For the first time in our organization’s history, the RSCVA was selected by the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association as one of Reno Tahoe’s Best Places to Work during an event held April 25th at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. We’re very proud of the recognition, but even more so of the 52 staff professionals who work here that make our organization one of the best places to work every day. Together, they make up a great team and we’re proud of them.
The RSCVA is pleased to welcome Ann Silver, the Chief Executive Officer of the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce as the newest of the nine members of our Board of Directors. With a long, successful career in business, Ann also is a graduate of Notre Dame’s School of Law in Indiana. She replaces Board Member Vick Wowo, whose career with Microsoft has relocated him to Seattle, Washington. We wish Vick the very best of success and thank him for his valuable service.
Also joining the RSCVA this month as Regional Director of Convention Sales is Denise Bosmans, who will be based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. With nearly 4,000 professional associations headquartered there, Denise will be responsible for Reno Tahoe’s sales development and booking of valuable convention business represented by those associations. Nearly 550,000 room nights of convention business is consumed in our destination annually, and for the hotels here it is valuable and profitable business.
The RSCVA Board of Directors approved the FY 2019/2020 budget at their meeting May 23rd. The Authority is budgeting 2.9% revenue growth for the coming year, while anticipating additional marketing initiatives necessary to open a fourth primary tourism market during the next fiscal year. At present, Reno Tahoe’s primary feeder markets are the Los Angeles basin, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle/Pacific Northwest.
The budget also allows for continued air service marketing and mitigation when new air routes/carriers are considering new service to Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Expanding air service is one of the critical keys to success for future tourism and visitation growth in the entire region. Both the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority and the Regional Air Service Corporation (a co-op of regional stakeholders formed to support new air service opportunities) work hand-in-glove with the RSCVA to attract new service to Northern Nevada.
Interest in Reno Tahoe as a group and convention destination continues to grow. The RSCVA convention sales team is fully staffed now and, by this fiscal year-end, will deliver bookings of 280,000 room nights of future convention business to the destination. Next fiscal year, that number grows by 3.5%. Fully 45% of the team’s future convention bookings obtained this fiscal year have never been to Reno Tahoe before. This is promising news, as new business galvanizes Reno Tahoe as a very desirable place to meet and convene and introduces a brand-new customer base to our destination.
Tourism, real estate and economic development pundit Resonance, a consultancy, has named Reno Tahoe as one of America’s Top 10 Best Small Cities. Statistics from 27 criteria, such as crime rates, entertainment offerings, cultural events and activities, and economic vitality, are factors that impact the selection. Reno Tahoe hit the list at #6, with Honolulu, Hawaii securing #1.
The Miss USA and the Miss Teen USA pageants put a limelight on Northern Nevada earlier in the month, culminating on May 2nd with 28–year-old Cheslie Kryst of Charlotte, North Carolina securing the title of Miss USA 2019. A graduate of Wake Forest School of Law with a Juris Doctorate, Ms. Kryst also holds an MBA from the same university. She practices law in North Carolina. Ms. Kryst will represent the United States in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant. Reno Tahoe hospitality stakeholders, the RSCVA Board of Directors and staff worked hand-in-hand to sponsor and ensure the success of the event. Here in town earlier in the week, Kaliegh Garris of Connecticut was selected as Miss Teen USA.
Next month brings the 100th anniversary of the Reno Rodeo. If you’ve never been to our hometown rodeo, this is the year to go. The Reno Rodeo is one of the biggest in the nation and will surely be an exciting and memorable experience for all.
During the last recession, the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center fell behind on its maintenance. The RSCVA is addressing this soundly and the next few months, for example, will bring new LED performance lighting into the indoor arena, a repaved and restriped main parking lot, demolition of the old, worn-out exhibit hall and the dilapidated armory building, as well. When visiting the Doc Bar in the indoor arena, you’ll find it completely remodeled with new tile, fresh paint, modern LED lighting, and new LVT engineered wood flooring and attractive new furnishings.
Many thanks for your continued interest and engagement in Northern Nevada tourism.