The man who helped create the iconic brand-ad campaign, “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” has died after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Rossi Ralenkotter marketed and promoted Las Vegas throughout his 45-year career at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. He was president and CEO when Las Vegas reached its record of 42.9 million in visitation in 2016.
“Rossi Ralenkotter helped shape Las Vegas into a premier global destination. His tenure at the LVCVA, including nearly 15 years as CEO, transformed the city’s tourism landscape through groundbreaking marketing and iconic events,” said current LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill.
Ralenkotter said the success of Las Vegas was its ability to continuously reinvent itself to stay ahead of the competition. With the LVCVA, he helped Las Vegas’ tourism industry navigate some of its most challenging times, according to Virginia Valentine, president and CEO of the Nevada Resort Association.
“From launching the iconic ‘What Happens Here Stays Here’ campaign and expanding Las Vegas’ international reach to securing our status as the Trade Show Capital of North America, Rossi was devoted to ensuring everyone knew Las Vegas was the global epicenter for entertainment, business, and leisure,” Valentine said. “Rossi was also at the forefront of Las Vegas’ transformation to becoming the Sports Capital of the World. He helped lay the groundwork to bring all types of professional sports to Las Vegas and championed the benefits of having a world-class stadium that could attract major events and drive additional visitation. Rossi’s legacy lives on in every visitor who experiences the magic of Las Vegas — a destination he believed in and adored.”
Ralenkotter retired in 2018 during an investigation of misuse of Southwest Airlines gift cards the company gave to the LVCVA to promote the city’s tourism and his use for personal travel. He reimbursed the agency for the cards.
“He was a Las Vegas original and contributed greatly to the growth of the meeting and convention business — and had the vision to expand the convention center — at a time when people thought it would never work in Las Vegas,” said Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley.
Ralenkotter was part of the original group of community leaders that helped convince the National Finals Rodeo to move to Las Vegas in 1985, then persuaded the CES trade show and other major conventions to hold their events in Las Vegas, which propelled Las Vegas to the No. 1 trade show destination in North America for more than 25 years, a streak that is ongoing.
“Rossi Ralenkotter is a giant of the meetings and conventions world,” said Gary Shapiro, CEO and vice chair of the Consumer Technology Association, which owns and produces International CES. “Under his leadership as president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Rossi transformed Las Vegas as the world’s leading travel and convention destination. He raised the convention industry and made Las Vegas the global focal point for both entertainment and exhibitions. He not only catalyzed Las Vegas and CES success, he made the world better.”
Ralenkotter was also an influential figure in the travel and tourism industry, advocating for policies that supported tourism and establishing a brand presence in international markets for Las Vegas.
The U.S. Travel Association elected him to its Hall of Fame Leaders in 2014, joining the likes of Walt Disney, J.W. Marriott, Jr., Roger Dow, and Jonathan Tisch. As chair of U.S. Travel, he established and presented to Congress a strategy of connecting America through travel.
“Rossi Ralenkotter changed the game. His audacious, data-driven, marketing campaigns raised the bar for destinations around the globe,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “His warmth and kindness made him a trusted partner not just to his colleagues in Las Vegas, but to travel professionals from coast to coast.”
“Ralenkotter is known to have made a notable impact on the Southern Nevada community,” said former Las Vegas mayors Carolyn and Oscar Goodman. “He established the Las Vegas Bowl and was an instrumental figure in getting the Las Vegas ballparks built for both the Las Vegas Stars and Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pacific Coast League. “No one worked harder than Rossi to make us what we’ve become — the industry leader in tourism and the entertainment and sports capital of the world.”
“Rossi’s passion for everything in Las Vegas was unparalleled,” added Billy Vassiliadis, Chairman R&R Partners. “He was globally recognized as a leader in tourism and convention marketing, branding and sales. Much of what Vegas is today, number one in conventions and sports capital of the world, was envisioned and launched by Rossi. He took our destination’s challenges personally, with all his heart of soul. His contributions are historic.”
Rossi Ralenkotter was 78. He’s survived by his wife Mary Jo, five children, and 10 grandchildren. Services will be held at St. Viator Catholic Church and Palm Mortuary at a future date.
