Safari Club International returns to Reno Tahoe USA

Conservation group to hold its annual convention in Reno Tahoe for three consecutive years.

Reposted on behalf of the RSCVA.

Reno, Nevada. July 21, 2016. The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA), along with the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA), today announced the return of the Safari Club International (SCI) Annual Hunters’ Convention.

“It is my privilege to announce that Safari Club International is coming back home to Reno Tahoe,” said RSCVA Board Chair Bob Lucey. “It was always our hope that SCI would someday return, and through the work of the RSCVA and our partners, and with the generous support of SCI leadership, that day is coming soon.”

Safari Club International has agreed to bring its annual convention to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center (RSCC) for three years, beginning in 2019. Reno has been home to 20 previous gatherings of the conservation organization, including 10 of the 11 years from 2003 to 2013. The convention brings 20,000 attendees from 103 countries, utilizing the entirety of the 500,000 sq. ft. RSCC. Most of the region’s major hotels will be home for attendees during the four-day event, and today SCI CEO Phil DeLone praised the region’s hospitality professionals for their continued interest and support.

“In addition to the executive staff from the RSCVA and the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, every chief executive and every sales executive in the resort community had a hand in SCI’s return, and has soundly demonstrated their unified commitment to Safari Club International and to this great city. We could not have done this without your collective support and effort,” said DeLone.

Part of that collective, community effort includes the RTAA’s commitment to broaden the airport’s cache of daily flights, increasing access to thousands of SCI members who originate from outside the country. RSCVA executives believe the regional growth of business and corporate travel are also contributing factors in SCI’s return.

“The region is growing, and our business development leaders, including EDAWN, are working to bring in more than 50,000 new jobs via the industries they’re attracting,” said RSCVA Interim Managing Director Jennifer Cunningham. “More business brings more people, which means more travel, enhancing the airport’s ability to acquire new air service. This is a far-reaching effort, and a great illustration of what regional momentum can do for the entire destination.”

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The first of three incoming SCI Annual Hunters’ Conventions will be held in January 2019. The RSCVA estimates the annual economic impact will be more than $21 million.

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About the RSCVA:

The RSCVA is the primary agency supporting the promotion of meeting, convention and tourism business for the Reno/Sparks/North Lake Tahoe region.  Reno Tahoe USA is a friendly, four season resort destination – in a spectacular natural setting – that offers world class attractions, activities and events to excite the passions of almost anyone. For more information visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.