Hello Tiffany produced a “Through the Looking Glass” event for Sandia Preparatory School at Sandia Resort and Casino. Photos by Klaus James

Meetings and events drive a significant amount of business at gaming resorts worldwide, and with more and more U.S. states legalizing casino gambling, the country is bound to see even more growth in the sector.

In addition to all the high energy on the gaming floor, casino resorts offer all the “one-stop shop” benefits for meetings and events of every size. From event spaces, state of the art technology, and luxury guest rooms to diverse dining experiences, golf and other outdoor team building experiences, plus world-class entertainment and vibrant nightlife, there are plenty of reasons to mix business with pleasure.

A good number of gaming resorts skew high-end, offering premium experiences not found at many other meeting venues, inviting the opportunity to entertain VIP clients in style. Here are some of the best in the USA:

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars is one of the best-known names in gaming resorts and boasts more than 50 properties coast to coast. The towering Caesars perched on the legendary boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, offers 28,000-sf of space for meetings and events. Its pièce de résistance, the Palladium Ballroom, spans 17,135-sf and offers the option to be divided into three separate spaces.

Attendees appreciate the newly renovated contemporary design of 1,141 guest rooms and suites — part of a $200 million renovation project completed last year. The oceanfront property is home to more than a dozen eateries and celebrity dining destinations by Chef Ramsay, Chef Nobu and Guy Fieri.

For planners who love perks, those who book meetings or events here are granted automatic Diamond status. Meeting Diamonds, and any of their VIPs and staff designates, are entitled to benefits, including VIP check-in and guaranteed priority services, plus coveted access to exclusive Diamond Lounges where available, in addition to other benefits.

Sandia Resort and Casino

Event venues at Albuquerque’s Sandia Resort & Casino include the impressive 27,084-sf Sandia Ballroom, in addition to the 2,262-sf Eagle Room, the 1,856-sf Hummingbird Room, the 1,508-sf Roadrunner Room and an 18,000-sf foyer that seamlessly blends into the tranquil patio and waterfall garden.

There are plentiful outdoor spaces where Mother Nature takes center stage, capitalizing on the property’s panoramic views of the breathtaking Sandia Mountains.

New Mexico-based Tiffany Gravelle, a CMP Fellow, and owner & CEO of Hello Tiffany, says Sandia Resort and Casino is an ideal spot for the organization’s fundraising galas, meetings and conferences.

“First is their capacity. It lends itself from very small, intimate meetings with beautiful surroundings that aren’t like a typical hotel banquet room, because they have these stunning views and windows and just really nice settings from small to large,” she says. “And so regardless of the size of my client’s event specs, 99 percent of the time, I’m able to easily find a space to book.”

Gravelle adds that a luxury spa, golf course, music and entertainment, the casino floors, concerts, and fine dining including on the rooftop, enhance the attendee experience. “When we have events there, people typically book their stay with amenities and services.”

Red Rock Resort Casino & Spa

“Red Rock Casino Resort was the perfect venue for the 2023 Certified Angus Beef Annual Conference,” says Nikkie Allen, senior director, brand experience & education for Certified Angus Beef.

“Located all on one level, the meeting space fit our 700-people program like a glove, allowing us a ballroom for our general session along with multiple breakout options and still allowed us a dedicated meal space.” Allen says that while most meeting planners prioritize a venue’s food and beverage program, for her brand, it’s absolutely critical.

“When conducting research on a host venue for our conferences, I’m looking for a venue that has an executive chef who will come alongside me and my culinary team as our partners. A resort that employs an executive chef with a big ego and no desire to work with me or my team will be an immediate red flag for me,” she explains.

In her planning process, hotel banquet menus go right out the window, and instead, Allen looks for a hotel culinary team that is “willing to get creative, think outside the box, look ahead at food trends and is capable enough to execute those ideas to the number of people in my audience.” She found that bespoke, top-grade hospitality at Red Rock.

“The chef spent time with us to understand our brand, experiment with different products and created menus alongside chefs on my team to help us deliver incredible and unique dining experiences for our conference.”

With 100,000-sf of meeting and event space with a designated conference center, five ballrooms, and 15 breakout rooms across both indoor and outdoor spaces overlooking Red Rock Canyon, Red Rock Resort Casino & Spa welcomes groups up to 1,500. Its location off the Las Vegas Strip allows attendees to be close to all the action.

