Association and the Travel and Tourism Research Association.
“He’s a good leader for the community,” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said. “He’s been an inspiration.”
UNLV officials credited Ralenkotter for overseeing the popular advertising project and for maintaining the region’s status as a leading leisure and trade show destination.
“Rarely is someone recognized for building such an iconic global brand,” business school Dean Brent Hathaway said in an emailed statement. “We are thankful for his leadership and dedication to Southern Nevada and are proud to have him among our ranks.”
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