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Next year, Las Vegas will be celebrating 120 years, and as the largest metropolitan established in the 20th century, the ‘neon oasis in the desert’ is certainly fond of change and reinventing itself. Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas’ insatiable taste for living life hard and fast appeals to event planners looking for a resort city that goes beyond the glitz, gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment and nightlife, though Las Vegas is internationally renowned for all those things and more.

From morning to night, Las Vegas’s is a city that never sleeps, but never quits. It is constantly evolving to exceed traveler’s expectations. Some of the world’s most spectacular venues are centered on downtown Las Vegas and on the Las Vegas Strip just outside city limits. Reportedly, 2023 was a record-breaking year for the city, with globally significant openings and events. It was the kind of year to remember as one of the biggest in Las Vegas history. It’s hard to top that. After all, among the openings were the one-of-a-kind Sphere — at 366 feet high, 516 feet wide spanning 875,000 sf — and the Durango Casino & Resort, which recently opened in the southwest Las Vegas Valley, about 10 miles from the Strip. Any event at these two new venues is going to be nothing short of spectacular!

“Demand is certainly up!” That’s the word from Iain Mackenzie, CEM, CMP, former vice president of the International Sign Association in Alexandria, VA, to event organizers considering Las Vegas for their next meetings destination.

“We found a lot of excitement with attendees ready to travel and make the kind of connections that can only be found at an event like ISA International Sign Expo,” says MacKenzie. “They also were in a buying mood. Ultimately, we found that people are excited to travel to Vegas. It’s really such a unique destination with lots of air lift.”

For non-stop entertainment, hosting celebrations, meetings and trade shows, it’s hard to imagine a city better suited to welcoming a wide array of leisure and business travelers. Start with Harry Reid International Airport — conveniently located close to the Las Vegas Boulevard, Convention Center. Add an annual average of 320 days of sunshine, world-class dining and resorts, plus 16 million sf of event space and superb convention services, and it’s easy to see why Las Vegas ranks high as a top-choice meetings destination.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

When it came to selecting a meeting site for the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) Conference of 1,200+ attendees, vice president of meetings and events, Diane Dukes, CMP, VEMM, selected The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas luxury resort for several reasons.

“The meeting space was stacked; you can get to it without having to go through the casino. The hotel is ‘sexy’ and appropriate for our attendees,” she says. This unique luxury resort hotel in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip provided Dukes’ group a lot of places to gather, see and explore — from their one-of-a-kind Restaurant Collection featuring the Las Vegas debuts of world-class chefs to the vibrant nightlife, to more than 240,000 sf of vertically integrated meeting space.

Dukes was happy to learn that event organizers have access to state-of-the-art meeting technology, and dedicated meeting services that assist in event design, entertainment selection and craft menus that align with their meeting’s goals and set the desired mood for their attendees.

“At the Cosmo, we had all the meeting and event space we needed, with elevators dropping us off directly on the meeting room floors,” Dukes points out. “Because it is affiliated with Marriott, our attendees were able to get their Bonvoy points, too.” Depending on the property, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn between 2.5 and 10 points per dollar spent.

Additionally, Dukes’ group made use of The Chelsea, a 40,000-sf event and performance event space in the heart of The Strip. This uniquely designed reception suites and performance space offers a variety of gatherings from morning to night.

“There were also several cool bars and restaurants and speakeasies [like The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails] for PLUS to use and for our attendees to rent out on the open night for sponsors,” says Dukes, who enjoyed the entertainment options the group explored like the 100,000-sf casino offering slot machines, tournaments, giveaways and exclusive event experiences.

For ultimate pampering and rejuvenation, attendees took advantage of the desert-inspired body treatments, scrubs and massage sessions at Sahra Spa, Salon & Hammam. Many of them indulged in the 80-minute Red Flower Hammam Experience featuring the intoxicating scents and sensations of 11 flower oils and fruit essences, or opted for the Mana Lomi massage incorporating Hawaiian healing concepts for body, mind and spirit, and the Shara Signature Massage that combines Thai, Swedish and Shiatsu techniques.

The Cosmopolitan’s guest accommodations include a variety of spacious rooms, suites and studios with many featuring oversized private terraces offering views of The Strip and the surrounding mountains.

Dukes recommends planners do their homework for optimal room pricing and venue availability. “They should also be sure to do a site inspection and ask questions about current, past and future plans to renovate that may impact meeting scheduling,” she says. “Ask what else is happening in the city and check to see what services are provided or perhaps now excluded or with limited hours, like room service or housekeeping. Keep researching the venues that are already booked to determine if things like this will affect your group.”

MGM Grand

Jennifer Pettigrew, VP of meetings & events for Self -Storage Association, says “Las Vegas is a great location if you are looking for large hotels with plenty of meeting space, restaurants and entertainment. Everything is centrally located, so renting a car is not important.”

Like Dukes, Pettigrew recommends doing a site visit. “The hotel will go out of the way to walk you through the venue so you can realistically envision whether your event will work there or not.”