MGM Resorts

MGM Resorts is one of the best-known names in casino resorts and entertainment, and arguably one of the company’s most unique properties is MGM National Harbor, a $1.4 billion entertainment hub built eight years ago. Just a few minutes from Washington DC in Oxon Hill, MD, the property spans on 23 acres and offers 234 contemporary guest rooms and 74 suites.

The Grand Ballroom offers floor-to-ceiling windows with impressive views of the Potomac River while the bright, sun-filled foyers at the Conference Center also make the most of the stately surroundings. A state-of-the-art 3,000-seat theater can serve as a multi-use venue for meetings of all industries, and there’s no shortage of celebrity chef restaurants and unique eateries. Attendees can regroup and refresh on one of the many outdoor terraces or try their luck on the hopping 160,000+ sf casino floor.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

It’s hard to miss this hotel in Hollywood, FL, as it’s marked by an iconic engineering masterpiece: the 450 sf tall guitar-shaped hotel with brightly lit “strings” illuminating the night sky.

The guitar tower was added in 2019 as part of the property’s $1.5 billion expansion. Located on 87 acres and just 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale, the hotel offers more than 1,200 luxury guest rooms and suites. Flexible meeting space, 120,000-sf total, can be reconfigured into 32 different rooms to accommodate groups as large as 5,000 attendees, but don’t let the size overwhelm you, as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is well versed in hosting smaller meetings and board retreats as well. With a substantial exhibition hall and a 7,000-sf poolside function area, the property is ideally suited for tradeshows and for mixers with a relaxed vibe.

Encore Boston Harbor

Encore Boston Harbor is a luxury lover’s dream boasting the largest standard size hotel rooms in New England with sleek, chic, contemporary décor and stunning views of the Boston skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows.

The astounding 3-million-sf gaming resort includes a 27-story towering lodging property. No doubt, meeting attendees will experience an unforgettable first impression when they walk into the colorful garden lobby and see the flower-covered Ferris wheel.

Offering 50,000-sf of state-of-the-art meeting and event space, Encore has a 37,000-sf divisible grand ballroom, 10 customizable meeting spaces, and a diverse range of dining options across 15 restaurants and lounges.

“And then there’s our 20,000-sf main event lawn with our new addition of the outdoor tent, which is 9,400-sf outside space,” says Jeff Caldwell, Encore’s vice president of hotel operations. “So now we can do outside events. We can do receptions for up to 750 and plated dinners for 500 under the tent outside.” Perched on 33 acres on historic Boston Harbor and about five miles from Logan International Airport, guests can easily connect to downtown and all of Boston’s legendary historic attractions via Encore’s fleet of luxury motor yachts. Dining on site is second to none. Attendees with a hankering for classic New England dishes will want to make a reservation at Seamark (don’t miss the swanky hidden speakeasy), while steakhouse aficionados won’t want to miss Rare, offering the most uniquely curated steak program in the region. Despite its young age, all of Encore’s guest rooms are getting a refresh now through the end of the year.

Esther Fleischhacker, a CEO at EFfortless Events Inc., has planned multiple events at Encore Boston Harbor for both corporate and association clients.

“The venue stands out for its flexible meeting space that still offers natural light and high ceilings making intricate production sets easy. While maintaining an intimate feel, with a wonderful and attentive staff, it offers the luxury experience of its sister property in Las Vegas,” says Fleischhacker.

“The dining options, quality of sleeping rooms, still at an affordable price point, the offsite options given access to the pier for cruises, and outstanding spa, makes this property a dream for both attendees and planners alike.”

Atlantis Paradise Island

Perhaps one of the world’s most recognizable properties, Atlantis Paradise Island, a 200-acre luxury resort located on Paradise Island, a small island part of Nassau, Bahamas, lures meetings big and small. Marking its 25th anniversary last year, the property unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation of its 1,200 rooms and suites in the Royal Towers. The Coral pool and swim-up bar also got a facelift, while cabanas offer privacy for those looking to take some time off the grid. On the horizon is the eagerly anticipated opening of Somewhere Else, a new resort done in partnership with David Grutman of Groot Hospitality and recording artist/producer/designer Pharrell Williams.

Taking advantage of the idyllic Caribbean breeze are 21 outdoor function spaces, which can accommodate meetings and conventions. Inside, ballrooms offer up to 50,000-sf of indoor meeting space for groups of up to 4,000, plus five executive boardrooms with views meant to impress and inspire.

