LAS VEGAS, NV, USA - The Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center joined leaders from across the Las Vegas meeting and convention industry to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) on Thursday, April 14, 2016.

The day is especially important for Las Vegas as the meetings, conventions and trade show industry has a significant impact on the local economy supporting 66,500 jobs and generating more than $9.3 billion in economic impact.

The Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center hosts more than 50 conventions and trade shows a year attracting more than 1.3 million delegates.

“Tourism is the economic engine that drives this town and the meeting industry plays a significant role,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the LVCVA. “The nearly 6 million people who come to Las Vegas every year for a meeting, convention or trade show, help fill hotel rooms mid-week, support tens of thousands of jobs and they significantly contribute to the local economy.”

To help shine a light on this important industry, top meetings industry professionals in Las Vegas met at the newly opened T-Mobile Arena for a leadership panel discussion moderated by Ralenkotter, and featured Chuck Bowling, president and COO of Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino; Chandra Allison, Vice President of Sales, The Venetian and The Palazzo; Chris Flatt, Executive Vice President of Hotel Sales and Marketing, Wynn Resorts; and Michael Massari, Senior Vice President for National Meetings and Events, Caesars Entertainment.

The event kicked off with remarks by Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association. Dow and U.S. Travel are both leaders of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, which provides resources to promote and defend the value of face-to-face business meetings and travel on our economy. The Meetings Mean Business Coalition launched GMID in an effort to showcase the real impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions have on people, business and communities.

GMID marks the expansion of North American Meetings Industry Day (NAMID), held April 16, 2015 in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Latin America.

PHOTO: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

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