“Growth: Challenges and Opportunities” was the theme of the 2007 Nevada Governor’s Conference on Tourism held in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace Resort and Casino from December 12 through December 14, 2007. The conference hosted several hundred tourism industry delegates, featured insightful speakers and workshops, and unveiled a new ad campaign promoting northern and rural Nevada.  On Thursday, December 13, a special presentation was held at Caesar’s Palace honoring Grammy award-winning international superstar Celine Dion as Nevada Entertainer of the New Millennium.               

 

“Bringing together industry leaders at the Governor’s Conference each year to focus on current issues, trends and technologies that impact tourism benefits our state and our partners across the nation and around the world,” Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki said. Krolicki chairs the Nevada Commission on Tourism, which produces the conference.

 

Gov. Jim Gibbons and Krolicki opened the General Assembly and Frank Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, spoke about the current political climate facing the gaming industry.

 

A high-powered panel of CEOs from the world’s largest casino-resorts shared their insight and expertise about Las Vegas’ exploding growth including Terry Lanni, chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE; Keith Smith, president and chief operating officer of Boyd Gaming Corp.; and William Weidner, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

 

“How Growth Impacts Infrastructure” was discussed by an expert panel including Susan Martinovich, director of the Nevada Department of Transportation; Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority; Jacob Snow, president of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada; and Michael Yackira, president and CEO of Sierra Pacific Resources.

 

An important workshop, “Get Connected with Social Media” instructed the attendees about how to use Myspace, Flickr, Friendster, FaceBook and other social networking sites that are part of today’s society.  For an increasing numbers of tourists, the Internet is the favorite medium used to book travel plans, gather information, and decide how to spend leisure dollars.

 

Other workshops offered included, “The Why and How of Mobile” and “Get Smart with Your BlackBerry,” on how to communicate more efficiently using mobile technology.  State Tourism Director Tim Maland said, “Tourism is an ever-changing industry, and the conference provides an opportunity to stay on top of trends, such as mobile marketing.  There already are four mobile phones to every PC in the world, and people increasingly are booking travel on their cell phones. Our conference will address the dos and don’ts of mobile marketing and how best to utilize it.”

 

On Wednesday, December 13, delegates were invited to tour the Las Vegas Springs Preserve to discover ways to maintain a sustainable lifestyle in the desert. The tour was guided for the first hour and delegates were on their own to explore the preserve the second hour.  Later that evening, Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment sponsored a welcome reception at Caesars Palace’s PURE Nightclub. ,” Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki and Las Vegas Mayor spoke during this reception to a welcoming crowd.

 

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Rossi Ralenkotter and Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Ellen Oppenheim addressed delegates Thursday about managing growth through marketing.  Other speakers included Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., co-chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus; Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association; Philip Wolf, CEO of PhoCusWright; and a travel industry leadership roundtable on “Key Trends and Strategies for Online Travel Today and Tomorrow.”

 

Other conference workshops explored topics such as “Group Sales Make Good Business,” maximizing profits; “Turn Green into Green,” discovering green tourism; “Domestic Travel Trends/Niche Markets,” the latest trends such as “girlfriend getaways; and “Mastering Convention and Group Sales.”

 

The highlight of the event was the evening reception on December 13 sponsored by The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.  After a successful five year run, Celine Dion was to be presented a special award, Nevada Entertainer of the New Millennium. The award was to be given two days before the final performance of Dion’s popular show, “A New Day,” on December 15 at Caesar’s Palace.

 

With wonderful hand-passed hors d’oeuvres and libations, the evening began with a welcome by Tom Jenkin, President of Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.’s Western Division.  “It is a very special night where we get to honor and celebrate two people who helped to transform Caesar’s Palace.”  Jenkin continued, “That is Celine and Rene. . . .  Celine took a gamble on Caesar’s back in 2003 with a show that likes of it has never been seen before. . . . 717 shows later and more than three billion customers from all around the world have come to see Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace. ” 

 

 

Jenkin introduced Gov. and First Lady Gibbons to thunderous applause and Gov. Gibbons spoke about the success of Celine Dion. “Tonight we have the most wonderful experience as Governor and First lady of Nevada and that is to celebrate the accomplishments of an individual who has contributed so much to our community, so much to our state and so much to our country,” Gov. Gibbons said before introducing a brief video about her accomplishments in Las Vegas.

 

First Lady Dawn Gibbons made her own presentation to Dion.  “She has blessed our state with the joy she has brought to the world and that has been the greatest blessing to all.  Her beauty, her charm, her passion and most importantly, her compassion and heart make a difference to those less fortunate and that is really what we celebrate today and is why she has become a superstar. . . .  Michael and Sons Jewelers in Reno Nevada spent a lot of time to make this special piece to celebrate this occasion.” First Lady Gibbons then gave a custom-made turquoise necklace to Dion. 

 

Gov. Gibbons presented the Official Nevada Entertainer of the New Millennium to Dion and to a standing ovation; Dion gratefully accepted the award and told the crowd, “It is very difficult for me to start. It has been the journey that started five years ago.”  She thanked Governor and First Lady Gibbons, AG Live Partners, Caesars Palace, Harrah’s Entertainment, all of the fans, her husband and her son. “I have to say it was an amazing privilege as an artist and as a performer to be surrounded with the best people. We all got together with the same passion and same dream.”  She spoke about how her husband mortgaged his home over 20 years ago finance her career and then to took a chance on Las Vegas.  “We stated our passion and the fans came and answered our call, night after night, week after week and year after year.” She continued, “My priorities are my family and when my son was one year old, I had committed to ‘A New Day’ and I wasn’t certain if I wanted to continue since I had found my true calling as a mother. The State of Nevada, Governor Gibbons and all of the fans has given me so much.  My son was crawling when we moved here and learned to walk in our home in Nevada.  He grew up here and it is now it is his home. … On behalf of my son, my husband, as an artist, as a wife, as a mother, as a sister and as a performer, I want to thank you all for giving my son and my family stability. There are three shows left and it is extremely hard to leave but I hope I have the privilege to come back.” There was another standing ovation as Dion left to get ready for her show in the evening.

 

The Governor’s Conference on Tourism is an annual event that held one year in southern Nevada and one year in Northern Nevada.  For more information, go to www.travelnevada.com.