Heffner, Van, 1945-2015

In 1979 Van Heffner (1945-2015) founded the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association (NHMA), which became the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association (NHLA) in the late 1990s. Heffner was an important leader for the expansion of tourism in Nevada. He served as President and CEO of Heffner & Associates, Inc. from 1979 until his retirement in 2012. He also served on a number of government commissions and founded and operated several trade associations, the most notable being the Nevada Restaurant Association, the Nevada Hospitality Foundation, and the Nevada Tourism Alliance in addition to the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association. He was instrumental in transforming the image of Las Vegas from a gaming destination to a family-oriented vacation destination. The mission statement of the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association is: "To serve the lodging industry by providing representation at the local, state and national levels in industry affairs; provide comprehensive and robust educational resources and programs; offer valued member benefits; provide industry communications and value-added member based services."

Sources:

“About the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association,” Nevada Restaurant Association, accessed May 30, 2018, http://www.nvhotels.com/about-the-nevada-hotel-lodging-association/

“Farwell Van Heffner.” The Master Key, last modified September 24, 2015, accessed May 30, 2018, https://www.nvhotels.com/blog/farewell-van-heffner/

“Van Heffner, Nevada Hospitality Icon,” Nevada Restaurant Association, December 01, 2015, accessed May 30, 2018 https://lvfnb.com/articles/ Nevada-Restaurant-Association-bec9100692ca

“Van Heffner, Nevada Hospitality Icon Dies at Age 70,” Nevada Hotels and Lodging Association, accessed May 30, 2018, http://www.nvhotels.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Van-Heffner-Obituary-Sept-2015.pdf