LVCVA leader deserves a raise and a bonus, panel says

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s Compensation committee on Monday recommended a 9 percent raise and a 50 percent bonus for Steve Hill, meaning the president and CEO of the organization would receive a $247,500 bonus and a salary increase to $539,550 a year starting in July.

Committee members discussed and evaluated Hill’s performance over the past year and heard Hill’s own assessment of general counsel Caroline Bateman.

The committee recommended a 20 percent bonus for her ($50,000) and a 6 percent salary increase to $265,000 a year.

Both recommendations will be taken up by the full LVCVA board of directors at its July 8 meeting.

The six-member committee made its recommendation based on Hill’s accomplishments over the past year.

They included his leadership in marketing the city globally, cementing the city’s role as the sports capital of the world, completing the LVCVA’s $600 million renovation project on time and on budget, and improving access within and to Las Vegas through local transportation initiatives — the Las Vegas Monorail and Elon Musk’s underground Vegas Loop system — and through domestic and international airline development.

Hill thanked the board and applauded the rest of his executive team after the committee’s unanimous vote to grant him the bonus and salary increase.

Prior to the evaluations of Hill and Bateman, the committee made a modification to its compensation policy to increase the maximum bonus allowable from 40 percent to 50 percent.

Committee member Mary Beth Sewald said she felt confident in giving Hill a generous bonus and salary increase because she said he has overseen the organization with integrity.

The LVCVA is unusual in that it is one of the only agencies that operates as both a destination marketing organization as well as the manager of a major convention center. In most cities, those roles are separate.

Hill also serves as chair of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, giving him a role in overseeing sports in the city.

He participated Monday morning in the groundbreaking of the $1.75 billion Strip baseball stadium for the Athletics.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.