Experts From Around the World Gather to Share Best Practices April 10-13, 2016

LAS VEGAS, NV, USA - March 2, 2016 -

The International Tourism Safety Association, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association will host the 23rd International Tourism Safety Conference at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas on April 10-13, 2016. More than 20 countries including Australia, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Ghana, Israel, India, Kenya and South Sudan will be represented at this year’s conference.

The International Tourism Safety Conference gathers safety and security officials in the travel and tourism industry and focuses on providing delegates with new information, trends, equipment, strategies and best practices in keeping visitors safe.

“The safety and security of visitors and residents is a top priority for any destination’s tourism industry, so it’s imperative to be aware of the current trends and information,” said Ray Suppe, president of the International Tourism Safety Association and executive director of customer safety for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA.) “For more than two decades, Las Vegas has proudly hosted this important conference where tourism security officials can come together to learn, grown and develop professionally.”

Conference presentations will address such issues as violence prevention during celebratory events, nightclub security, security challenges in the Asia Pacific region, personal data circulation, crisis management during catastrophic events and more. A Tourism Oriented Policing and Protective Services (TOPPS) certification course will also be offered. In addition, Nevada Peace Officers can earn more than sixteen hours of continued education through the Nevada Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) by attending the 23rd International Tourism Safety Conference.

Confirmed speakers at this year’s conference include:

• Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman
• Assistant Sheriff Thomas Roberts, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
• Deputy Chief Gary Schofield, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
• Steven A. Adelman, attorney and venue safety expert, Adelman Law Group
• Daron Garrett, director of security for Hakkasan Group
• Ramon Martin-Fernandez, Ph.D., professor and senior researcher for Faculty in Tourism at the University of Havana 
• Tamara D. Madensen, Ph. D., graduate director and director of the Crowd Management Research Council in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Manuel David Masseno, Ph.D., associate professor of law Polytechnic Institute of Beja, Portugal
• Chief of Police Gregory G. Mullen, Charleston Police Department (SC)
• Nathalie Pilovetzky, president of LATITUDE, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Tony Ridley, CEO of Intelligent Travel, Melbourne, Australia
• Peter E. Tarlow, Ph.D., president/CEO of Tourism & More, Inc.
• Anne-Laure Tuncer, Director of USA Atout France
• Pranil Kumar Upadhayaya, Ph.D., Tourism Management Adviser for Adam Smith International, Nepal
• Anat Ben Yosef, Consul-Director of the Western Region USA for the Israel Ministry of Tourism
• Vedran Živaljić, MAG.OEC., private detective with the Euro Contego D.O.O., Croatia.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.touristsafety.org.