At least 10 associations have Las Vegas events in June

AVIXA's InfoComm 2018 is scheduled for June 6-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, but an association spokesman said the surrounding hotels are operating normally at this time.
Photo: InfoCommshow.org

Thousands of Las Vegas casino and hospitality workers could walk off the job next month, but what that means for associations with trade shows and conferences in the city remains to be seen.

Members of the city's Culinary and Bartenders Unions voted May 22 to authorize a strike starting in June, according to a statement by the unions. Union members are seeking better pay but also wanted greater protection from sexual harassment and losing jobs to automation.

Contracts for roughly 50,000 bartenders, housekeepers and other hospitality workers in 34 resort destinations throughout the city expire June 1, although the vote to strike does not mean a strike will begin at that time.

If a strike takes place, it would be the first labor action of its kind in Las Vegas since 1984, when a similar strike hobbled the city's resort industry. Las Vegas is one of the most popular destinations for association trade shows and conferences, with at least 10 association events planned for June alone, according to a list maintained by the Tradeshow Network.

Some upcoming events won't be affected. The National Investor Relations Institute is holding its annual conference June 10-13 at Wynn Las Vegas, whose employee contracts do not expire June 1, according to the unions. (A list of potentially affected properties is available at http://bit.ly/2klBJ8f.)

Still, many other groups could face disruption should the strike move forward. AVIXA's InfoComm 2018 is scheduled for June 6-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center with education sessions at the nearby Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, which would be one of the affected properties.

"Those hotels in the InfoComm room block that may be affected (less than half of the block) are continuing to operate normally and provide all guest services, including convention and meeting services," Jason McGraw, AVIXA's senior vice president of expositions, said in an email to CEO Update. "We continue to monitor the situation closely, but at this time neither we nor any of the hotels in question are anticipating a work stoppage or a disruption of service during InfoComm 2018."

Other associations with Las Vegas events in June include:

• American Institute of CPAs
• Western States Roofing Contractors Association
• International Association of Fire Chiefs
• National Fire Protection Association
• American Water Works Association
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
• Healthcare Financial Management Association
• World Pet Association