The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) board of directors today unanimously approved a proposed $737 million master plan enhancement program for the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Construction is slated to begin in late 2006 and be completed by the end of 2010.

The LVCVA conducted extensive interviews and focus groups with the LVCC customers and other stakeholders to determine the components of the enhancement program.

Primary projects include adding meeting rooms to support the facility's South Hall exhibition space, a new front lobby connecting the North, Central and South Halls, renovating and upgrading the existing facility, and constructing a 100,000-square-foot general session space.

Other projects in the program include improving access to and from the facility, construction of an enclosed connector between the LVCC and the Las Vegas Monorail station, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department substation, a Clark County Fire Department Station and a customer service support center.

"Las Vegas is continually reinventing itself as a destination, and this is an opportunity for the convention center to reinvent itself and remain atop the industry," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO, LVCVA. "We will continue to provide the world-class customer experience our clients have come to expect."

Customer and stakeholder feedback will continue to be incorporated throughout the design and construction phases of the enhancement. Meticulous planning and communication will be used to minimize the impact on convention services during the project.

Las Vegas hosted more than three dozen Tradeshow Week 200 shows, the most of any destination for 11 consecutive years.

This enhancement program is designed not only to satisfy the needs of the LVCC's customers, but also to ensure the destination is poised to remain the No. 1 tradeshow destination in an increasingly competitive environment.

Today, 59 of the top 67 convention facilities across the country are undergoing or planning significant upgrades to their facilities.

With more than 35,000 new rooms slated to be added to the citywide inventory by 2010, the enhancement of the convention center represents the LVCVA's commitment to supporting the resort community.

The organization's vision is to attract 43 million visitors in 2009 and grow the percentage of business visitors from 15 percent to 20 percent by that date.

Construction on the $737 million LVCC enhancement program is expected to generate $1.2 billion in economic activity for the local community. It represents LVCVA's single largest investment in the facility in its 47-year history.