NATPE Blog

However, being in Vegas to begin with is still a point of contention for NATPE-goers.

NATPE President-CEO Rick Feldman said Vegas is a prime spot for the convention because of the space, the resources and the housing. It also keeps bigger distributors from sequestering conventiongoers off-site, like at a studio.

The dissenting opinion, held by some television execs (and our very own Josef Adalian), is that moving NATPE to some place like Los Angeles would make it easier for executives based in Hollywood, considering that’s where a lot of the business is based, increasing attendance.

It appears this argument isn’t exclusive to NATPE.

Going on concurrently with NATPE at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas is the SIA Snowsports Trade Show, an industry show about snowboarding, skiing and anything else involving snow.

Held in Las Vegas for 37 years, the Snowsports show is moving to Denver in 2010.

According to Snowboard Magazine, “Moving the show away from the bright lights of Vegas to the Mile High City also makes sense for an industry that lives and breathes snow sports. The state of Colorado is known as a snow sports Mecca, boasting 27 winter resorts within the state, while many of the industry’s leaders including manufacturers, retailers, ski/snowboard publications and athletes call Colorado home.”

Here’s a sign located in the hallway leading into the convention center:

And right next to that sign is this:

NATPE’s contract with the Mandalay Bay expires next year. The organization has not yet announced plans for its 2011 convention.

—Andrew Krukowski