LAS VEGAS —Meeting and convention industry leaders in Las Vegas united to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) by serving local charitable organizations, signifying the positive impact meetings have on the community.
Conceived by the U.S. Travel Association (USTA), the premier advocacy association for the travel industry, GMID showcases the impact of the meeting industry on the U.S. economy. According to USTA, in 2022, there was nearly $100 billion in meeting and events-related travel spending in the U.S., critical revenue to national and local economies that directly supports more than half a million jobs. Meetings allow for deeper connections, education and training opportunities and improved company morale.
“Our local tourism industry is only as strong as our community,” said Lisa Messina, chief sales officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “Today (March 30) is our opportunity to thank our trade show, meeting and convention customers for choosing Las Vegas.”
Las Vegas has been named the number one trade show destination in North America for 26 consecutive years, according to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), the world’s leading resource for the trade show and event industry. Its combined 15 million square feet of meeting and event space is more than any destination in North America. Many trade shows choose Las Vegas because of its commitment to community engagement and sustainability.
To celebrate GMID, the LVCVA coordinated a unified effort for local resort sales teams and Las Vegas meeting and convention customers to give back to a variety of local charities.
Caesars Entertainment employees assembled 2,000 hygiene kits for Communities in Schools
Wynn Las Vegas employees served meals to more than 250 people at Catholic Charities, and joined Virgin Las Vegas employees and area meeting and convention customers to fill 1,296
backpacks at Three Square for food-insecure Clark County School District students
MGM Resorts International, Station Casinos, Fontainebleau Las Vegas and Resorts World Las Vegas employees assembled more than 5,000 hygiene kits for Catholic Charities
Team Members at The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas organized more than 1,000 meals for HERO School, City Impact Las Vegas, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, and New Day Adult Care
“As a company that understands the power of face-to-face interactions, the GMID theme of ‘Meetings Matter’ resonates deeply with us at MGM Resorts,” said Stephanie Glanzer, SVP and chief sales officer for MGM Resorts and co-chair of the USTA’s Meetings Mean Business Coalition. “We are proud to join forces with our industry colleagues this year to showcase the positive impact we make within our communities as it relates to sustainability and community engagement.”
“Since its inception, GMID has always been about making a difference and supporting communities which is also a core tenet for Caesars Entertainment,” said Kelly Gleeson Smith, vice president of sales at Caesars Entertainment. “Our team volunteered more than 55,000 hours last year within their local communities. We are incredibly proud of our team and industry colleagues for getting involved this GMID by making an impact in their community as well as spreading the message that ‘Meetings Matter.”
Las Vegas hosted nearly 5 million convention attendees in 2022, and with a robust schedule of meetings, trade shows, and events is looking forward to an even stronger 2023. During a normal year, spending by visitors attending conventions directly supports 43,000 jobs in Las Vegas and results in a direct economic impact of $6.6 billion.
“Meetings matter. Not just because of the jobs they create and the impact on the economy, but because of their influence in our communities,” said Tony Yousfi, chief sales officer, The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas. “Our groups continue to want to make a difference here – whether through food donations, hygiene kit builds, or partnering with a local nonprofit to organize a day for their attendees to get involved in other ways.”
“The meetings and conventions industry is ever-changing, making Las Vegas one of the most sought-after trade show destinations in the country,” said Chris Flatt, EVP of hotel sales at Wynn Las Vegas. “As a leader in this field, it’s our duty to reinforce our dedication to improving our local community.”
