Post by blackcrowheart on Dec 4, 2005 17:54:21 GMT -5
Indians told they can play key role in LV's tourism industry
By Alana Roberts / Staff Writer
Kevin Bagger, director of Internet marketing and research for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, speaks to members of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce during a monthly luncheon at Sam's Town.
Photo by Steve Marcus
As the Las Vegas tourism industry grows, so will local minority-owned businesses, officials of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority told Indian business leaders at a recent luncheon of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada.
"Las Vegas relies on tourism more than any other destination," said Kevin Bagger, director of Internet marketing and research for the LVCVA. "We all benefit from tourism."
He said every Southern Nevada resident and business leader can impact the experience visitors have here. He said that in turn determines their decision to return or to recommend visiting Las Vegas to others. He said it's important that every resident and business leader ensures they want to come back.
"I need to remind you we all sell the destination," Bagger said. "The last thing they remember is the jerk who cut them off (while driving)."
The LVCVA sponsored the group's November luncheon held at Sam's Town. The LVCVA also sponsored the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce's November luncheon, said Mya Lake Reyes, diversity marketing manager for the LVCVA. She said the group is reaching out to minority business leaders in order to partner with them.
Reyes told the group that minorities are having more of an impact on the Las Vegas tourism industry. She said that based on research conducted by GLS Research and presented in the Las Vegas Visitor Profile Study, 20 percent of visitors to Las Vegas were black, Asian or Hispanic in 2004. The study is based on interviews with 6,645 people who visited Las Vegas in 2003 and 2004.
According to the study, 80 percent of Las Vegas visitors were white, 6 percent were black, 7 percent were Asian and 7 percent were Hispanic. The percentage of white visitors in 2004 dropped from 83 percent in 2003, the report indicated.
The city is projected to welcome 38.2 million visitors this year, and by 2009, LVCVA officials hope the city will host 43 million. Reyes foresees huge benefits from that projected growth for local businesses.
"There's a tremendous opportunity to tap into that," she said.
Jackie Dunn, left, speaks to members of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce as President Debra Sillik looks on.
Photo by Steve Marcus
Diana Kelley, a buyer in the materials management department of the LVCVA, told the group that the organization is reaching out to minority businesses to work with them. She said that if a company performs a service or provides a product to the LVCVA there are opportunities to work with other government agencies through what she called "joiner privileges.'
"The LVCVA really is the driving force behind the economy," Kelley said. "It's the pleasure of our purchasing department to help grow opportunities for minority businesses in Las Vegas. We are a local government entity. If you do business with the LVCVA you could potentially be doing business with any other state, local or federal agencies."
In addition to the LVCVA presentation, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada celebrated American Indian Heritage Month with traditional dance, drumming and singing performances by local American Indians and an interactive dance that included attendees.
Debra Sillik, president of the newly formed group, said the chamber strives to connect local Indians with business and economic opportunities. The group had its first luncheon in September.
"We have been working very hard to bring this chamber together to help Native Americans with jobs, educational opportunities and self-employment opportunities," Sillik said.
A study released earlier this year indicates that the buying power of Nevada's Indian population grew by 220 percent between 1990 and 2005 and Nevada's Indians ranked 12th in the nation for buying power growth. The study was performed by Jeffrey Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.
Also, according to 2003 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, there are 9,556 Indian and Alaska Native people in Clark County. Indian and Alaska Native-owned businesses in Nevada grew by 56 percent between 1997 and 2002 from 1,231 in 1997 to 1,915 in 2002, according to the Census Bureau.
A member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada, Sandra Graff, who attended the luncheon, agreed that local minority-owned businesses could benefit from the tourism industry.
"Anything they (the LVCVA) can do to promote Las Vegas is going to promote any businesses here," Graff said.
She is owner of the Crazy Horse Clothing Co. and a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. The company sells jewelry, T-shirts, artwork and sportswear at art shows and other events.
She said the fact that groups such as the LVCVA are courting minority groups shows the appeal of minority-owned businesses. She said it's now up to Indian business leaders to take advantage of that.
"We want more people to get involved in Native American programs that will promote their businesses and livelihood," Graff said. "We want to get them to get out and learn about these different programs like the LVCVA's (purchasing program)."
