Business Voice a Member Publication May 2009 | Volume 29 Number 5
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Business Voice A Member Publication May 2009 | Volume 29 Number 5 Routing Slip Chamber pro-business agenda considered Please share The Business Voice with others by Legislature Several anti-business bills also pending ith one month to go before its June 1 scheduled Taxation adjournment, the 2009 Legislative session has The Economic Forum is meeting May 1, and it is likely W heated up, and there are many pending bills that to project even less revenue for the state than it projected What’s Inside pertain to business. The Chamber’s government in December. The Economic Forum is responsible for affairs team has been working full-time to ensure that the providing forecasts of the state’s general fund revenues and LVCVA celebrates 50 years interests of business are protected from onerous legislation, by law its projections must be used by the Legislature in 3 particularly from legislation that would harm businesses setting the state’s budget. Although there are no specific during these tough economic times. proposals for revenue enhancements as of April 23, revenues Business Expo 2009 may need to be increased in order 6 In addition, the Chamber has for the state to provide essential been advocating for its reform services. Member-to-Member agenda including making Marketing Expo significant changes to the public The Chamber has gone on 10 employees’ retirement system record countless times during the and benefits program. Here’s an Legislative session stating that “Green” powering update on pending legislation that considerable reform to PERS and economic recovery may affect your business and the PEBP must be addressed by the 12 fiscal health of our state. Legislature before the business community will consider May Calendar PERS/PEBP increasing the tax burden on an of Events The Chamber is proactively already struggling economy. 16 driving changes to the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and the Public Employees’ Benefits The Chamber is firmly opposed to a gross receipts tax, a www.lvchamber.com Program (PEBP). Combined, these programs currently business income tax and increased taxes on the gaming have an unfunded liability of more than $10 billion, industry. The Chamber remains committed to protecting and it is likely even higher because of declines in the the interests of businesses and ensuring that any additional investment market. Unless significant changes are made taxes be as broad-based as possible, thereby limiting the to PERS and PEBP, the cost of paying these benefits will impact on individual businesses. go up dramatically in the near future and will likely take dollars away from other priorities such as education General Business and transportation. There are several bills that would make it more costly for you to do business or would open your business up to more Senate Bill (SB) 367 makes various changes to the lawsuits or greater regulation. provisions governing the Public Employees’ Retirement System including many of the recommendations Assembly Bill (AB) 22 changes provisions related to trade proposed by the Chamber. practices and would make it harder for you to defend against continued on page 28 One day will make a difference. One day a month. If every commuter—one day this month—took alternate transportation, we could remove nearly 200 tons of pollution from our air. We could take almost a million car trips off our roads. We could breathe easier, and get there faster. And then one day, we could see miraculous a month changes in our valley. rtcsnv.com Quicker. Cleaner. Greener. Energy-saving Save gas Two decks of Talk to your employer Carpool, walk or hybrid vehicles. and cash. total fun. about commuter benefi ts. ride your bike. (coming soon) From My Desk LVCVA celebrates 50 years of contributing to the success of Las Vegas By Rossi Ralenkotter, President and CEO, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority as Vegas has long been recognized as a destination Legislature, and in 1955 a visitor-paid room tax was that re-invents itself to continue to stay exciting for levied on all hotels and motels in Clark County to finance L its visitors. While Las Vegas has remained an ideal the construction and market the destination. With this city for gaming, entertainment and other leisure approach, visitors would fund construction of the center. activities, state and community leaders, including the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, in the 1950s decided On April 12, 1959, the Las Vegas Convention Center that Las Vegas needed a new market segment to combat opened its doors to welcome the World Congress of Flight the cyclical nature of tourism, which caused a significant with 7,500 attendees from 51 foreign nations. The show decline in the number of visitors on weekdays, throughout ushered in an era that would see the city become the the summer months and during the holiday season. leading convention destination in the nation. Leaders identified the convention industry as a way to fill While these visionary leaders clearly understood the rooms, restaurants and lounges during the week. A group importance of expanding the tourism base in Southern of businessmen and elected officials came together and Nevada, it is doubtful they could have foreseen the Rossi Ralenkotter decided that the best way to attract this lucrative market incredible impact the convention industry would President and CEO segment would be to build a convention center. eventually have on Las Vegas. