Business groups set to greet president

Las Vegas business leaders said Tuesday that they're looking forward to hearing directly from Barack Obama on his second presidential visit to a city where tourism officials now predict a million more visitors in 2010 than last year.

Obama could have been walking into a lion's den when he agreed to speak Friday to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. He riled locals when he twice pointed to Las Vegas as a place not to spend money or visit when times are tough, both for corporations looking to cut back and for Americans trying to save for college.

Now, the city's business community seems to be in a forgiving mood as the economy shows signs of recovery and as the Obama administration pushes for congressional approval of the Travel Promotion Act. It's an overseas promotion program that could bring more foreigners to Las Vegas.

"Let's see what the president has to say," said Vince Alberta, spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "I think when a president comes to your community twice in less than a year, I think that demonstrates a level of commitment."

Before Obama's visit, the Department of Transportation is expected to announce $30 million for a Sahara Avenue bus project as part of the multibillion-dollar stimulus package, said a U.S. official familiar with the details. He spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.

Several hundred members of the public will get to hear from Obama and question him during a town hall meeting at 10 a.m. Friday at Green Valley High School in Henderson.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman remains upset at Obama. Goodman said he won't accept invitations to greet the president or attend the town hall unless he gets "some kind of retraction."

"I have to be true to my own conscience," Goodman said Tuesday night.

Last year, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority suggested that some big conventions might have canceled trips to the city after Obama criticized Wall Street for sending executives to places such as Las Vegas and paying big bonuses at a time when most Americans were suffering.

Asked whether Obama should apologize to Las Vegas business leaders face to face, Alberta said: "That's a question that needs to go broader -- beyond me."

Alberta said his group predicts more Las Vegas visitors this year -- 37.4 million compared with 36.4 million in 2009 -- and also expects a gain in 2011. In 2008, Las Vegas had 37.5 million visitors, far below the record high of 39.2 million in 2007, before the economy crashed after years of booming economic times.

Las Vegas and the state need the boost in visitors, which could help decrease Nevada's 13 percent unemployment rate and slow the loss of workers who have moved to find jobs in other states.

Cara Roberts, Chamber of Commerce public relations director, said leaders are focused on job creation and economic growth, "and we believe the president is focused on that, too. So this is a great opportunity for the business community to hear from President Obama directly."

Shesaid that Obama will get a chance to meet MGM Mirage workers when he comes to CityCenter and speaks to as many as 600 people in the Aria hotel-casino.

"This trip gives him an opportunity to hear and see hardworking men and women and to see the struggle our community has gone through during this recession," Roberts said.

Roberts and Alberta said Las Vegas is counting on passage of the Travel Promotion Act as the city reaches beyond U.S. shores for visitors, especially to the populous Asian market.

The Travel Promotion Act was passed by both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives in this session of Congress and has strong bipartisan support, with Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., one of the co-sponsors and with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., also signing on to the legislation.

The House bill, which contains Senate-passed language, is going back to the Senate for final approval before being sent to Obama for signing, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

The legislation calls for an overseas travel promotion program that is projected to yield millions of new visitors nationwide, $4 billion in new economic stimulus, 40,000 new American jobs and $320 million in new federal tax revenue, according to the association.

The Congressional Budget Office reports that the bill will reduce the deficit by $425 million and increase revenues by $135 million over the next 10 years. The bill is funded -- at no cost to taxpayers -- by a $10 fee paid by overseas visitors to the United States and matching funds from the U.S. private travel sector.

Jon Summers, a spokesman for Reid, said lawmakers will take up the act after the brief recess this week. Reid will accompany Obama on Friday, attending the business speech and the town hall.

Republicans have criticized Obama's $787 billion stimulus package -- signed a year ago Wednesday -- for not doing enough to create jobs and spur the economy as promised.

Reid said the act created and saved more than 20,000 Nevada jobs and helped boost the state's economic efforts, providing tax relief for working families and helping small businesses.

The president is scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas on Thursday night and attend a private fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at the Spanish Trail home of Palms owner George Maloof.

The event is expected to raise about $1 million for the Democratic National Committee, and some 45 people are invited.

IF you go

Tickets for Friday's 10 a.m. town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at Green Valley High School in Henderson are available free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis at the school. They can be picked up beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday at the school's football field box office, at 460 Arroyo Grande Blvd. White House officials did not say exactly how many tickets were available, but an audience of several hundred people is expected.

Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.