Convention Authority Bids Snyder Goodbye

9 March 2005

By Chris Jones

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board Tuesday said goodbye to longtime board member and Boyd Gaming Corp. President Don Snyder, who will retire at the end of this month.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has over the years both battled and supported Snyder on their shared interests in Fremont Street and other issues. On Tuesday, the mayor praised Snyder.

"I can't think of another member of the private sector who has more love for Las Vegas," Goodman said. "We're going to miss him."

Also, the board approved requests to market the city through two upcoming special events in China and Europe.

Local marketers and representatives of several large Las Vegas trade shows plan to meet with business leaders in Beijing and Shanghai from May 23 to June 3.

That trip, first reported by the Review-Journal in January, will be modeled after a similar promotional tour of Sao Paulo, Brazil, held in September.

In late June, the convention authority and representatives from 10 local resorts will also spend five days promoting Las Vegas before meeting planners and travel agents in Germany and Switzerland.

The European trip will cost the convention authority $100,000. China's total bill is estimated at $90,000.