Vegas Says No to 2012 Political Conventions

[vegasrocks]

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has rejected bids from both the Democratic and Republican parties to hold conventions in the city in 2012.

They said that although that would be a great boom for Las Vegas it wouldn't be fair to those who already have booked years ahead of time. They say there just isn't any way they could accomodate the parties.

The conventions do bring in good business. In 2008 the Democratic National Convention was held in Denver and there were 50,000 attendees. The Republican National Convention held in St. Paul had over 45,000 attendees.

"Essentially, we'd be losing business we already have booked and that has been in the destination for a number of years," said authority spokesman Vince Alberta. "It comes down to a business decision. While we are grateful, and we appreciate the consideration and that we're top of mind, it really comes down to the fact that we're full."

The biggest reason neither party can be accomodated is because they both require that the venues they book have have several hundred thousand square feet of empty space 90 days in advance of the convention. That means other contracts would have to be broken. Contracts that were drawn up years in advance.

[Eyeofngt]

I do not blame Vegas at all for this decision. They have to do what is right for them, and there are other places to hold the conventions. The way the ecomomy is today I would not want to lose my customers just for a political convention. That only happens what every 2 to 4 years?

It would not be worth it to me either. Plus the fact that politicials are all crooks to begin with..LOL We put them in there and they lie to get in and do just the opposite of what they say they are gonna do.