LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Amid a dip in tourism to Las Vegas, officials from the Vegas Chamber will make their annual delegation trip to Washington, D.C.
Mary Beth Seewald, president and CEO of the Vegas Chamber, said the trip will focus on issues affecting the state and ensuring Nevada’s priorities are heard in the nation’s capital.
The 2025 delegation comes as tourism officials contend with an online narrative that Las Vegas has priced itself out of the market. Steve Hill, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said that despite the 12% year-over-year drop in visitors in July, the city remains affordable, and officials are optimistic that the “sports and entertainment capital of the world” will see strong December numbers.
Seewald listed five key topics and priorities the delegation will focus on during the 2025 trip to the nation’s capital:
Economic Development & Land
Seewald said the issue of land in and around the Las Vegas Valley will be a focal point of the visit, with economic development being a key concern to bring to federal officials’ attention.
“Here in Southern Nevada, we’re kind of landlocked … when we go to invite companies to relocate or establish their headquarters here in Southern Nevada if they need a big footprint on which to build,” Seewald said. “That creates a challenge for us to build economic development.”
Workforce Development
Seewald emphasized workforce development as officials examine policies that encourage job creation in the Las Vegas Valley.
“One of our biggest priorities is workforce. And upskilling and reskilling Nevada’s workforce so that we can put people to work,” she said.
Tourism
Federal influence has been felt in the Las Vegas Valley through two initiatives emphasized during the Trump administration: no tax on tips and tariff policy. Hill cited a 20% drop in visitors from Canada in August, along with tariffs, as potential stumbling blocks.
Those issues will be top of mind for those heading to Washington. Seewald said conversations and panels have been scheduled to address them.
No Tax on Tips and Tariffs
Federal influence has been felt in the Las Vegas Valley through two initiatives emphasized during the Trump administration: no tax on tips and tariff policy. Hill cited a 20% drop in visitors from Canada in August, along with tariffs, as potential stumbling blocks.
Those issues will be top of mind for those heading to Washington. Seewald said conversations and panels have been scheduled to address them.
Housing, Education, Water
Experts say a stabilizing housing market has resulted in a buyer’s market, with longer timelines and fewer bidding wars for sellers. At the same time, Jhone Ebert recently completed her first 100 days as superintendent of the Clark County School District. Her focus is on the district’s core academic mission, while Clark County remains in the “extreme drought” category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
These perennial issues in the valley will be central to the delegation’s discussions, Seewald said.
The Vegas Chamber’s Washington, D.C., fly-in is scheduled for Sept. 15–18.
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