Nevada Tourism Alliance

2009 is upon us, and with it comes enormous opportunities and a great many new challenges.  As suppliers to the number one tourist economy in the nation, we have a great deal to be thankful for and proud of – yet these positive aspects of our business lives bring responsibilities that take the form of advocacy, tenacity, and nurturing as well.

My friend, former Governor Bob Miller and I have accepted the role of co-chairmen of the Nevada Tourism Alliance, the organization we founded three years ago.  At the time of its inception, we believed that those businesses that supply our number one industry needed to provide a voice to assure that this economic engine remained well-tuned and in good order.

Now, as we enter into its third year of service, this premise could not be more appreciable.  Fuel costs have again risen, airlines are in crisis with several suffering such severe economic downturns that bankruptcy or merger is the only option.

The lifeblood tourism industry of Nevada has historically been well-prepared to withstand virtually any slowdown of the nation's economy, but with the real estate devaluation, currency exchange crush and other major indicators in a downward trend, we too are subject to readjustment of our business plans.  And the bailout of American businesses has sent new tremors into the tourism sector with a dramatic decrease in business travel into Nevada and other destination cities.

In these times of readjustment, one thing is clear:  we must continue our unity and focus as the most dynamic tourism destination in America, and one of the top entertainment capitals in the world.

NTA is committed to staying the course and will continue to bring you up-to-the-minute and sage information about our industry and anything that prospectively can disrupt it.

Thank you for your belief in the strength of Nevada tourism and for your support of its Alliance of tourism suppliers.

Sincerely,

Larry Ruvo