“They checked all the boxes,” says Lynn Craven, program manager for Trane Technologies. “They had great meeting space inside and out. They had the golf onsite and we did a golf tournament. They had multiple restaurants onsite, and we did a ‘dine around’ at the meeting.”

Craven says the resort’s location near the Paradise Island Straw Market, featuring 60 vendors selling authentic Bahamian handicrafts and more, was the perfect place to host a spouse event. “And attendees got to bring their family [to the meeting] because Atlantis is a beach resort as opposed to what they had in the past, so it worked out great.”

Turning Stone Resort Casino

Located in Central New York about four hours north of Manhattan, Turning Stone Resort Casino’s 3,400 acres is a bucolic respite from the big city’s frenetic pace. With PGA-level golf, a luxury spa and elevated accommodations, it’s no surprise this is New York State’s most-awarded conference resort.

Planners can craft an event of their choosing across the 125,000-sf of flexible meeting space, which includes an Event Center with 30,000-sf that can host everything from conventions to exhibitions to vendor events, while the newly renovated Conference Center offers 22,500-sf – think: keynotes, exhibits, seminars and more.

The Cypress Ballroom can be divided into as many as five breakout spaces, while the Showroom, which offers theater seating, boasts state-of-the-art lighting and sound for customizable entertainment with a bar to boot.

Talking Stick Resort

Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ, offers more than 100,000-sf of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, 496 guest rooms, and two championship golf courses.

Talking Stick Golf Club just celebrated the grand opening of their new clubhouse and an extraordinary expansion project. When it’s time to get down to business, the Salt River Grand Ballroom accommodates 2,000 and offers flexible configurations for conferences, dinners, cocktail receptions, exhibitions and more.

But to make a culinary impression, Orange Sky offers an unparalleled dining experience rivaled only by the jaw-dropping views from its perch atop the 15th floor. Attendees can unwind at Talking Stick’s state-of-the-art open-air spa, or they can book a casita along the West Pool with unmatched views of the Sonoran Desert. Another perk? The property is a convenient, quick ride from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (and Scottsdale Municipal Airport).

Resorts World Las Vegas

For meeting attendees looking for the latest and greatest, Resorts World Las Vegas is the first integrated resort built on the Strip in more than a decade. Encompassing an impressive 88-acre complex, the property includes more than 3,500 rooms across its trio of Hilton-affiliated hotels in the 59-story tower located where the famed Stardust once stood.

Ideally suited to large events, there is more than 250,000-sf of flexible event space right next to the Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion. With six ballrooms, a 5,000-seat theater, and more than 50 meeting rooms, there’s space for any meeting, convention, conference or trade show and many spaces are energized by views of the Strip.

Free time will allow attendees to explore seven pools, 70,000-sf of shopping, a 117,000-sf casino and more than 50 dining options and bars that offer everything from fast-casual to fine dining.

If looking to impress your attendees, be sure to book Aqua Seafood & Caviar Restaurant by Michelin-star rated chef Shaun Hergatt.

Grand Sierra Resort

There’s no surprise why meeting planners gravitate toward Grand Sierra Resort. Events here are relegated to a dedicated separate wing of the resort that’s tucked away from the lobby and casino area and conveniently accessible directly from guest room elevators.

Located in the heart of the Truckee Meadows at the base of the Sierra Nevada, the resort offers more than 200,000-sf of both indoor and outdoor event space and welcomes groups up to 4,000. Multiple ballrooms in addition to a whopping 45 meeting rooms able to be configured as needed, and a Grand Theater, ideal for keynotes, accommodates up to 300. In the past two years, the casino resort completed $55 million in resort upgrades and enhancements, and late last year, the resort announced a $1 billion investment for an entertainment district to be completed over 10 years that includes a sports stadium and concert venue. The new venture will also include a 800-room hotel tower and golf facility, adding to its allure as an outstanding meeting destination.

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

Located in Atlantic City’s Marina District, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa unveiled its $55 million redesigned and rebranded MGM Tower last year to mark its 20th anniversary. The Borgata property offers 24 venues with a 30,000-sf ballroom event space, a bi-level 18,000-sf Central Conference Center and a 1,000-seat theater called The Music Box. In sum, the property can accommodate meetings up to 3,500. Attendees will appreciate the 2,000 modern guest rooms and work gatherings at the hip Gypsy Bar, which stocks more than 100 tequilas.

Casino Del Sol Resort, Spa and Conference Center

An oasis in the high Sonoran Desert, Casino Del Sol is unlike any other casino resort in Tucson. Original artwork can be found throughout the property telling the story of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s history.

Planners love the convenience of this tranquil escape as it’s just five miles from Tucson International Airport, while the 18,000-sf Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 1,900 guests. All told, here you’ll find more than 100,000 sf of meeting space that’s a combination of indoor and outdoor gathering areas to take advantage of the Arizona landscape. Earlier this year, the casino announced plans for a new 65,000-sf gaming facility with a sportsbook, high limit room and more gaming with multiple dining options as well.

Mohegan Sun

Mohegan Sun is a behemoth with over 5.5 million-sf of total indoor space and 275,000-sf of indoor meeting space. Its southeastern Connecticut location between New York City and Boston makes it easily accessible by car and train (New London’s train station, servicing Amtrak and Metro-North direct from New York City, is just 20 minutes away).

Entertaining is at a planner’s fingertips here as the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena hosts major national acts, world championship boxing and is home to the wildly popular WNBA Connecticut Sun. Plus, there always seems to be exciting food and wine events here. The Earth Expo Center offers 120,000-sf of exhibition space and offers ample natural light, which attendees appreciate. Two years ago, Mohegan Sun began $15 million in renovations including the new Sun Patio, a covered open-air area and outdoor bar that now features firepits, cozy Adirondack chairs, and grassy turf offering nearly 45,000-sf of meeting space in addition to live music on the regular.

Pechanga Resort Casino

Pechanga Resort Casino is the largest casino in the Western United States. Located in Temecula, just one hour north of San Diego, it offers more than 200,000 sf of meeting space with the Summit Ballroom boasting more than 40,000-sf of additional gathering space for breakout sessions, smaller meetings, executive retreats and more.

Pechanga is positioned to welcome meetings of any size and offers first class amenities amongst its 1,100 world-class guest rooms with mountain, valley or golf course views. For foodies, the resort just unveiled the reinvention of its signature restaurant, the Great Oak Steakhouse, following a lengthy seven-month remodel including a chef’s table private dining experience and chic new lounge bar and a total 235-seat capacity. Outside you’ll find — The Cove — a 4.5-acre pool complex equal in size to five American football fields. Guests can enjoy four pools, two spas, two twisty water slides, 27 cabanas, six oversized daybeds that skim the main pool, and a swim up bar with 18 submerged seats.

Wynn Las Vegas

Wynn Las Vegas is a Forbes Five Star luxury hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, where celebrities, top athletes and global influencers are spotted at this impressive property on the regular.

With 300,000-sf of customizable event venues, including outdoor areas like the striking pavilion and garden event grounds, the Wynn is known for grand scale events but is also ideal for executive retreats and intimate gatherings that offer a posh exclusivity factor. The full-scale in-house production department can accommodate everything from small meetings to large general sessions and concerts, and for presentations that make an impression, there’s Wynn’s renowned 72-foot video wall.

The hotel recently completed a $70 million transformation of its VIP villas, peppered with pieces from Hermes, Baccarat and more for attendees seeking an ultra-lush experience. The hotel offers a total of 2,716 luxurious hotel rooms and suites.

Inn of the Mountain of the Gods Casino

Located on the Mescalero Apache reservation in the picturesque mountains of Mescalero, New Mexico, the Inn of the Mountain of the Gods Casino offers a scenic and serene location for meeting and events.

With more than 45,000-sf of event and meeting facilities and 15 individual meeting rooms configurable to accommodate groups of any size, the Inn, the only AAA four diamond rated resort in southern New Mexico, has multiple spaces to choose from whether your event is massive or miniscule.

The hotel, surrounded by the tall pines of the Sacramento Mountains, boasts 273 luxury rooms and multiple dining options including Wendell’s Steak and Seafood, the property’s signature restaurant offering upscale dinner service with indoor or outdoor seating options. Attendees can enjoy team building on the recently upgraded Championship Golf Course, at the luxurious spa and other resort amenities.

These resorts offer a unique blend of business and pleasure, making them ideal venues for gathering in style and solidifying their place as premier destinations for meetings and events. C&IT