The next ASTA Global Convention will be held in Reno,
Nevada, from Sept. 25-28, 2016. The convention’s location was during this
year’s convention, here, earlier this week.
Christopher Baum, president and CEO of the Reno-Sparks
Convention and Visitors Authority, gave a presentation about Reno during the
closing session of this year’s convention, held earlier this week in Washington, D.C.
“The last few days, we’ve had the chance to talk to a lot of
ASTA members, and what we’ve found is that most of you have never been to Reno
Tahoe, or haven’t been in 20 years,” Baum said. He is hopeful that will change.
Reno started out as a stop on the transcontinental railroad
when gold and silver mining was at its peak, Baum said. “And then, we became
the divorce capital of America,” he said to laughs. Then Reno became a gaming
capital when gambling was only legal in Nevada.
“Today, we’re a very different destination,” he said. “Not
only are we a four-season destination resort, we’re also a high-tech boom
town.”
For instance, Tesla is building the world’s largest building
— a 10 million square foot facility — 15 minutes outside Reno, where it will
manufacture batteries. Baum said Apple, Amazon and others also have a presence
in Reno.
“Our corporate travel is booming in our resort town,” he
said. “There’s a lot going for us, and corporate America’s discovered that.”
Baum said gaming isn’t as big a part of Reno as it once was.
Instead, the outdoors and “natural beauty” are becoming a primary draw. He also
described a boom in brew pubs and distilleries, as well as a growing midtown
and Riverwalk district.
Lake Tahoe, 1,600 feet deep and 72 miles around, is nearby.
“It’s a truly spectacular venue,” Baum said. “A lot of folks
are surprised to learn it’s only 40 minutes from downtown Reno.”