Despite the fact that “Prices are increasing quite a bit across the board (not just in Las Vegas),” says Pettigrew, “We found that our attendees and vendors are willing to absorb that increase to do business. We set an all-time attendance record in 2022 for our Fall Conference at the MGM Grand.”

From Pettigrew’s perspective, that’s heartening news. “It’s nice to see the city is doing well, because I moved here in 2020 right before the pandemic hit. From a personal and professional standpoint, it’s rewarding for me to see Vegas thriving again.”

The Self-Storage Association’s four-day real estate conference and trade show for 3,000+ attendees “has been coming to the MGM Grand since 2019,” notes Pettigrew. “We were looking for a larger venue that could accommodate our meeting space and trade show, and MGM was the perfect fit. The MGM family of properties have been great to work with and the space accommodates our needs.

“Attendees typically enjoy Vegas, and they almost always want to stay at the conference hotel for convenience. The MGM Grand has a great staff. They have always been accessible, attentive, punctual and willing to adapt to accommodate our specific needs. The vendors have plenty of options to wine and dine their clients, and there are lots of shows and never-ending entertainment.”

For dining, “We have utilized numerous restaurants/bars for our events,” says Pettigrew. “Wet Republic and Hakkasan are great options for large receptions. We have also used Whiskey Down and Losers bar for some of our smaller events. Some great restaurants for our staff outings are Nobu and Morimoto.”

Resorts World Las Vegas

Owned by The Genting Group and Hilton Hotels, Resorts World Las Vegas has all the resources to host a magnificent event that wows a crowd. The resort features three Hilton hotels — Conrad Las Vegas, Las Vegas Hilton and Crockfords Las Vegas, as well as a 117,000-sf casino housed in a 59-story tower.

Known as the first integrated resort to be built on the Las Vegas Strip in over a decade, Resorts World Las Vegas is a sleek, new property offering what most event attendees look for in a Vegas venue — luxury, value and variety.

Resorts World Las Vegas is located on the doorstep of the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion, so meetings are ideal for groups and events of almost any size. The Lily Ballroom features floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious outdoor terrace at Rose Ballroom, offering unmatched views of The Strip.

Booking rooms at the Resorts World Las Vegas is simple. With Hilton Las Vegas’ 1,678 rooms, Conrad Las Vegas Resorts World’s 1,496, and Crockfords’ 332, the 3,506 rooms span, three hotel towers with three unique brands, Resorts World Las Vegas is the largest Hilton brand partnership and Hilton’s largest Conrad property, which offers an exclusive view of the city’s legendary lights.

Las Vegas Convention Center

Vegas means business, and the Las Vegas Convention Center puts your business at the center of everything. Only four miles from the LAS Airport and centrally located on The Strip, from this vantage point, you can conduct business and watch street life Vegas unfold.

Owned and operated by The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Las Vegas Convention Center is Las Vegas’ megaphone. It not only provides rental of its facilities and conventions, trade shows and entertainment services, but creates iconic global campaigns that amplify their promise by telling their story: what it means to have an “#OnlyVegas” experience.

The Las Vegas Convention Center, known in the meetings industry for its versatility, offers a 4.6 million-sf facility located within a short distance to 150,000 hotel rooms. Additionally, it holds 2.9 million sf of exhibit space, 225 meeting rooms and it handles seating capacities ranging from 20 to 2,500. There are two grand lobbies and registration areas, one located in the West Hall, and the other in the Central Hall, linking the halls and meeting rooms, and allowing simultaneous set-up, break-down and exhibiting of multiple events.

Mandalay Bay

The International Sign Association (ISA) and World Pet Association (WPA) are but two organizations that have booked successful annual trade shows & conferences at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas for the past several years.

Mike Karsting, senior vice president for WPA, explains why: “As one of the largest convention centers in the U.S., Mandalay Bay offers the space we need to showcase the best in pet retail each year. That includes more than 1,100 exhibitors and 1,058 new products. With 2.1 million gross sf of meeting and exhibit space, it’s where you can go BIG. More products, more demos, more attendees, more education — you name it.”

Besides having significant event space available, Karsting and MacKenzie each cite Mandalay’s convenient location as another deciding factor in choosing the property.

“The Convention Center is attached to the Mandalay Bay Resort, so SUPERZOO attendees can stay on property and never miss a beat,” says Karsting. “There are also multiple hotel options within walking distance to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center — Luxor and Excalibur — all at reasonable price points.”

And when it comes to entertainment? “The venue hosts multiple entertainment experiences inside the three hotels including the Blue Man Group performances, Michael Jackson Cirque show, the Titanic Exhibit and many more iconic experiences central to Las Vegas,” says Karsting.

Having multiple diverse, high-quality restaurants onsite also boosts attendee’s overall conference enjoyment. “There was always someplace new to try. From Slice of Vegas to Hussong’s Mexican Cantina, to Libertine Social and beyond, a good meal was easy to find,” says Karsting. “Plus, access to more options meant we were able to accommodate everyone’s preferences and dietary restrictions.”

For booking specific program events, Karsting found Mandalay Bay Beach the perfect spot for their end-of-show networking event.

