The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has a very important mission and purpose, made only more so in the current economic crisis.

It is charged with the livelihoods of the 46,000 people in the city who rely on meetings for their income and the approximately 250,000 people in Las Vegas who rely on tourism for their employment.

A day never goes by that Chris Meyer, LVCVA vice president of convention sales, forgets his obligation to the city he serves. "Our team doing a better job leads directly to a better community," Meyer said of his role and the importance he places on supporting Las Vegas's main industry.

Though Chris is a very visible face in the hospitality world and a vocal advocate for the meetings industry both nationally and in Las Vegas, he grew up far away from the glittering lights of the famed Strip. Born in the Philippines, Chris is the son of two naval officers.

He grew up all over the world, but one of his most memorable homes was in Guam at the close of the Vietnam War. He remembered the population doubling in less than ten days as a tent city was assembled at an old Japanese air base. Chris was 14 at the time and his dad was commanding officer when the heightened population led to high demands for food, water and sanitation. Looking back at that experience, it may not be a surprise that Chris ended up in an industry where the demands of a trade show require planning and infrastructure to make them a success.

Chris is responsible for convention sales, convention center sales and the convention services team, comprising of 58 individuals. He has been at the LVCVA for almost nine years, where he and his team work hard to bring meetings, conventions and trade shows to the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. These facilities encompass nearly four million square feet and two million square feet of exhibit space. In addition to bringing meetings in to these facilities, Chris and his team work hard to fill hotel rooms.
"Heads in beds is our mission, mantra, creed and the air we breathe," said Chris. "If we don't do our job, people don't work and we take that very seriously."

Chris's first job in the industry was at the Marina Hotel & Casino. Chris was graduating from University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) with a degree in MIS Management and planned to sell computer software. However, he had been dating a hotel major that sparked his interest in hotels and had the opportunity to play in a student/professor golf tournament for the UNLV hotel association. Shortly after the tournament, Chris answered an employment agency ad in the Review-Journal for a sales manager job at a Strip hotel. His interviewer turned out to be one of his fellow golfers of just weeks earlier and after a discussion of life goals and aspirations, it was decided that Chris was the best candidate for the job and he was hired as a tour and travel manager at the Marina Hotel & Casino.

The hotel was going through bankruptcy at the time, and in August 1985 became the first hotel to go through Chapter 11 and come out successfully. Chris's efforts, along with the rest of the Marina team, had paid off and the team's achievement led to a number of job offers.
Another success that year was his marriage to Terri, the hotel major who first inspired his interest in the hospitality industry. Married for 24 years, they have two children, two dogs and a cat. Chris beamed when speaking of his wife's event planning company and his children's interest in music and acting.

After his start at the Marina Hotel & Casino, Chris spent a year at the Flamingo Hilton as tour and travel manager. After his stint at the Flamingo Hilton, Chris moved to the Tropicana as director of tour and agency sales before leaving leisure sales to promote the property's convention sales. He got a call from the Sands in 1990 to open the Sands Expo Center, where he served as director of sales and later as director of sales and marketing at the Sands Expo Center and Venetian. However in 2000, Chris was given the opportunity to join the LVCVA as manager of convention center sales. That position led to director of convention center sales, senior director of convention center sales, vice president of convention center sales, and finally, vice president of convention sales.
With so much industry experience, Chris has valuable advice for those just joining the industry. He emphasized the importance of looking behind the scenes and discovering what it takes to pull off a successful event. "Check in and get involved," said Chris. "Look behind the curtain.

The depth and breadth of what goes on behind the scenes is awesome and impressive."
Chris and his team are taking that advice to heart right now, working hard behind the scenes to bring meetings to Las Vegas during the economic downturn. With sales missions, booking incentives, promotions, advertising, advocacy events, digital marketing and key association partnerships, the LVCVA is actively campaigning to bring business to Las Vegas. "We live the brand, we sell the brand, and we are part of the brand," said Chris.

Chris's level of commitment to the city of Las Vegas and the meetings and event industry is unparalleled. That is one reason why the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) had selected Chris to serve as part of its Board. When asked about one of his most memorable achievements, Chris mentioned his work with IAEE and his role as incoming chair. In fact, he is the first graduate of the association's Future Leaders Institute to become chair.

With a determination to make Las Vegas the number one convention destination in the world, and the dedication to work around the clock to make it happen, Chris is excited about the future of Las Vegas and is working hard in the present to secure business in the current recession. "The LVCVA works seven days a week, 24 hours a day to promote Las Vegas," said Chris, and this is the standard he sets for his own life.

Based in Las Vegas, Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services (www.edlen.com) is the leading independent temporary utility contractor for the tradeshow, convention and special event industry. National Sales Manager Julie Holzer Pazina can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .