The National Indian Gaming Association announced the 2021 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention will take place July 19-22 at the new CAESARS FORUM in Las Vegas, NV. The event will be co-located with The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s (NCAIED) Reservation Economic Summit (RES), which is taking place July 19-21 at the adjacent Paris Hotel & Casino. Originally scheduled to take place in April in San Diego, CA the decision to postpone and move the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention to Las Vegas comes in response to local regulations and the ability to provide a premier in-person event for Indian Country and the gaming industry. The Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, as well as the co-located RES event, will focus on driving all-important business opportunities for the community as well as adhere to rigorous health and safety standards during the events.
Commented Ernie Stevens, Jr., Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, “We are excited to announce this partnership with the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED), which hosts RES, as well as our new dates and location. It’s more important than ever for Indian Country to unite and come together at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention and RES as we continue the rebuilding of tribal businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic. Our two great organizations have a long history of coming together to support one another and in this unique year, the joint venture helps coordinate our two shows in one city, and allows for the maximum amount of time for our attendees to secure vaccinations and safely travel. We encourage and look forward to seeing our members in Las Vegas.”
The mission of the National Indian Gaming Association is to protect and preserve the general welfare of tribes striving for self-sufficiency through gaming enterprises in Indian Country. As the largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country, the annual tradeshow and convention serves to deliver new insights and strategies for operators providing them access to industry leaders and cutting-edge trends in order to help them generate new revenues to support their local communities. This goal closely aligns with RES, presented by NCAIED, which features high caliber networking, business matchmaking, business development sessions, and one-on-one consulting, as well as the partnership with the American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL), which features their Business Plan Competition for High School and College students, all centered around the American Indian Enterprise.
“We’re excited to announce our partnership with the National Indian Gaming Association at this year’s Reservation Economic Summit,” said National Center President and CEO Chris James. “With this new format, attendees can register for three great events focused on economic development in Indian Country. Through resiliency and reinvention with our current partnership with American Indian Business Leaders, we’ll bring together leaders from across Indian Country for a unique opportunity to uplift Native-owned businesses. Attendees can expect the same high-caliber networking, educational, and business development opportunities they’ve come to expect at RES – plus access to NIGA’s one-of-a-kind trade show. The National Center, NIGA, and AIBL can’t wait to build new bridges of economic opportunities this summer.”
At the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, the industry can expect to find a robust education program, an expansive exhibit hall with leading manufacturers, and schedule of events designed to celebrate the accomplishments of Indian Country that the annual event is known for. In addition, the move to Las Vegas presents the unique opportunity to welcome additional commercial gaming operators and additional vendors – many headquartered locally – who are looking to discover new products and insights after a challenging year of canceled in-person events and meetings.
The tentative schedule for the 2021 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention will be released as soon as possible.
Ensuring the safety of attendees, exhibitors and staff at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention will be the National Indian Gaming Association’s top priority, working closely with their partners at the new CAESARS FORUM which boasts a new 550,000 sq ft convention center with adequate room for social distancing and health and safety measures. Detailed plans will be communicated leading up to the event that comply with all CDC, state and local regulations.
Added Chairman Stevens, “We are finalizing the details that will allow our Tradeshows to work through the COVID-19 precautions and provide a safe environment for what we believe will be a strong Tribal economic development event.”
Registration will be available for the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention in March and specific communication will go out to prior-registrants and exhibitors explaining processes to rollover registration and booth space from the postponed 2020 event. In addition, there will be specific registration discounts and offers for attendees who would like to attend both the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention and RES.
For more information visit www.indiangamingtradeshow.com, or to exhibit, contact Ed Gallo at 678-783-5716 or [email protected].