Our Mission

The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has been helping businesses grow since its inception in 1911. The Chamber is the largest business organization in the state of Nevada, and has a strong and dynamic history of promoting, protecting and strengthening its member businesses, as well as helping them grow and thrive. Its community stewardship extends from the original discussions to bring Hoover Dam to aid the Southern Nevada economy, the construction of McCarran International Airport and the first national and international tourism initiatives for Las Vegas.

The organization currently has about 6,000 members representing nearly every industry in Southern Nevada, employing more than 200,000 people. While large employers are active in the Chamber, the majority of members are smll businesses. In fact, 88 percent of Chamber members are small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

Chamber History

The Chamber has a vibrant history steeped in the history and development of Las Vegas. Take a look at some of the major accomplishments and milestones of the Chamber throughout its 101 year legacy. For a comprehensive look at some of the Chamber's major accomplishments in developing and protecting the Las Vegas business community, visit Chamber100.com.

  • 1911 - The Chamber is formed. It exhibits at the Land and Products Exhibition to promote tourism and growth in what is considered to be one of the first tourism campaigns to the area.
  • 1929 - Work on Boulder Dam breaks ground. Chamber leaders, as well as its founding members, have been in discussions and negotiations to ensure that Southern Nevada receives a major boost in its struggling economy from the dam's construction.
  • 1931 - Chamber officials campaign to have the ban on gaming lifted. Mayme Stocker's Northern Club is officially the first Southern Nevada gaming license procured.
  • 1933 - With heavy pushing from Chamber leaders, the first post office and federal building are erected in Las Vegas.
  • 1934 - The first Helldorado Days festival is held, thanks in large part to Chamber and Las Vegas founding family, the Cashmans.
  • 1941 - The U.S. Army Air Corps Gunnery School opens in the space now occupied by McCarran International Airport. The Chamber and Senator McCarran are instrumental in the gunnery school's formation.
  • 1945 - Chamber president Maxwell Kelch launches the Livewire Fund to promote Las Vegas as a worldwide tourism destination city.This is a major step forwards in establishing Las Vegas as the vacation and tourist destination that it is today. It is also an instrumental step in the formation of the Desert Sea News Bureau, now known as the Las Vegas News Bureau. Charles "Pop" Squires writes in the Las Vegas Age newspaper to rally support for the Livewire Fund, "All businessmen should join in the campaign to spread the fame of Las Vegas to every part of the country in preparation for the vast surge of travel which the end of the war will start."
  • 1947 - The Chamber, as a part of its initiatives through the Livewire Fund, commissions the West-Marquis Firm, a West Coast-based advertising agency, to design an ad campaign for tourism. Their original design is the iconic "Vegas Vic," which inspired the famous neon sign still seen on Fremont Street today. Vegas Vic and his tagline, "Howdy podner" become one of the  most recognizable symbols of Las Vegas.
  • 1951 - The first atomic bomb is detonated at the Nevada Test Site on January 27. The Chamber issues a stream of press releases describing the testing grounds as one of the many attractions the city has to offer. After the detonations are televised, atomic culture sweeps the nation and Las Vegas becomes the epicenter of the craze. The Chamber issues a calendar listing the scheduled detonations and best vantage points to watch them.
  • 1955 - The Chamber of Commerce forms the Better Business Bureau and United Way of Southern Nevada in a citywide effort to increase community stewardship.
  • 1960 - With the growing popularity of the jet plane and United Airlines advertising service to Las Vegas, the need for a larger airport that can accommodate the jet plane becomes pressing. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce holds a board meeting to endorse the airport in an effort to get it to pass bond election, a crucial step that helps McCarran International Airport become one of the United States' busiest airports today.
  • 1983 - Community leaders through the Chamber, including future Chamber president Mark Smith, create Las Vegas Events to attract non-gaming visitors to the area.
  • 1998 - The Chamber advocates for passage of school bonds to fund $3.5 million for school construction and renovation.
  • 2009 - The Chamber publishes landmark studies on public employee pay and benefits, and is successful during the legislative session of having comprehensive reform measures passed to help reduce the state's unfunded future budget liability and shortfall.
  • 2011 - The Chamber celebrates its Centennial anniversary.