Nevada’s governor eased restrictions on the capacity size of conventions, trade shows, meetings, and other large gatherings starting Monday, which could fuel the recovery of a key business component of the Las Vegas Strip.
Under a directive signed by Gov. Steve Sisolak, the capacity for large events will increase from the previously announced 20% to 50% for venues with more than 2,500 seats. In February, Sisolak said Monday’s planned increase would have capped conventions, trade shows, and conferences at 1,000 individuals.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Sisolak said the state will continue to operate under a mask mandate, practice social distancing and follow other COVID-19 mitigation measures.
“We will put more Nevadans back to work in as safe a manner as possible all while welcoming more and more business back.,” Sisolak said.
Gaming and tourism leaders hailed the move to 50% as a positive step forward in the state’s recovery from the yearlong COVID-19 pandemic, which sent Strip gaming revenues to their lowest overall total since 1996 and tourism numbers plummeting to their smallest number in 30 years.
Convention and meeting business in Las Vegas declined 74% in 2020 and ended the year with nine straight months of zero convention and meeting delegates.
The pandemic caused the cancellations of two large Las Vegas trade shows in January, the Consumer Electronics Show and the World of Concrete, and December’s move of the National Finals Rodeo to Dallas.
“The meetings and convention business is critical to our economy with tens of thousands of jobs depending on it,” said Nevada Resort Association President Virginia Valentine. “This move provides event and meeting organizers with more predictability for future events while also streamlining the large gathering approval process.”
The governor’s directive requires conference, convention, and trade show organizers to submit a large gathering plan to state and local health officials. Large gatherings can only take place with approval by the Department of Business and Industry.
Sisolak said the state will trade show organizers to “the highest” safety standards.
“We are betting on safety,” Sisolak said. The health and safety of Nevada’s workers, residents, and visitors remain the top priority,” he said. “Large gatherings can only occur with approval.”
County governments will assume control of COVID-19 mitigation efforts starting May 1, but the state can still approve large gatherings through June 30 to help event organizers in the planning process. Nevada gaming regulators will continue to have final jurisdiction over the state’s largest industry.
In Las Vegas, the World of Concrete trade show was rescheduled to June at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the National Indian Gaming Association said last month it would bring its annual conference and trade show to the Caesar’s Forum Conference Center on the Strip in late July.
Many gaming analysts predicted January’s gaming and tourism numbers “likely marked the bottom” for the Strip and expected a rebound beginning last month.
“Las Vegas’ reopening momentum continues to build, and we’re optimistic for the days ahead,” Valentine said.
The increases in capacity come as Nevada’s COVID-19 numbers continue to decline from an average high of 2,709 daily cases in early December to the current 14-day average of 231 cases per day.
According to The Nevada Independent, the state has administered more than 904,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since December and improved its national ranking of doses per capita by each state in the past week.
Earlier this week, workers in the key Las Vegas restaurant, hospitality, and casino sectors were told they can get a coronavirus vaccination.
State COVID-19 response officials issued an order adding “frontline commerce and service industries” in Clark County to the eligibility list that started in December with doctors and first responders and has added teachers, government, and community support employees.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
