Stalled overhaul of Las Vegas Convention Center to be restarted

The multimillion-dollar overhaul of the Las Vegas Convention Center that was torpedoed when the economy tanked is on again, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors was told Tuesday.

But the concept outlined for the board will use a different strategy than the one implemented in 2005 and shut down in 2008. It will not only focus on renovating the 3.2 million-square-foot building but make over the neighborhood around the Convention Center.

“The district concept would feature potential improvements to roadways, sidewalks, streetscapes and iconic architectural elements for traffic and pedestrian corridors leading to the venue,” said Terry Jicinsky, senior vice president of operations.

Jicinsky said that over the next six months, LVCVA officials will meet with Convention Center customers and organizations that use the facility to gauge their needs and determine priorities for improving the building.

That was the same method the LVCVA used when it implemented its $890 million master plan improvement program in 2005. But the business environment has changed so much After six months of research, Jicinsky said, a refurbishing plan will be developed. At that point, he said, a price tag will be established for the work, which could begin in early 2014.

In the Convention Center’s 53-year history, it has had 14 renovations — about one every four years. But there hasn’t been anything done in the last 11 years. Jicinsky said it’s important to keep the Convention Center fresh, because competitors across the country are trying to lure conventions and trade shows away from Las Vegas.

Trade Show News Network last week said Las Vegas retained its title as the nation’s top trade show destination, with 55 of the top 250 shows here. The city hosted more shows than the second- and third-place cities combined.

But Jicinsky said 10 out of 11 of the city’s top competitors had major expansions or renovations in the last 10 years, including convention facilities in Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Jicinsky said that while the LVCVA is referring to the improvement area as a “district,” it’s not looking to implement a tax district for the area.

In other business, the LVCVA board approved international representative office contracts, amended its contract with R&R Partners to pay more for digital media services and appropriated $200,000 in support of inaugural activities and opening-day celebrations for McCarran International Airport’s Terminal 3 opening.

The board voted unanimously to renew the contracts on representation to 10 countries for two-year terms. New contracts were written for representation in France, South Korea and India, while there were changes in scope for the city’s representation in Brazil and continental Europe.

Coordinated from Las Vegas, the international representatives provide sales and marketing services, trade show representation, public relations, trade advertising and website development in their respective countries.

The modified contract with R&R addresses an expansion of responsibilities in website development, mobile devices, social media and direct advertising. R&R has added 12 full-time employees in support of the Las Vegas account, and the contract has been amended to increase the fee by $80,000 a month to $480,000 beginning July 1.

The board authorized $200,000 to promote the opening of the new 14-gate Terminal 3 at McCarran. Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to be the first international carrier to arrive at the new terminal on June 27 and a new carrier, Copa Airlines, will begin service from Panama City that day.