Tobacco Business

[ 24 ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ MAY / JUNE | 21 ] L Las Vegas is one of the world’s premier meeting and convention destinations. For years, many of the largest trade shows and conventions, including the Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE), have made the city a place where serious business is conducted among the backdrop of great restaurants, entertainment and overall fun that Las Vegas has to offer. In 2019, an estimated 6.6 million visitors attended a meeting or convention in Las Vegas, making 2020 a year that no one in Las Vegas would ever have predicted and would likely not want to relive. Las Vegas, like many cities around the world, grappled with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic all last year, and five months into 2021, the city is ready to get back to business and welcome conventions like this year’s TPE21 back as well. “After a challenging year, Las Vegas is open for business, and we are anxious to safely welcome and host meetings and conventions once again. We look forward to welcoming TPE21’s organizers, exhibitors and attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) on May 12 for a safe and enjoyable show,” says Brian Yost, chief operating officer of the LVCC. Getting things back on track in Vegas has been a herculean effort but one Yost and his team have diligently worked on in order to bring conventions and business back to the city. The LVCC and many of its hotel partners throughout the city have worked with industry experts through very stringent third-party audit and certification processes in order to ensure their facilities could reopen safely as COVID-19 cases continue to decline. “Our convention center was the first facility in Nevada to be awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR facility accreditation, considered the gold standard for safe facilities,” Yost explains. “The health and safety of our visitors is paramount. The entire destination is committed to providing visitors with the highest level of health and safety protocols. Our resort partners continue to implement stringent #VegasSmart health and wellness protocols throughout the destination to keep visitors safe from arrival to departure.” Part of Vegas’ comeback hinges on COVID-19 cases continuing to decline and the number of individuals who are fully vaccinated increasing. On Jan. 12, 2021, Las Vegas had a record-high number of positive COVID-19 cases at 2,320. By March 31, 2021, that number had fallen to just 249. It’s this downward trend in viral spread and the increase seen in vaccine distribution that gave state and local leaders and health officials confidence that Las Vegas was once again prepared to safely host meetings and conventions. In addition to instituting a stringent application and approval process that all conventions hoping to return this year had to apply for—including TPE—all approved events had to pledge to adhere to the prevention principles that have remained consistent throughout the past year: maintain safe social distancing, wear a face mask, and practice good hygiene and cleaning measures. TPE’s approved safety plan and other measures taken to ensure all exhibitors and attendees are safe while attending this year’s trade show can be reviewed at tpesafe.com . Additional resources are also available at vegasmeansbusiness.com/meet-smart . TB BACK TO VEGAS The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) is ready to welcome business travelers back with robust new offerings as meetings and conventions like TPE21 make a return. Construction has been completed on the 1.4 million-square-foot West Hall expansion. Finishing touches continue on the Convention Center Loop, an underground tunnel system that will transport visitors throughout the entire LVCC campus swiftly in all-electric Tesla vehicles, free of charge. “We know visitors are eager to get back to the Las Vegas they know and love. There are a myriad of world- class experiences available throughout the destination, including dining, entertainment, shopping, pool experiences and more, while keeping health and safety the top priority,” says Brian Yost, chief operating officer of the LVCC. For information on measures McCarran Airport is taking to protect its passengers, including sanitation, health screenings and more, visit mccarran.com/home/ covid19info . TPE21 will be held in the North Hall of the LVCC May 12-14, 2021. For information on the show or to register to attend, visit tobaccoplusexpo.com . Brian Yost Chief Operating Officer, Las Vegas Convention Center Back to Business As COVID-19 cases continue to fall, Las Vegas is ready to welcome meetings and conventions like TPE21 back to the city. The Las Vegas Convention Center’s Brian Yost shares the measures that have been taken to ensure all of those returning to the city can do so safely.