The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) announces Audrey Higashi has been hired as the National Convention Sales Manager for the agency. The position is responsible for effectively selling the Reno, Sparks and North Lake Tahoe area as a convention destination. The position reports to the Vice President of Convention Sales for the RSCVA.  Higashi’s first day on the job is August 16.

“Higashi has more than 20 years of experience in service and hospitality sales, account management and staff training, and has worked in the Reno-Sparks area since 2001” said Ellen Oppenheim, RSCVA President and CEO. “Higashi’s experience as a former National Sales Manager for the RSCVA demonstrates that she will bring valuable sales experience and contacts to the position.”

Prior to accepting this position, Audrey Higashi previously worked at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada as the Director of Sales. In her new position at the RSCVA, Higashi will be responsible mainly for Texas, Colorado and the Great Plains states.

“I’m thrilled to join the sales team and become a part of the driven sales staff at the RSCVA,” Higashi said. “I am also excited to work for the RSCVA again, and I look forward to working with the sales team to help promote our wonderful destination to all of the potential meeting groups and conventions.”

“Higashi has a strong understanding of the Reno Tahoe marketplace and is effective in analyzing market trends and developing strategies that exceed sales goals,” Oppenheim said. “She will make a great addition to the RSCVA Sales team.”

About the RSCVA: The RSCVA is the primary tourism agency supporting convention and tourism business for the Reno Tahoe region.  Reno Tahoe supports unlimited possibilities from outdoor recreation to 24-hour Nevada style gaming and entertainment.  For more information about Reno-Tahoe call 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) or visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.

26th Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo
March 4-7, 2010 Reno-Sparks Convention Center

The Expo Hall at the Elk Camp is a great way to spend time with family and friends, as you experience a wilderness adventure as you enter our extensive hall filled with nearly 400 exhibits. Roam through fantastic exhibits of custom rifles, hunting accessories, outdoor gear and unique handcrafted art. You can even scout out the hunt of your dreams.

The World Record Elk display is definitely something you won’t want to pass by. This is your chance to see some of the world’s biggest bulls.

World Elk Calling Championships will be held on Saturday, March 6th with preliminaries on Friday, March 5th. When the world’s best callers get together, things get exciting, so come experience this incredible competition and choose your own favorite, or grab your tube to squeal, grunt and bellow with the best.

If your interested in learning more about everything elk, stop by the Spike Camp Hunting Seminars, and learn how to hone your hunting skills as some of America’s best known outdoor enthusiasts share their latest tips on bow hunting, horse packing, marksmanship, calling wildlife, cooking and more!

Don’t miss out on the Interactive Area, which includes everything from a Kids Camp to the Archery Range to the LaserShot Shooting System, this addition to the Exhibit Hall has something to entice everyone. The Reno Fly Shop will provide fly casting instructions for the entire family. And on Friday and Saturday, you can lean how to pack your horse or mule at the Packing Clinic.

General Admission tickets may be purchased in the lobby during show hours.
General Admission
Members Non-members
Daily Individual Pass $10 $12
Daily Family Pass $20 $25
Kids 5 and under FREE FREE

Exhibit Hall Hours
Thursday, March 4, 2010 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 5, 2010 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 6, 2010 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 7, 2010 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) is pleased to welcome the 2010 Wild Sheep Foundation’s Annual Sheep Show to Reno Tahoe USA.

“The Wild Sheep Foundation has strong roots in our destination and we are thrilled to officially open this year’s exhibition and show,” said RSCVA President and CEO Ellen Oppenheim. “We look forward to kicking off this long-term partnership and fulfilling it to mutual benefit for many years to come.”

The Wild Sheep Foundation recently signed an agreement to bring its convention and international sporting expo, “Sheep Show,” to Reno for six years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

“We are looking forward to a great week in Reno Tahoe,” said Gray N. Thornton, Wild Sheep Foundation president and CEO. “This year we are expecting increased attendance from last year. We welcome Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe enthusiasts to visit this years show. The event is open to the public and the cost to attend is $15.”

The Wild Sheep Foundation estimates its event will generate 5,000 hotel room nights annually. The organization also estimates that more than 5,000 participants will attend the show. The hotel partners for the January 30 – February 8, 2010 convention are the Silver Legacy Resort Casino and the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. The 2010 event marks the 15th time the group has visited Reno. It is the first time the group will utilize the Reno-Sparks Convention Center because the group has grown in size.

