Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill On Way to Significant Pay Rise

Article ByDavid Weir

June 27, 2023

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Posted in: US Gambling News, Nevada Gambling News

The CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Steve Hill, is on track to receive a substantial pay increase and bonus. That’s following a recommendation on Monday from the LVCVA’s compensation committee.

The committee, consisting of six members, has proposed a 7.5% salary increase and a 40% bonus for Hill, acknowledging his contributions over the past year.

If the LVCVA board approves the recommendation on July 11, Hill’s annual salary will rise by $33,570 to $481,179. He will also receive a bonus of $179,043.

Henderson Mayor and committee member Michelle Romero said Hill had really “hit it out of the park” in his efforts over the year.

“The bar you had set was already high. You were already killing it, and you increased the customer base. I don’t know what you’re going to do next year,” she said.

Recognition for Exceptional Leadership

The committee’s recommendation comes in light of Hill’s exceptional leadership and the significant achievements of the LVCVA under his guidance.

Hill has been instrumental in securing major events that will be hosted in Las Vegas. That includes the upcoming Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix race in November, the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in February 2024, and the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four championship in 2028.

LCVCA officials have also been a key part of ongoing negotiations for a potential new Major League Baseball stadium in the city, which could see the Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas.

Scott DeAngelo, a member of the compensation committee, praised Hill’s relentless efforts.

“You didn’t take your foot off the gas. In fact, you pushed harder,” he said.

“It takes a lot of resolve and a lot of discipline to not smell your own fumes when you had a year as good as you guys had. Congratulations on your leadership and congratulations to the leadership group. Well done.”

Future Goals and Plans

Looking ahead, Hill has outlined six key goals for the LVCVA. These include driving visitation to record highs, filling the Las Vegas Convention Center with marquee events, completing the $600 million renovation of the Convention Center, and improving the work culture at the LVCVA.

Hill’s team is also focused on increasing Las Vegas’s social media followers to 10 million by the end of fiscal year 2026. That also means driving international visitation and engagement, with a particular focus on Mexico and Canada. And, maybe, Hollywood-backed British soccer teams could be in the mix.

The LVCVA also plans to reopen its tourism office in Seoul, South Korea.

The ultimate goal is to have 8.3 million visitors to Las Vegas conventions a year by 2026. The current record year was in 2019, when 6.6 million people visited city convention venues.

Despite the proposed pay increase, Hill’s compensation package would still be below the average pay rate for top leaders in the destination marketing field, LVCVA claims.

The committee members believe that to maintain Las Vegas’s status as a premier tourism destination, it’s crucial to offer competitive compensation that can attract and retain the best executives in the business.

Hill has been CEO of the LVCVA since 2018. He previously worked at Governor Brian Sandoval’s Office of Economic Development, and as chairman of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, according to his official LVCVA bio. Last year the LVCVA awarded Hill an unprecedented bonus of 50% of his yearly salary.