Reno Tahoe Experiencing a Return of Traditional Group Business

Reno-Sparks Convention Center

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) announced three prestigious group events coming to Reno Tahoe, marking the return of meetings, conventions, trade shows and sports events in both the near and extended future.

“It’s encouraging to see demand for meetings and events matching the assortment of supply in Reno Tahoe,” said RSCVA President and CEO Charles Harris. “We’re currently experiencing a pattern where the post-pandemic model for short-term sports event bookings is being replicated by conventions and trade shows. When you look at the short-term recovery, and incorporate the apparent return of traditional, long-term booking windows, this is a wonderful sign for Northern Nevada’s tourism economy and for the travel industry in general.”

The 2024 Shriners International Imperial Session will bring more than 3,500 Shriners and guests to Reno Tahoe. Held in a different destination each year, the Imperial Session provides Shriners with an in-person platform to conduct fraternity business, celebrate successes and deliberate the important work related to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The week-long event will run from late June to early July and is expected to generate 11,000 room nights.

Due to COVID-related travel restrictions in Canada, the 2021 Airports Council International (ACI) Annual Conference & Exhibition was relocated from its original location in Toronto and will now be held in Reno Tahoe. More than 800 North American airport executives will be in attendance this November, networking, discussing industry trends and finding solutions to benefit the future of air travel. Representing 2,400 room nights, the ACI Annual Conference and Exhibition was officially booked in 2021 and will also materialize this calendar year, an uncommon practice in the meetings, conventions and trade show industry. Officials from the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority are also working closely with ACI on its JumpStart® event, which will be held in Reno Tahoe in June 2022.

USA Climbing will soon bring 500 competitors, representing more than 5,000 room nights, to Reno Tahoe. The 2021 Youth National Championships, July 13-18, will be preceded by the inaugural Youth Climbing Festival, July 9-11. These events will feature some of the best young climbers in the country, and “could start to identify some of the young stars who will one day vie to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” according to USA Climbing.

The three groups detailed above are expected to infuse an estimated economic impact of $18 million into the Northern Nevada economy.

For more information on the convention center, visit www.rscva.com.