The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), which is also the World Trade Center Las Vegas (WTCLV), is ready to welcome in-person trade shows, and new research suggests business travelers believe Las Vegas will be best prepared to safely host them at in-person events in the second half of 2021.

The research study was conducted by Heart+Mind Strategies, a national market research and brand strategy consultancy. It resulted in several key findings that bolstered the LVCC/WTCLV’s confidence that business travel will begin to recover in 2021.

Among the key findings:
• 91 percent miss the face-to-face interaction of in-person conferences, conventions and trade shows. Additionally, 58 percent feel burnt out from virtual business meetings and conferences.
• 77 percent of business travelers would prefer attending business conferences, conventions and trade shows in-person.
• 74 percent believe that Las Vegas is best prepared to safely host in-person conferences, conventions and trade shows in the second half of 2021.

For the survey, a nationally representative sample of 510 business travelers were surveyed online in January. All reside in the U.S., are 21 years of age and older and traveled for an in-person, overnight conference, convention or trade show in 2019 and/or 2020.

In addition to the positive sentiments in the research, the LVCC/WTCLV has seen optimism from Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, who recently increased gathering limits in the state, and if COVID-19 trends continue to decline, will allow another increase on March 15 allowing 250 people or 50 percent capacity. Additionally, large gathering plans can be submitted for groups of 1,000 or up to 20 percent of total fixed seated capacity, which is a step in the right direction toward bringing large gatherings back to the LVCC/WTCLV.

If COVID trends continue to decline, the LVCC/WTCLV is hopeful World of Concrete, a trade show for the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries, which is set for early June, will mark the opening of the facility’s new West Hall and Convention Center Loop, the innovative new underground transportation system. In preparation for the return of business, the LVCC/WTCLV has earned Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility accreditation by ISSA, the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry.

For more information about the LVCC/WTCLV, visit VegasMeansBusiness.com.