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Local residents were opposed initially to committing any As we reflect upon our 50th anniversary and look forward tax dollars to such an effort, but the hotel community to the next 50 years, I am reminded how the Chamber could see the potential revenue these new visitors would has been an integral part of our history. Whether it is bring. So, the group appealed to the Nevada State Herb McDonald who had the vision for the old Las Vegas continued on page 26 Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Member Services 2009 Board of Trustees Las Vegas Chamber Helpful Hints: Executive Committee: of Commerce Steve Hill Hugh Anderson Kevin Burke 702.641.5822 • Limit the number of releases you Chairman of the Board Vice Chair - Government Affairs Burke and Associates, Inc. send to the single most important CalPortland The ABD&F Group at Merrill Lynch Membership Sales 586.3855 happening in your organization. Richard S. Worthington Advertising Sales 586.3812 Fafie Moore Kevin Orrock The Molasky Group of Companies CSE 586.3839 • No advertisements will be printed Immediate Past Chairman & Vice Chair - Finance Government Affairs 586.3815 in the Member News section. Vice Chair - Member Services The Howard Hughes Corporation Kara Kelley InfoCenter 735.1616 Realty Executives of Nevada • No phone numbers will be listed in President & CEO Member Health Benefits 586.3887 the Member News section, with the Michael Bonner Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Public Relations 641.5822 exception of non-profit organizations. Kristin McMillan Kummer Kaempfer Bonner VYP 735.2196 Chairman-Elect & Renshaw & Ferrario • Outdated material will not be Vice Chair - Marketing Editorial Policy: published. EMBARQ The Las Vegas Chamber of Com- • Membership dues must be current Trustees: merce welcomes input, ideas and for submissions to be printed. Bob Ansara Robbie Graham Vicky VanMeetren suggestions from our members. Ricardo’s of Las Vegas, Inc. NTC Global Holding Group St. Rose Dominican Hospitals As with any periodical, we must • The Chamber reserves the right San Martín Campus adhere to strict deadlines and we to make the final edit on all Charles Atwood Corey Jenkins reserve the right to edit all mate- submissions. The Smith Center for the SAVMOR Rent a Car John Wilson rials submitted for publication. Performing Arts MedicWest Ambulance Commentaries that are marked as The Business Voice (USPS #717- Bart Jones such do not necessarily reflect the 970) is published by The Las Vegas Bob Brown Merlin Contracting Nancy Wong opinion or position of the Cham- Chamber of Commerce. Las Vegas Review-Journal & Developing Arcata Associates, Inc. ber, its trustees or employees. The 6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Ste. 300 Chamber cannot guarantee the Las Vegas, NV 89119-3290 Senator Richard Bryan Gina Polovina Michele Tell Woodrow Lionel Sawyer & Collins Boyd Gaming Corporation Preferred Public Relations, LLC validity or accuracy of the contents of paid advertisements. Questions Annual Subscription $25 Periodical postage paid at Las Vegas, NV Tim Cashman Kevin Rabbitt Michael Yackira or concerns about content of The Foghorn Consulting GES Exposition Services NV Energy Business Voice can be addressed to Vice President of Marketing, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Doris Charles Larry Singer Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Wells Fargo Bank Grubb & Ellis l Las Vegas 6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Ste. 300 300, Las Vegas, NV 89119. Las Vegas, NV 89119-3290 Cornelius Eason Bruce Spotleson Priority Staffing, USA Greenspun Media Group May 2009 | The Business Voice | Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce 3 Chamber News Leadership Las Vegas applications for prestigious program due June 5! Applications for the Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2010 standards and measurement systems into her customer are now available! Leadership Las Vegas is an intensive, service, sales, communication, leadership development and comprehensive 10-month program created to strengthen team-building programs. and educate community leaders while providing a unique look at the issues that impact Southern Nevada. This Special hourly rental rates now available for conference exclusive executive development program will accept only space 48 participants this year. Program participants represent Did you know you can hold your next meeting at the a diverse cross-section of the community, representing a Chamber? At the EMBARQ® Conference Center at the Las wide range of professions.