Gov. Brian Sandoval signed an executive order today that creates a committee devoted to tourism improvement projects in Southern Nevada.
Sandoval’s order charges the 11-member committee with evaluating local convention and entertainment facilities and making recommendations for new or improved ones. The order also directs the committee to make recommendations about transportation infrastructure and funding for tourism projects.
The committee is necessary to help Clark County stay ahead of other tourism destinations and to continue boosting the number of visitors to Las Vegas, the executive order says.
“There is no destination in the world that can rival the experience that millions travel to Nevada for annually, and that means that we must strive to push forward and continue to lead this international industry into the next generation of travel and tourism,” Sandoval said in a statement. “We are fortunate to have many of the brightest minds in gaming and hospitality, as well as experienced and capable community leaders who are ready to meet the challenges of a changing market and identify and embrace the potential within the industry.”
Committee members include representatives from the state’s top casino companies as well as government officials and other local leaders.
The committee is required to submit a report to the governor and the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee on or before July 31, 2016. Its first meeting will be held no later than July 15, according to the order.
Here’s a full list of the committee members, according to the governor’s office:
• Steve Hill, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (committee chairman)
• UNLV President Len Jessup (committee vice chairman)
• Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman
• Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak
• Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kristin McMillan
• Bill Noonan of Boyd Gaming
• Tom Jenkin of Caesars Entertainment
• George Markantonis of Las Vegas Sands
• Bill Hornbuckle of MGM Resorts International
• Mike Sloan of Station Casinos
• Kim Sinatra of Wynn Resorts
A nonvoting Technical Advisory Committee will assist the main committee. Its members include:
• Las Vegas City Manager Betsy Fretwell
• Clark County Manager Don Burnette
• Tina Quigley, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
• Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation at McCarran International Airport
• Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• And “an expert in economic and financial analysis” that the committee chairman will appoint