“We selected Reno Tahoe because the destination is focused on hospitality and understands the conservation market,” said Thornton. “The combined support of the RSCVA and the many fine hotel properties makes Reno the ideal place for the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and International Sporting Expo. We are very pleased to come home to Reno.”

Hours of the show are:
Thurs. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Fri. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Show is open to the public. Membership in the Wild Sheep Foundation is not required.
Day Pass $15 per person
Membership special is $45

The 38th annual Safari Club International Hunters’ Convention (SCI) has arrived at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC). This is the eighth consecutive year SCI has held its annual convention in Reno Tahoe and the 19th year overall. Additionally, SCI recently announced that they have selected Reno Tahoe to host the 2013 and 2015 shows, extending SCI’s presence in the destination for an additional two years. SCI was previously committed to bring the 2011 Annual Convention to Reno Tahoe.

SCI estimates the 2010 event will generate 21,000 room nights and drawing 23,000 people to Reno Tahoe, up from 20,500 in 2009. More than 50 different countries are represented. The RSCVA estimates the 2010 convention to have a local economic impact of $20 million.

The show features more than 2,000 booths with 1,100 vendors. Additionally, the convention features exhibits, seminars and auctions spread throughout 560,000 square feet of convention space.

SCI first held its convention in Reno at what was then known as Bally’s hotel in 1989 with 2,500 attendees. In 1999, the convention moved to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and attendance increased to 15,500.

According to TradeShow Week Magazine, in 2008 SCI was the 101st largest show in the United States by net square feet.

Reno Tahoe has been selected to host three significant conventions beginning in 2012.

Groups bringing their conventions to Reno are the Wild Sheep Foundation, February 2013-2015, Northern California Volleyball Association, April 2012-2017 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, July 2012.

The RSCVA estimates these three groups will generate approximately 76,615 room nights in the destination, attracting nearly 115,000 visitors between 2012 and 2017.

“Reno Tahoe is a great meeting and convention destination, offering something for everyone to enjoy,” said Ellen Oppenheim, RSCVA president and CEO. “During these challenging economic times it is significant that the RSCVA has landed these three pieces of repeat convention business. We are excited to welcome these visitors to the destination and are working very hard to create the best possible experience for them.”

The Wild Sheep Foundation has signed an agreement to bring its convention and international sporting expo, “Sheep Show,” to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in February 2013 and ending in February of 2015. This group had previously signed an agreement to bring its convention to Reno Tahoe in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“We are very excited to welcome the Wild Sheep Foundation to Reno for the first of six consecutive years,” Oppenheim said. “Having a group book business for this length of time is extraordinary.”

The Wild Sheep Foundation estimates its event will generate 5,000 hotel room nights annually. The organization also estimates that more than 5,000 participants will attend the show. The hotel partners for the January 30 – February 8, 2010 convention are the Silver Legacy Resort Casino and the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. The 2010 event marks the 15th time the group has visited Reno. It is the first time the group will utilize the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

“We selected Reno Tahoe because the destination is focused on hospitality and understands the conservation market,” said Gray N. Thornton, Wild Sheep Foundation president and CEO. “The combined support of the RSCVA and the many fine hotel properties makes Reno the ideal place for the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and International Sporting Expo. We are very pleased to come home to Reno.”

The Northern California Volleyball Association (NCVA) is currently under contract for April 2011. With this new contract, NCVA will bring its Junior Volleyball Spring Tournament to Reno for six consecutive years beginning in April 2012.  Annually, the NCVA estimates that the Spring Tournament will generate more than 8,000 room nights and attract more than 15,000 participants to the destination annually.

Additionally, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) will host their national convention in Reno in July 2012. This group was previously in Reno Tahoe in 2006. The VFW organization estimates this event will generate more than 13,000 room nights and attract approximately 10,000 participants.

This announcement comes on the heels of Reno Tahoe being selected to host the 2010 USA Volleyball (USAV) Girls’ Junior National Championships. The competition will take place June 24-July 3, 2010 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. This event is expected to generate 40,000 room nights over 10 days.

The USA Volleyball Championship is a major program of USA Volleyball and currently involves 788 teams and spectators. Going into its 31st running, the 2010 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships will attract an estimated 9,500 athletes to Reno Tahoe. The tournament will crown 19 champions in age divisions ranging from 12 to18. Further, the event draws not only thousands of family and friends, but hundreds of college recruiters looking for the next top players for their programs.

