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| Volume 1, Issue 6, June 15, 2007 | |
| A Message from Bill Boyajian | |
 “Homecoming”
is a word that has warm and comforting connotations. High schools and
universities hold annual “homecoming” events to invite graduates to
gather with their fellow students from years gone by. Family members
who are separated look forward to going home for holiday gatherings and
special occasions, even if only for a few days. Last week, the World Jewelry Center celebrated a homecoming of sorts, during the annual JCK Las Vegas Show. Las Vegas is our home–specifically the master-planned community of Union Park–but really the city itself, with its reputation as an international center of entertainment and luxury. It has been nearly one year since this momentous project got under way, so we took this opportunity to visit Union Park again and to show it to some of our current participants and a number of other jewelry business leaders. In less than one year, we expect to break ground for the World Jewelry Center and join the other unique businesses and organizations that will be located in Union Park. We also took the opportunity to acquaint hundreds of others with the World Jewelry Center through several special events and many personal appointments. We began with a press conference for the jewelry trade media on May 31. We were privileged to have Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman participate, and we deeply appreciated the support he expressed for the World Jewelry Center. Mayor Goodman is the visionary behind Union Park and the revitalization of Las Vegas with new types of businesses. We then conducted a presentation on June 1 for hundreds of guests. The standing-room-only audience for this event provided dramatic evidence of the growing momentum propelling the World Jewelry Center. As I continue to share the vision of this project with industry leaders worldwide, their confidence is clearly increasing, as is their participation. We now have more than 80 firms who have signed Letters of Intent to purchase space in the office tower, representing some 200,000 square feet. Another important event during the week of the JCK Show was the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association’s 23rd Annual Gala Awards Night on June 2. The World Jewelry Center was one of the sponsors of the evening event. Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons was the special guest of honor, and in his remarks he welcomed the World Jewelry Center to the state and commended the expansion of the jewelry industry in Nevada. He is a forward-thinking pro-business governor, and his support and encouragement for our industry are gratifying. Like Mayor Goodman in Las Vegas, Governor Gibbons is emphasizing diversity in the development of business and industry in Nevada. The World Jewelry Center “came home” to the city where it clearly belongs—one whose character reflects the excitement and glamour of the jewelry industry; one whose laws and regulations are very favorable to business owners; one which has international transportation access and modern communications and logistics; and one with 40 million international visitors annually. In short, it is the perfect location for a major gem and jewelry hub. In the weeks and months to come, many more jewelry industry leaders will be adding their names and their businesses to those who have signed on to have a home in the World Jewelry Center. Please see the related articles in this issue of Insights, as well as our photo gallery. We always welcome your questions and comments, so please let us hear from you. |
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| Las Vegas Is Perfect Fit for Jewelry Industry, Mayor Goodman Tells Trade Media | Overflow Audience Attends World Jewelry Center Presentation in Las Vegas |
 The
World Jewelry Center held a press conference on May 31 at the Mirage
Hotel. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Probity International Corp.
President and CEO Robert Zarnegin, and WJC Managing Director Bill
Boyajian updated the jewelry trade media on progress in developing the
international gem and jewelry hub to be built in the new master-planned
Las Vegas community of Union Park, with completion planned for late
2010.
Noting that this was the first WJC press conference since the initial launch event in Las Vegas on Oct. 25, 2006, Boyajian revealed that the number of participating firms had grown from the original group of ten to nearly 80, representing about 200,000 square feet of office space. He pointed out that the WJC has met or exceeded the milestones set by the city. He said groundbreaking is anticipated for Spring 2008. Mayor Goodman praised the WJC as an important vehicle for adding variety to the city’s business environment. Goodman has long advocated such diversification. He pledged his complete support for the WJC and said the glamour and excitement of Las Vegas make it the perfect fit for the jewelry industry. Zarnegin stressed that he is committed to serving tenants of the WJC with the integrity and quality of service that have been among the key guiding principles of his highly successful 30-year career in real estate development. Foreign Trade Zone expert Tommy Berry explained that the WJC will have its own FTZ, and WJC tenants will thus realize substantial savings through such benefits as tariff relief and reduced paperwork. He said Customs Brokers will be on the WJC premises to assist with advice and transactions. |
 On
June 1, an overflow crowd in the Venetian Hotel’s Marcello Ballroom
heard WJC Managing Director Bill Boyajian share the vision of the World
Jewelry Center and explain its key features and benefits. Probity International Corp. President and CEO Robert Zarnegin also addressed the audience. He expressed his complete trust and confidence in Boyajian’s leadership and management of the project. Foreign Trade Zone expert Tommy Berry discussed the substantial money-saving and time-saving benefits that all office trade tower occupants will gain from the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) that will be part of the WJC. Goods imported into the FTZ are not subject to customs fees until they enter the commerce of the U.S. Goods may be stored indefinitely in the FTZ or processed in many ways, all without incurring customs charges. “The response we received during the JCK Show was amazing,” said Boyajian. “Between our full schedule of presentations and the many personal appointments that our entire team conducted, there’s no doubt that the momentum we have experienced in recent months is continuing, and the industry-wide interest in our visionary project remains high.” “We are reaching the ‘tipping point’ in the project, and that is most gratifying.” “We received dozens of requests to reserve space in the office tower,” he added. “Our major priority right now is to be able to adequately respond to all the inquiries we are getting.” |
Photo above: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman participated in the World Jewelry Center's press conference on May 31 and said Las Vegas is perfect for the jewelry industry. |
Photo above: World Jewelry Center Managing Director Bill Boyajian shared the vision of the international gem and jewelry hub with a standing-room-only audience. |
Governor Jim Gibbons Welcomes WJC to Nevada Nevada
Governor Jim Gibbons was the special guest of honor for the Indian
Diamond and Colorstone Association’s (IDCA) 23rd Annual Gala Awards
Night on June 2. He was introduced by Probity International President
and CEO Robert Zarnegin, a longtime friend.
