ERA makes Tradeshow Week -- on near-Vegas cities making a play for venue dollars

from today's Tradeshow week enews (8/4):

Neighboring Cities Want Pieces of Event Pie
Lisa Plummer -- Tradeshow Week, 7/31/2008 2:48:00 PM

"The resort town of Laughlin, Nev., has decided it needs a boost. In order to attract more business to the area, the Laughlin Tourism Committee proposed a new events center capable of hosting tradeshows, concerts and local events.

Across the Colorado River, Bullhead City, Ariz., happens to have a similar plan in mind.

LTC President Sean Hammond said he believes a new multi-purpose venue is an essential step out of a declining residential, commercial and tourism market.

“What we’re looking for is that next venue up,” Hammond said, “to be able to attain that mid-level entertainer or tradeshow that we can’t currently house in our own facilities.”

Economic Research Associates is conducting a feasibility study to determine if a 125,000 square foot, 10,000- to 12,000-seat venue would be viable for the area. The study, funded by local hotel room tax and supported by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (of which the Laughlin Visitors Bureau is a division), could be completed in the next week or two." ...

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