By Blair Cardinal
Oak View Group, the global venue development, advisory, and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industry, announced the appointment of veteran hospitality executive Chandra Allison as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Growth for Meetings, Conventions & Exhibitions.
In the newly created role, Allison will oversee the strategy to grow the convention center business across the OVG360 portfolio and elevate the omnipresent OVG guest experience. She will also design and develop meeting spaces and programming for OVG’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino project, the $3 billion entertainment district that includes a 20,000-seat arena, 2,000-room hotel, meeting space, and casino. Using her industry and in-market experience, she will help the team fulfill the ambitious vision of the facility.
“I’m passionate about meetings, conventions, and exhibitions as chief economic drivers in any prosperous city or 
community,” Allison said. “I’m excited to join the team because I believe in the foresight of OVG’s leadership for where the industry could and should be in five years, 10 years and beyond. The entrepreneurial spirit, the culture, and the growth opportunities are astounding, and I’m excited to get started.”
Allison joins OVG following a 24-year tenure at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, which began as part of the integrated resort’s pre-opening team and concluded most recently as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing – M.I.C.E and Leisure. She assumed her new role with OVG on September 19 and reports jointly to Greg O’Dell, OVG360’s president of venue management, and Randy Morton, president of OVG Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.
“We’re thrilled to have Chandra on board,” O’Dell said. “She brings three decades of executive-level leadership and deep relationships with high-end, blue-chip clients to the table. She is an accomplished and recognized leader known for delivering powerful results through collaboration, creative negotiations, innovative sales deployment, people development, and group and leisure marketing strategies – all with the goal of providing a paramount guest experience.”
“Very few individuals possess Chandra’s degree of skill and wisdom – in Las Vegas and beyond – within the meetings and conventions, exhibitions, hotel, leisure and hospitality space,” Morton said. “As someone who started her career as a front desk agent at the Reno Hilton nearly thirty years ago and ascended to one of the top positions at a world-renowned property, she knows how to navigate a nuanced and competitive business. I’m excited to have Chandra on the team during this integral stage in development as we make our way toward our 2026 opening.”
Focused on education, fundraising, advocacy and research to advance the industry, Allison sat on the executive committee, board of directors and finance audit committee for the U.S. Travel Association and the global board of trustees, executive committee, and international board of directors for the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation. She also served as a board member of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International – Las Vegas (HSMAI) and Meetings Mean Business Coalition.
Blair Cardinal is Vice President for OVG 360 Communications.
Photo by Oak View Group
