Business and community leaders convened at World Trade Center Las Vegas (WTC Las Vegas) for an inaugural Las Vegas-based networking event in support of the World Trade Center Association’s (WTCA) World Trade Centers Day, 12 June.
The observance recognises the more than 300 World Trade Centers located in nearly 90 countries throughout the world for their role in enhancing global economic development through the WTCA network.
“A core mission of the World Trade Centers Association is to provide resources and opportunities that help various agencies connect globally and prosper locally and this vision aligns beautifully with the efforts of WTC Las Vegas and the destination as a whole,” said Chris Meyer WTC Las Vegas executive director and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) vice president of sales.
“World Trade Centers Day provides an excellent platform to drive business relationships forward in communities around the globe and elevate awareness of the power of the World Trade Centers and Las Vegas brands. We are happy to support this initiative and are confident our partners find value in engaging through the WTC network,” added Meyer.
WTC Las Vegas is a partnership between the LVCVA and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) TM, owner and producer of CES, a leading global technology event. Together, the LVCVA and CTA market Las Vegas to business travelers around the globe under the World Trade Center brand.
“The World Trade Center Las Vegas is a vibrant contributor to bringing international business to Las Vegas and we’re proud to be the destination’s partner in those initiatives,” said Karen Chupka, executive vice president, CES.
“World Trade Center Las Vegas continues to make itself a valuable resource and helps attract international visitors to trade events in southern Nevada,” Chupka added.
Guests at the Las Vegas World Trade Centers Day event represented a number of organisations and industries with the common interest of fostering international business relationships and stimulating the economy.
Presentations detailing relevant economic and development updates in southern Nevada and beyond were also led by: Chris Meyer, CEM, CMP, WTC Las Vegas executive director and LVCVA vice president of sales; Terry Jicinsky, LVCVA senior vice president of operations; Cindy Hoag, CTA senior director, CES Projects; Karen Gerwitz, WTC Denver president; and Paul Anderson, Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) executive director.
During the event, WTC Las Vegas also conducted a dual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony recognizing partnerships with WTC Denver and GOED.
The signed MOUs will further enhance collaboration to build the Las Vegas brand as a global business destination and grow international visitation to both the destination and to tradeshows like CES. Additionally, the MOUs provide the opportunity to expand business opportunities across a number of industry sectors.
“At GOED we are grateful the LVCVA is always willing to accommodate our participation to generate economic development leads and they also provide referrals through the World Trade Center network of international companies interested in Nevada,” said Paul Anderson, GOED executive director.
“Together we will continue to position the Silver State as a location of choice for innovative businesses and smart capital, including foreign direct investment, which has the potential to create more jobs and higher wages for Nevadans,” noted Anderson.
WTC Las Vegas also has signed memorandums of understanding with WTC Montevideo, WTC Dulles Airport, WTC Taipei, WTC Mexico City, WTC Brussels, WTC Beijing, WTC Miami, WTC Istanbul, WTC Seoul, WTC Sao Paulo, WTC Ft. Lauderdale and WTC Santiago, WTC Trieste, WTC Leeuwarden and WTC Twente.
Additionally, the LVCVA has a MOU with the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration to promote travel and tourism exports.
On World Trade Centers Day, WTCA released its 2018 WTCA Trade and Investment Report. According to the organisation’s findings, WTC cities constitute in excess of $26.7 trillion, which accounts for more than 35 per cent of the global GDP.
The full report, including interviews with WTC members globally, can be found at http://wtcareports.org/
To learn more about WTC Las Vegas, click here.