Alana Roberts covers courts and labor relations for In Business Las Vegas and its sister publication, the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached by e-mail at alanar@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-4059.
By Alana Roberts / Staff Writer
Kevin Bagger, director of Internet marketing and research for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, speaks to members of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce during a monthly luncheon at Sam's Town.
Photo by Steve Marcus
As the Las Vegas tourism industry grows, so will local minority-owned businesses, officials of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority told Indian business leaders at a recent luncheon of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada.
"Las Vegas relies on tourism more than any other destination," said Kevin Bagger, director of Internet marketing and research for the LVCVA. "We all benefit from tourism."
He said every Southern Nevada resident and business leader can impact the experience visitors have here. He said that in turn determines their decision to return or to recommend visiting Las Vegas to others. He said it's important that every resident and business leader ensures they want to come back.
"I need to remind you we all sell the destination," Bagger said. "The last thing they remember is the jerk who cut them off (while driving)."
The LVCVA sponsored the group's November luncheon held at Sam's Town. The LVCVA also sponsored the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce's November luncheon, said Mya Lake Reyes, diversity marketing manager for the LVCVA. She said the group is reaching out to minority business leaders in order to partner with them.
Reyes told the group that minorities are having more of an impact on the Las Vegas tourism industry. She said that based on research conducted by GLS Research and presented in the Las Vegas Visitor Profile Study, 20 percent of visitors to Las Vegas were black, Asian or Hispanic in 2004. The study is based on interviews with 6,645 people who visited Las Vegas in 2003 and 2004.
According to the study, 80 percent of Las Vegas visitors were white, 6 percent were black, 7 percent were Asian and 7 percent were Hispanic. The percentage of white visitors in 2004 dropped from 83 percent in 2003, the report indicated.
The city is projected to welcome 38.2 million visitors this year, and by 2009, LVCVA officials hope the city will host 43 million. Reyes foresees huge benefits from that projected growth for local businesses.
"There's a tremendous opportunity to tap into that," she said.
Jackie Dunn, left, speaks to members of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce as President Debra Sillik looks on.
Photo by Steve Marcus
Diana Kelley, a buyer in the materials management department of the LVCVA, told the group that the organization is reaching out to minority businesses to work with them. She said that if a company performs a service or provides a product to the LVCVA there are opportunities to work with other government agencies through what she called "joiner privileges.'
"The LVCVA really is the driving force behind the economy," Kelley said. "It's the pleasure of our purchasing department to help grow opportunities for minority businesses in Las Vegas. We are a local government entity. If you do business with the LVCVA you could potentially be doing business with any other state, local or federal agencies."
In addition to the LVCVA presentation, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada celebrated American Indian Heritage Month with traditional dance, drumming and singing performances by local American Indians and an interactive dance that included attendees.
Debra Sillik, president of the newly formed group, said the chamber strives to connect local Indians with business and economic opportunities. The group had its first luncheon in September.
"We have been working very hard to bring this chamber together to help Native Americans with jobs, educational opportunities and self-employment opportunities," Sillik said.
A study released earlier this year indicates that the buying power of Nevada's Indian population grew by 220 percent between 1990 and 2005 and Nevada's Indians ranked 12th in the nation for buying power growth. The study was performed by Jeffrey Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.
Also, according to 2003 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, there are 9,556 Indian and Alaska Native people in Clark County. Indian and Alaska Native-owned businesses in Nevada grew by 56 percent between 1997 and 2002 from 1,231 in 1997 to 1,915 in 2002, according to the Census Bureau.
A member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada, Sandra Graff, who attended the luncheon, agreed that local minority-owned businesses could benefit from the tourism industry.
"Anything they (the LVCVA) can do to promote Las Vegas is going to promote any businesses here," Graff said.
She is owner of the Crazy Horse Clothing Co. and a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. The company sells jewelry, T-shirts, artwork and sportswear at art shows and other events.
She said the fact that groups such as the LVCVA are courting minority groups shows the appeal of minority-owned businesses. She said it's now up to Indian business leaders to take advantage of that.
"We want more people to get involved in Native American programs that will promote their businesses and livelihood," Graff said. "We want to get them to get out and learn about these different programs like the LVCVA's (purchasing program)."
Alana Roberts covers courts and labor relations for In Business Las Vegas and its sister publication, the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached by e-mail at alanar@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-4059.