The RSCVA is the primary tourism agency supporting convention and tourism business for the Reno Tahoe region.  Reno Tahoe supports unlimited possibilities from outdoor recreation to 24-hour Nevada style gaming and entertainment. For more information about Reno Tahoe call 800-FOR-RENO (800-367-7366) or visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.

(PHOTO: Ellen Oppenheim, RSCVA president and CEO, and Gray Thornton, President of the Wild Sheep Foundation, announce the foundation’s commitment to host the convention in Reno Tahoe for six years. Courtesy RSCVA.)

We eagerly anticipate the opening of the Legends at Sparks Marina on June 18.  This destination retail center adds dozens of shops and restaurants – from flagship stores to independent retailers – and another great resource for hosting Reno-Tahoe meetings.

Phase 1 of the Legends at Sparks Marina will add to the already successful operation of Scheels, the World’s Largest All Sports Store (265,000 GSF of space including an indoor Ferris Wheel).

This project is a great location for planners to create unique opening receptions, dinners, off-site functions and activities. The beautiful landscape creates a fun environment with waterfalls, plazas, firepits and history all within a 15-minute bus ride of major convention hotels.

The concept of Legends is to provide a comfortable, unique environment for shoppers; a place where people come to experience the setting and possibly pick up a few necessities while they are enjoying themselves.  Why the name “Legends” you ask? The developer has incorporated Northern Nevada legends in the design; you will find a statue of Mark Twain, sculptures depicting the area, a water feature celebrating the Pony Express, depictions of the Reno Air Races and much more.

In addition to the fun atmosphere, guests will enjoy quality shopping with more than 50 percent of the development accommodating outlet shopping (Saks Off 5th, Banana Republic, Bose, Guess, Lane Bryant, etc.) and when guests are ready to rest their feet they can enjoy a meal or their favorite cold/hot beverage – there are plenty of dining establishments to meet a variety of tastes and budgets.  Whet your whistle at the Cadillac Ranch and try your hand at pool, bowling or the electronic bull; enjoy great music and food at Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen or grab a sandwich at Subway and slip outside to watch the sunset …

In future phases the Legends at Sparks Marina will offer a 13-screen movie complex featuring IMAX, more restaurants, family activities and expanded opportunities for our region’s guests.

The dedicated sales staff at the Reno-Sparks Convention Visitors Authority is ready to help book your meeting in Reno and show you how the Legends at Sparks Marina will provide an affordable option for various elements of your event.

Please call or e-mail to discuss your meeting to rnichols@rscva.com or (775) 827-7798.

- Robyn Nichols, RSCVA National Sales Manager

Whether you are looking for a great resort experience, a place to experience it all from fine dining, gaming and nice accommodations, or the perfect location for just about any size meeting, the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno fits the bill.

The nearly 2,000-room casino-resort is a favorite among meeting planners who want to keep their large meetings under one roof. With 200,000 GSF of meeting space, movie theaters, bowling center, grand theater, driving range, virtual golf and shopping on property, guests will never have to leave. The Grand Sierra is perfect for mid-size groups requiring large room blocks and meeting space. The property in within 2 miles of the airport and situated on a parcel of land that provides outdoor exhibit space and thrill rides. This property recently underwent a $90 million dollar renovation adding new amenities and a fresh look to an already great property.

Following are some additional highlights:

• 1,993 deluxe guest rooms
• Nine unique dining establishments including Charlie Palmer Steak
• Complimentary self/valet parking
• Complimentary airport shuttle (less than 2 miles from the airport)
• Close proximity to a variety of outdoor and indoor venues
• Property offers everything from shopping to bowling
• Night club and country western dance hall

The Grand Sierra Resort offers quality, value and service for large and small convention groups; do not hesitate to consider this location when looking at Reno for your next meeting. I am ready to help you with proposals from any of our quality properties. Please call or e-mail to discuss your RFP to tmctee@rscva.com or (775) 827-7798.

(This is the sixth in an occasional series profiling Reno-Tahoe properties’ meeting and convention amenities)

- Tanna McTee, RSCVA National Sales Manager

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When it comes to planning and executing a meeting, big or small, in Reno-Tahoe we are committed to keeping it simple by offering great facilities, proactive planning and a close relationship with our hotel partners.

Last week we shared information about the 1,600-room John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks. To the many past and potential customers who shared comments, thank you!

Another great option for meetings attendees is the Peppermill Reno Hotel Casino.

