LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) will have a new CEO on Sept. 1 when Steve Hill moves into the job being vacated at the end of August by Rossi Ralenkotter.
As expected, the LVCVA board voted 13-1 in favor of promoting Hill into the job Ralenkotter held since 2004. Hill is currently President and COO of the agency. “I am honored the Board of Directors selected me as CEO of the LVCVA,” said Hill. “I look forward to working with our tremendous team and our mission partners to innovate, improve access to and around the destination, and to drive growth.”
Hill, a longtime Las Vegas resident, joined the LVCVA in January with the expectation he would be on the fast track to succeed Ralenkotter upon his retirement. Hill joined the authority from the Nevada state government, where he had been Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development since 2011. He is also the current Chairman of both the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.
“Steve understands this market, literally from the ground up, and brings operational prowess that will ensure our $1.4 billion (convention center) expansion will be transformational in the meetings and convention business,” said LVCVA Board Chairman and Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly. “We know he will continue to transform the LVCVA to ensure we remain the top convention center and destination marketing organization.”
The expansion and renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center will be a high priority for Hill. The three-phase project is in its second phase, an $860 million endeavor that will add a total of 1.4 million square feet (sf) to the building, including 600,000 sf of exhibit space. Phase Two is projected for completion in time for the 2021 CES show.
Las Vegas, led by the Stadium Authority, is also building a $1.8 billion domed stadium for the Oakland Raiders, which will be partially funded by hotel room-tax revenues. The stadium is to be completed in 2020.
At the same time, the latest LVCVA statistics released in June reported a slight overall (1.1)% decline in total visitors compared to the June 2017 report; however, convention and trade show visitors increased 2.9% with a boost from show rotation.
Reach Steve Hill at (702) 892-0711 or shill@lvcva.com