Before being elected governor in 2006, Gov. Gibbons was one of the most effective and productive members of the U. S. House of Representatives in Nevada's history, beginning in 1996. He has a strong record of passing pro-Nevada legislation in Congress. He has served as chairman of several key subcommittees dealing with U.S. intelligence capabilities, homeland security, national defense, and natural resources. Gov. Gibbons also has a distinguished record of both active and reserve military experience. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat pilot and a decorated veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars. He worked for many years in the private sector as a commercial airline pilot, as a hydrologist for the Federal Water Master, as a mining and exploration geologist, and as a mining and water rights attorney in Nevada. The governor earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Master's degree in Mining/Geology from the University of Nevada’s Mackay School of Mines. He went on to earn his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and completed his post-graduate work at the University of Southern California. He said the expansion of the jewelry industry in Nevada is a great asset to the state. “The WJC that is being developed by Robert Zarnegin is a wonderful idea to bring more economic diversity. So welcome to the state of Nevada.” Gibbons also described some of the key benefits of owning a business in Nevada, such as no corporate income tax; no personal income tax; no franchise tax; and no gift tax. “From the standpoint of doing business, this is the best state to be in.” He added, “I’m proud to be a pro-business governor.” IDCA President Rajesh Bhagat said he was delighted that the governor could attend the event and help to honor the organization’s 2007 award recipients. “This helps in building a bridge between The Indian Diamond, Colorstone and Jewelry community with Nevada," he said. |
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Photo above: Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons was the special guest of honor for the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association’s (IDCA) 23rd Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Night |
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WJC Sponsors Pioneer Award at IDCA's 23rd Annual Gala Night in Las Vegas The
World Jewelry Center sponsored the Pioneer Award, one of the top awards
presented during the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association’s (IDCA)
23rd Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Night on June 2 at the Venetian
Hotel. WJC Managing Director Bill Boyajian presented the Pioneer Award to Navin Mehta, partner in D. Navinchandra & Co of Mumbai. “I was honored to present this award to Mr. Mehta,” said Boyajian, “and the World Jewelry Center was proud to sponsor it. Mr. Mehta’s distinguished 50-year career exemplifies the finest in business leadership, integrity, and quality products and service in the gem and jewelry industry. He is also widely admired for his many great philanthropic efforts.” Upwards of 700 jewelers and trade community members and guests attended the event. The Retail Jewelry Organization was honored as "Retailer of the Year," and Pamela Romano, President & Chief Operating Officer of Friedman's Inc., received the "Doyenne of the Year" Award. The IDCA is a nonprofit organization originally formed with 65 companies to provide information to the Indian Gem, Diamond, and Jewelry community to support their business interests in the U.S. The IDCA now comprises 265 companies, which are also featured annually at trade shows in Tucson, Las Vegas, and New York. Today, gems and jewelry valued at $6.2 billion are exported from India to the U.S., and Indian goods account for over two-thirds of the total volume of jewelry sold at retail level in the U.S. |
Las Vegas Mayor Hailed as “Tireless Champion” for Promoting the City The
popular entertainment publication Variety.com has a current article
profiling Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman’s highly effective efforts in
promoting the city, and especially in expanding its appeal well beyond
entertainment and gambling.
In the article, Goodman describes Las Vegas as not only “the entertainment capital of the world,” but also “a city of 1.8 million people who are yearning to have a world-class city. That's where I'm putting my efforts – on the arts, on culture, on medicine and education.” One of the showcase examples of Goodman’s visionary work is Union Park, home of the World Jewelry Center. Please click here to read the complete article. New Report Indicates Las Vegas Commercial Real Estate Will Flourish A new report from NAI Global, an international commercial real estate services company, says the factors are in place for continued growth in the Las Vegas commercial real estate market. “As long as Las Vegas continues to be a destination of choice for shopping, gambling, and entertainment, and the population and employment rates increase the way they are, the market will flourish,” says the NAI report. The report goes on to say, “Much of the construction demand is occurring on the Las Vegas Strip, with roughly $28.3 billion worth of resort expansion planned through 2010." “Las Vegas is home to 17 of the 20 biggest hotels in the U.S. and has approximately 39 million visitors annually. The metro area’s hotel market is booming and is expected to continue booming,” the report said. |
Photo above: The World Jewelry Center sponsored the Pioneer Award at the IDCA's 23rd Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Night on June 2 at the Venetian Hotel. |
Photo above: Las Vegas, Nevada |
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World Jewelry Center City green-lights tax break for Las Vegas Premium Outlets Downtown Las Vegas Gets a lot of Action Downtown's time is now |
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| If you would like further information, about the World Jewelry Center please click here or contact: | |
Bill Boyajian Jane Lynch-Rush |
Corporate and Sales Offices: 421 North Beverly Drive, Suite 350 Beverly Hills, California 90210 U.S.A. T: (310) 888 8864 | F: (310) 858 9155 info@worldjewelrycenter.com |
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| The World Jewelry CenterSM is owned and developed by Heritage Nevada VIII, LLC, a single purpose entity. Heritage Nevada VIII, LLC reserves the right to change concepts, prices, features, amenities, and dimensions at its sole discretion and without notice. Model's do not reflect racial preference. You have received this email because you chose to receive email and other communications from us. This email is commercial in nature and may contain advertising materials for the World Jewelry Center. We adhere to all state and federal anti-spam laws. To unsubscribe, please click on the link below. Contact Info: World Jewelry Center, 421 North Beverly Drive, Suite 350, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Feel free to review our TERMS OF USE and PRIVACY POLICY. © World Jewelry Center 2007. | |