The Peppermill is a Reno standard with a new twist. The resort recently went through a full renovation of the old and added an all-suite tower with 600 rooms. In addition, the property added a 62,000 GSF pillarless ballroom bringing its total space to 102,000 square feet. Meeting planners rave about the flexible space at the Peppermill with a variety of available configurations. This beautifully designed property and customer service-oriented staff stand ready to serve groups up to 3,000 people.

Following are some additional highlights:

• 1,635 deluxe rooms
• 12 unique restaurants
• Complimentary self/valet parking
• Complimentary airport shuttle (less than 3 miles from the airport)
• Brand new 30,000-square-foot Spa Toscana
• Beautiful outdoor pool area open year-round
• State of the art fitness center
• Edge Nightclub
• 1 mile from Meadowood Mall
• Walking distance to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center

I could certainly go on and on about this property and the value meeting planners find when booking it; instead, check it out yourself at www.peppermillreno.com.

(This is the second in an occasional series profiling Reno-Tahoe properties’ meeting and convention amenities)

- Tanna McTee, RSCVA National Sales Manager

One of the benefits of meeting in Reno-Tahoe is access to more than 1 million square feet of flexible meeting space, coupled with nearly 20,000 conveniently located hotel rooms. Here, in addition to a large-scale convention center (as well as other regional convention spaces) dozens of hotel and casino properties offer their own high-quality rooms. One such property is John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks.

John Ascuaga’s promise and commitment to service for the last 50 years is best described by this statement: “I am committed to providing the premier meeting and convention complex in the country,” says owner John Ascuaga. “We tailor our facilities to fit your group’s needs. Your meeting will be a success. You have my word.”

This family-owned property exceeds expectations; with over 110,000 GSF of meeting space featuring a trade show pavilion and 23 breakout rooms it is a great fit for meetings from 30-3,000 people.

Some additional highlights found at the Nugget:

• 1,600 Deluxe Guest Rooms (including a recent full tower remodel)
• Eight award-winning restaurants from fine dining to home-style fare
• Complimentary self and valet parking
• Complimentary airport shuttle (less than 3 miles from Reno-Tahoe International Airport)
• Complimentary year-round indoor pool and fitness center
• Full service salon and spa
• Situated on Victorian Square with a variety of additional restaurants, shopping and recreational activities
• Located less than 1 mile from Sparks Marina recreation area
• Located 1 mile from the Legends at Sparks Marina destination shopping center, home to Scheels, the World’s Largest All Sports Store (nearly 300,000 square feet)
  This is just a sample of what you can expect at the Nugget and it is available at a surprising value – for more information visit www.janugget.com.

(This is the first in an occasional series profiling Reno-Tahoe properties’ meeting and convention amenities)

- Tanna McTee, RSCVA National Sales Manager

Many are not aware of the possibilities in Reno-Tahoe when it comes to pulling off the perfect meeting or convention.

We at the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority have heard meeting planners and executive directors from various organizations tell us about perceptions; how they have thought of our area as a small town with casinos and maybe a few hotel rooms with limited meeting space.

This perception could not be further from the truth; in fact Reno-Tahoe boasts the following meeting capabilities and activities for delegates:

• 20,000 hotel rooms with peak blocks up to 8,000 in as few as five hotels
• An international airport with one-stop access from most worldwide hubs and affordable rates with major airlines (Southwest, Delta, American, United…to name a few)
• Over 1 million GSF of meeting space including a 565,000 GSF Convention Center and a major convention hotel with 200,000 GSF
• All major convention hotels in Reno proper are within 5 miles of the airport and offer complimentary shuttle transportation
• Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes from the airport with very reasonable shuttle costs
• The Truckee River runs through the middle of downtown Reno and through Sparks, and features two kayak parks, a performing arts amphitheater, nightclubs, restaurants, shopping, casinos and much more
• The Legends at Sparks Marina destination retail center includes shopping and recreation, while visitors can also take advantage of beach activities, fishing, scuba diving and much more
• Mountain views from just about every room in town
• A thriving arts and culture scene; one legacy event, Artown, includes more than 300 events during the month of July
• Twenty-four hour nightlife, including music, nightclubs, casino action and live performance art
• Affordable food and beverage – about 35 percent lower – offering affordability from a cost standpoint
• A new Triple A baseball team the Reno Aces begins its first season in April in a brand new 10,000-seat baseball stadium in the heart of downtown Reno

This is a sample of what you can expect to find in our community and we look forward to providing you a full proposal to showcase what we have to offer. Those same meeting planners and executive directors selected Reno-Tahoe when they took the time to visit our destination…we hope you will be next!

- Tanna McTee, RSCVA National Sales Manager