Big news at Preview Las Vegas: New transportation hub planned for Las Vegas Convention Center

Leila Navidi

The audience watches during Preview Las Vegas 2012 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012.

An intermodal transportation center at the Las Vegas Convention Center is in the works.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter is expected to share details about the project Thursday at Preview Las Vegas.

Ralenkotter is one of five speakers who will talk about what's on the horizon for Southern Nevada this year at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce’s premier networking event. It runs from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV.

Speakers will address an estimated 2,000 attendees — the largest number of people to attend Preview since 2008 — from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Cox Pavilion. Tickets cost $80 at the door.

Ralenkotter, a longtime LVCVA executive, has been a staple speaker at Preview for years. This year, he will address tourism trends and is expected to explain the strategy behind refurbishing the Las Vegas Convention Center, an $890 million project that was delayed in 2008 when the economy soured.

The updated project, which has gained new steam, includes a plan to build a transportation center that would improve movement in and out of the convention center. Planning is in the early stages, but sources say the center would be located at what is now the Gold Parking Lot at the northwest corner of Paradise Road and Convention Center Drive.

Another speaker’s presentation also will have a transportation bent. Tom Skancke, a longtime transportation consultant who recently was appointed president and CEO of the Las Vegas Regional Economic Development Council, is expected to discuss the role of McCarran International Airport, high-speed rail and the proposed Interstate 11 project on Southern Nevada’s economy.

The event’s keynote speaker will be Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, who will explain how business, cultural, city and community interests work together downtown and how the joint effort can propel the city as a driver of innovation and productivity.

Other speakers include Jeremy Aguero, principal analyst at Applied Analysis, who will talk about leveraging the city’s assets, and Kristin McMillan, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, who will call for a change in community thinking to help the valley better compete and succeed in the next economy.

In addition to offering a platform for speakers, Preview is a business networking event and trade show. About 120 exhibitors — a sell-out for the show — will set up booths at the Thomas & Mack Center, and a new Resource Row will offer small businesses information about licensing and regulation.

Another highlight of the event is Preview the Taste, which offers food sampling from a collection of local restaurants. Businesses participating this year include Bahama Breeze, Slice of Vegas, Ricardo’s, Café Rio, Genghis Grille and Tedesco Catering.

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