Convention business to get boost from new sky bridge

No one should underestimate the marketing power of a new sky bridge between the Atlantis Casino Resort and the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, tourism executives say.

Conventioneers headed from the convention center to the Atlantis won't face the perils of rushing traffic or frigid northern Nevada winds while crossing Peckham Lane as the Atlantis received final approval on designs for an approximately 400-foot enclosed skyway. It will connect the center's North Hall exit to the south side of the resort's $50 million expansion.

Atlantis Chief Executive Officer John Farahi says the skyway will benefit conventioneers in three ways. Increased traffic on Peckham Lane creates safety hazards as cars whiz by. Convenience is a second factor as it's downright cold and windy in the winter, and conventioneers often have asked for a warmer walk back to the hotel. Finally, Farahi says experienced conventioneers expect that luxury, and the new skyway makes it easier to market conventions here.

"Whenever there was a convention we were basically full," he says. "In the wintertime, guests were asking, 'Why don't you have an enclosed walkway like many major American cities.' We felt it was another thing we could do to help bring more tourism to Nevada. The convention authority saw that this would be an asset for the community and for drawing more conventions to our market, and the city had been asking for a long time (for us) to consider a sky bridge."

Ellen Oppenheim, president and chief executive officer of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, says initial feedback on the project has been positive.

"When the Atlantis surfaced the idea, we contacted a number of our existing clients and they were extremely enthusiastic. They liked having the ability to go from inside the convention center to inside a hotel.

"They can find that in many markets, and it is a very big positive for Reno," Oppenheim adds. "Several of our larger clients are eager to see it completed and take advantage of it for their shows. The ability to stay inside, protected from the weather, is extremely appealing."

The Atlantis will foot the bill for the project, which has yet to go to bid, as well as for maintenance. Farahi expects the skyway to be completed by third quarter of 2008, with the expansion completed in the second quarter.

"We have to have to have the (new) buildings up so we can connect it," he says. "It is an extension of the expansion."

Oppenheim hopes other organizations include similar connections to the convention center in their building designs. Stations Casinos, for instance, plans a hotel and casino at South Virginia and Kietzke Lane, near the southwest edge of the convention center property. "When other hotels are in the immediate proximity, it would be wonderful if they did the same thing," she says.