“The indoor and outdoor locations across the property lent us the flexibility to host education, exhibits and an outdoor beach party all within one property. The location and atmosphere are unmatched and a high point for SUPERZOO attendees. The venue’s combined hotel access also lent the flexibility to host private and partner hosted networking events.”

Catering food for the 2,500 attendees at the event included “corndogs, fries, grilled cheese and sliders. Staff dinners were held on-site at Border Grill and KUMI Japanese Restaurant + Bar. Each day for lunch, they ordered from nearby Citizens Kitchen & Bar, or the food court, which hosted six various cuisine selections, all located inside the Mandalay Bay. “The vast array of fantastic restaurants on property are always popular as attendees don’t have to leave, which is really convenient. The views from Skyfall Lounge and the Foundation Room are absolutely incredible and a definite group favorite,” says MacKenzie.

The Mandalay Bay boasts three swimming pools and a lazy river, in addition to a free cardio gym (or for a fee of $25 per day, access to more state-of-the-art exercise equipment). Not to mention a world-class 30,000-sf spa offering a bevy of body treatments, scrubs and full-service salon.

“Aside from the great restaurants onsite (attendees always rave about Stripsteak), BBQ Mexicana is a great quick and healthy option to grab as we are always so busy onsite,” says MacKenzie. “We have been lucky to hold special events at some of the wonderfully unique options available, such as the Foundation Room, which is really eclectic; the Speakeasy 1923 Prohibition Bar, which is a lot of fun; and Seascape, which is an intimate space offering great underwater views of the aquarium. We’ve also held our party outside at the pool of their adjacent sister property, the Luxor, which has been great to get our group outside to enjoy the perfect April weather. We’ve always found the quality of food and service to be exceptional. Mandalay Bay always works hard to exceed expectations and provide memorable experiences.”

Karsting’s group also had a great time at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. “We offered our attendees, exhibitors and partners a location that gave them the ultimate experience with access to onsite and off-site activities, accommodations and diverse cuisine selections.”

“We’ve always found Mandalay Bay to be an excellent partner,” MacKenzie says. “We are already looking forward to, and planning our next event in 2025.”

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

On the historic site of the Sands Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip is The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, a recreation of the Italian city of Venice, featuring famous landmarks, winding canals and gondolas, providing attendees an authentic Italian experience.

The Venetian Resort recently unveiled its largest and most expensive hotel renovation ever — an investment of $1.5 billion, enriching their convention space and resort offerings with contemporary luxury, including their more than 7,100 suites, ranging in size from 650 sf to the 9,000-sf Chairman suite. The 120,000-sf casino is equipped with slot machines, table games, a high-limit salon, race and sports book and newly expanded baccarat venue with added privacy for VIPS.

Home to a collection of sophisticated event spaces that strike an optimal balance between form and function, luxury and practicality, The Venetian Resort offers event planners 2.25 million sf of meeting space, including five showrooms, as well as banquet halls, classrooms and a theatre for group gatherings of any size. After work, attendees can catch a show or concert or stroll down to the Grand Canal Shoppes, which feature chic boutiques and restaurants. They can also catch a ride on authentic Italian gondolas navigated by an opera-singing gondolier.

Wynn Las Vegas

There’s nothing in the world like Las Vegas — and reportedly, “there’s nothing in Las Vegas like Wynn.” It is unsurprising that it holds more Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards than any other independent hotel company, offering award-winning restaurants, amazing accommodations, entertainment, spas and luxury shopping.

Wynn Las Vegas also offers 300,000 sf of event venues, including outdoor areas — a pavilion and garden grounds with stunning views of Wynn Golf Club’s 19th fairway and waterfall. Its total 560,000 sf of exceptional space has hosted many successful events.

Caesars Palace | CAESARS FORUM

For planners and attendees looking to experience everything Las Vegas has to offer, Caesars Palace is an iconic, vibrant resort, where they can select from an extensive list of Las Vegas center-Strip room types and create one-of-a-kind events.

As one of the largest Las Vegas hotels, with five towers of rooms, suites and villas, and a plethora of meeting spaces, when it’s time for a break, attendees can explore spectacular entertainment and nightlife, a wide variety of celebrity chef restaurants, a world-class buffet and other delectable dining options.

To explore everything Caesars has to offer, the LEED-Silver-Certified 550,000-sf CAESARS FORUM is an architectural marvel reimagining the landscape of Las Vegas event destinations. The ultra-modern design, immersive technology and world-class service provides an unparalleled event experience. For large-scale conventions, the FORUM PLAZA offers 100,000 sf of outdoor event space constructed specifically for grand affairs. The world’s two largest pillarless ballrooms accommodate up to 10,000 attendees.

Whether it is Las Vegas world-class venues and world’s top meeting facilities, like the ones listed above, including convention centers, event and entertainment venues, casinos, restaurants and shops — Las Vegas — that neon oasis in the desert that lights up the sky from morning to night — is in a class by itself, equipped with mind-blogging attractions and unique experiences to inspire any team. | AC&F |