Comments on: Is Anyone as Tired of Las Vegas as I am?

By: Barry Blakely

Barry Blakely — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:56:06 +0000

If everyone in the industry can go to Louisville, and get snowed on, then I have to think that there are more locations than Vegas, that can create a draw.

Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Miami, Denver, Dallas, Phoneix…all have major airports and while I’m not a show producer and have the knowledge of facilities, I would think they should be able to handle RVDA.

By: Gary Marian

Gary Marian — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 22:36:03 +0000

Please, leave convention alone…..It gives us a chance to thaw out one more time before REAL winter sets in!!

By: terry davis

terry davis — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 18:24:31 +0000

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Dawn Polk

Dawn Polk — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 13:03:26 +0000

I think alternate years of East Coast, West Coast is a fair option.

I agree with your assesment of Vegas Greg. Maybe once every two years would be a better choice. For us to keep up with business while “out of the office” and other factors, we choose to travel via our motorhome. Vegas is so far for us from here in North Carolina.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:17:15 +0000

Great discussion on Vegas and the alternatives. As a show producer, we have found there are really only a handful of cities with facilities that can adequately handle our needs. Part of the issues center around draw. Most cities such as Cincinnati as mentioned by one of the contributors to this blog won’t draw enough people to justify the costs associated in running a show. Our company has successfully used New Orleans, San Antonio and Orlando with great success. In fact each of these cities have been used more than once. We also used Nashville and Atlanta with mixed reviews. Vegas is a draw for many and will more than likely continue to be so for some time.

Running shows is a challenge as well as a major cost. Getting it right is important. Vegas, for good or bad does draw the numbers and that is what the show business is all about. Having said this, we will alternate Vegas with other cities because we also know that people like variety and there are several cities that meet both the appeal and functionality required for a successful show.

By: mark vanostrand

mark vanostrand — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:11:46 +0000

I agree, and what about the travel time from the North East. We spend two days in the air getting there and back. Increased security at the airports only adds to what already is a very long day. I have not participated in years.

By: NeVelle

NeVelle — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 03:26:34 +0000

What happened to the original plan to switch back and forth from the east one year to the west the next year. I thought Orlando and Nashville were both good venues and much less expensive.

By: Neil Citte

Neil Citte — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 21:06:29 +0000

Greg I agree with you as well, Las Vegas is way over done in this industury. Between the manufactors meeting there ,
Coaste RV, Stag and RVDA I get tired of it too.

By: Jeff Richford

Jeff Richford — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:39:40 +0000

Greg:
I agree with most of what you are saying…Las Vegas has gotten very expensive. I used to like to play Blackjack when bets were $3 - $5 and $100 would get you several hours of entertainment. Now at $10 - $15 during the day and a minimum of $25 at night I just don’t play anymore.

I do need to point out one thing…most of us dealers just go to Las Vegas once per year. RVDA is a learning experience as well as a reward for dealer principals and their staff for a job well done. Where you have been there 15 times in three years I have been there 15 times in 31 years as an RV dealer. Also, there are several quiet places to talk within the casino if you just look for them and not everyone there is nursing a hangover!

When it’s time to make the decision to attend the trade show, EXPO, convention or whatever each of us must try to calculate the return on investment. For the dealer it’s Dollars vs. Education/Enjoyment. For the vendor it’s Dollars vs. Sales/Good Will. Each of us will make our own choice, however next year if you are at RVDA I will reverse things and buy you a beer….but just one! Wouldn’t want you to get a hangover….*Grin*

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:14:34 +0000

Hi Greg;

Right on!!

I haven’t made an RVDA meeting (or Coast, Winnebago, Thor, Fleetwood, etc…) in Las Vegas for about 3 years. The last time I went by myself, it cost over $1000 (and that doesn’t include the Convention costs or the gambling) and I said never again. The RVDA is a great meeting, but just not in Vegas.

I remember going there in 2001 (about 20 days after the terrorists attacked) and they had $1.00 Black Jack and Roulette tables. I had lots of fun, but didn’t burn my allowance up on the first night. That was fun.

We actually took our kids with us a couple of years!!

I absolutely would not do that again.

Now it feels like everyone is on the take, there are simply too many seedy characters and as you said, it was just terribly expensive.

I think New Orleans could be a great destination, or San Antonio, or going back to Orlando or Nashville.