Shopping centers show renews Las Vegas contract through 2019

One of the nation’s top commercial real estate conferences is renewing a contract that will keep the show in Las Vegas through 2019 with an option to continue through 2022.

The International Council of Shopping Centers, which stages its RECon show at the Las Vegas Convention Center every spring, announced its contract renewal at Tuesday’s Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board meeting.

The event has grown to become the largest gathering of shopping center executives in the world.

Las Vegas beat out Chicago and Orlando, Fla., which pressed hard to lure the show to their cities.

Tim McGuinness, staff vice president of global trade expositions for the International Council of Shopping Centers, said in the end, it was the city’s hospitality and resort communities working together to develop a welcoming atmosphere that put Las Vegas ahead of its competitors.

The Las Vegas pitch included a presentation by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and, via teleconference, Gov. Brian Sandoval.

LVCVA President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter said the board reached out to Sandoval to welcome the show because retail sales are a key economic development component that Sandoval would embrace.

Las Vegas sweetened the presentation with entertainment — an appearance by Donny and Marie Osmond.

Asked what Las Vegas could do better, after hearing presentations from Chicago and Orlando, Fla., McGuinness said the city could use additional domestic and international flights.

McGuinness said Las Vegas isn’t underserved, but Chicago and Orlando have an edge in that category.

“All three cities are impressive,”McGuinness said in an interview after Tuesday’s meeting. “Our people always enjoy coming to Las Vegas and coming here has become a part of our annual calendars.

“You get great value for your dollar here. There aren’t many places where you can get a five-star room for $150 a night and then get a great meal prepared by a celebrity chef. And the weather’s great too. Getting to spend time by the pool is part of RECon’s Las Vegas experience.”

RECon 2015 is scheduled to run May 17-20 at the Convention Center and bring 34,000 people and 1,000 exhibitors to the city.

The council, formed in 1957, provides a forum and educational programs on all aspects of shopping center development. It staged its first show in Las Vegas in 1976 and has returned annually since 1986.

Authority officials say competition has ratcheted up to host trade shows and special events. Las Vegas waged a high-profile battle last year to keep the National Finals Rodeo in the city after competitors made offers to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to lure the event away. The association ended up signing a 10-year extension to keep the rodeo in Las Vegas.

Based on conservative estimates, the show over the five-year life of the contract and option years would generate a $225 million nongaming economic impact. Since 1976, the show has drawn more than 900,000 attendees to the city and generated non-gaming economic impact of $1 billion.

Trade Show News Network has named Las Vegas the No. 1 trade show destination in North America, hosting 53 or the 250 largest trade shows in 2013.

The city annually hosts more than 22,000 meetings and conventions, supporting more than 61,000 jobs and contributing more $7.4 billion to the local economy.

Contact reporter Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find him on Twitter: @RickVelotta