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Las Vegas means business. Beyond the façade of glitz, glamour, and around-the-clock fine dining and gaming excitement — Las Vegas is a favorite destination for business leaders looking for a one-stop shop where they can keep everyone under one roof.

When you consider comprehensive Las Vegas classics like Caesars Palace, Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin, Resorts World Las Vegas, The D Las Vegas, Bellagio Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, Paris Las Vegas, Wynn Las Vegas, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Sahara Las Vegas, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino . . . this city is a magnet for in-person corporate events where serendipitous moments happen. Coffee with a new friend leads to an interesting business connection. A food tour develops into employee bonding and cocktails with the boss sparks a new collaboration.

In other first tier cities, transportation may be an issue. Not in Las Vegas. Convenient for business travelers, Las Vegas Airport provides free shuttle service to select hotels in the Las Vegas Strip.

Experiential Entertainment

Las Vegas may be synonymous with gambling, Michelin-starred restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs, but it is also exploding with spectacular, mind-bending technological experiences like the one in store for attendees at Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s HPE Discover at Sphere this summer.

“Our goal is to leverage the complete capabilities of the Sphere to create a magical moment for our customers,” says Jason Newton, vice president of global marketing at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “We believe that Sphere creates a unique platform for brand storytelling and we’re really excited to be the first company in the world to be able to hold the brush on this amazing palette.”

Located just off the Las Vegas Strip and east of The Venetian/Palazzo Las Vegas, Sphere is 366 feet high, 516 feet wide at its broadest point and has 875,000 sf of space, making it the largest spherical building in the world.

It includes 18,600 seats, all with high-speed internet access, as well as a 160,000-sf wraparound LED screen and beamforming audio technology that can direct sound with pinpoint accuracy. The exterior of Sphere features 580,000 sf of event space that can be used for advertising and featuring holiday themes.

Sphere opened last fall, as the rock band U2 began a residency there. Hewlett Packard Enterprises will use the venue for the keynote address of Antonio Neri, its CEO and president. Newton says that he expects at least 12,000 attendees.

“When plans were announced to build Sphere, we were very interested because we saw this as an opportunity to deliver an expanded message to an even larger audience, as well as to elevate the experience, giving us the added benefit of a huge platform to tell our message to the world,” he says. “Another reason we chose to integrate Sphere is we wanted to signal that we are dramatically transforming HPE as a company and we need a platform to reintroduce it today to a broader market.”

HPE intends to make good use of one of Sphere’s most advanced technological features: presentations in multiple languages without using headphones.

“One of the obvious uses for beamforming technologies is providing translations into different languages,” Newton says. “We will be hosting customers not only from throughout North America: Customers from more than 80 countries will be in attendance.”

HPE Discover 2024 will be held at The Venetian/Palazzo Las Vegas, which has more than 3,000 guest rooms and 2.25 million sf in its Venetian Expo Convention Center. The spaces at Sphere will be used to host small groups and receptions, as well as the keynote.

“The combination and convenience of Venetian and the Sphere is unbeatable,” he says.

Sphere’s Oculus Grand Ballroom occupies the whole geodesic dome and seats up to 2,150 for a theater-style presentation and 1,300 for a banquet, and can be divided into seven smaller areas for breakout meetings. Lagoon Pavilion is an airy outdoor space with lush landscaping that can accommodate up to 350 attendees for receptions, lunches or cocktail socials. The 160-sf boardroom is well-suited for small executive meetings or VIP gatherings with up to 16 people. The Venetian/Palazzo Las Vegas culinary team can provide on-site catering for meetings and events at Sphere.

Allegiant Stadium is another large, attractive venue for large corporate and incentive business gatherings. This domed, all-purpose venue in Paradise, adjacent to Las Vegas, is best known as the home of the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders. It offers more than 10 spaces for private events, including the 95,000-sf field.

Kim Lefebvre, DMCP, the general manager and “quarterback” of Imprint Events Group in Las Vegas, planned activities at the stadium for a gathering of 1,300 attendees last year.

“Allegiant had the guests enter right onto the field, so from the moment they got off the transportation, they experienced a sense of wow,” she says. “They walked onto the field with cellphones in hand to capture this unique experience. Branding everywhere was fantastic.”

Lefebvre provided a Punt-Pass-Kick activation for her group to really bring the excitement of being on the field to the attendees. In addition, she added photo activations, roaming entertainment, a deejay and games. “We also had a few ‘wow’ moments for the attendees, including the opening entertainment: The Las Vegas Golden Knights’ staple drumline, the Drumbots, which helped welcome guests into the already jaw-dropping field level for an incredible kickoff to the evening.”

Fabulous Fine Dining Experiences

Fine dining aficionados have a plethora of magnificent restaurants to choose from in Las Vegas. Although the city’s food scene continues to evolve and attract the culinary world’s brightest stars, each restaurant has a niche catering to various discerning taste buds.

According to Lefebvre, Silver & Black Hospitality did a phenomenal job of preparing specialty menus that catered to the group demographics. In this instance, there were various taco stations, slider stations and her personal favorite: chicken and waffles with a syrup pipette.

She says, “The presentation was fabulous and it was always maintained and replenished. I can’t forget about the ice sculpture presentation that held milkshakes inside of it either!”

Corporate and incentive planners seeking more intensive, upscale culinary experiences often opt for Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, which provide up to 500 attendees with the opportunity to experience up to four of Las Vegas’ most renowned restaurants, day or night. Tours are offered through restaurants on The Strip, as well as through the eclectic Arts District and downtown.

“Our extravagant Savory Bites & Neon Lights tour not only includes dining at three renowned restaurants at prime time, but also a Maverick Helicopter evening flight over both east and west ends of the glittering Strip for a dazzling view,” says Donald Contursi, president of Lip Smacking Foodie Tours. “It’s a true bucket-list experience.”

On every tour, guides educate attendees about interesting and thought-provoking sights along the way, and a surprise stop is often included.

“Our exclusive experiences provide the ultimate [business] networking opportunities,” Contursi says. “At a typical sit-down dinner, you’re lucky to engage the person to the left or right of you. Because our tours take place at multiple restaurants, with walking in between, there are countless opportunities to interact with different people. Our experiences not only provide more ways to network, but a more convivial way to do so.”

It’s no secret that Las Vegas’ many famed resorts and hotels also offer an amazing diversity of unique, delectable culinary experiences. Aria Resort & Casino, with more than 4,000 guest rooms and 500,000 sf of meeting space, an MGM Las Vegas property, features 16 restaurants, including Carbone, which features the glamour, showmanship and tableside service of the Italian-American restaurants of the mid-20th century.

Jean Georges Steakhouse offers three different types of beef, including Kobe A5, arguably the best beef in the world. Blossom features a diverse, 100-dish lineup of Chinese cuisine. And Aria’s catering and convention services offer a wide range of menus created and customized by a master chef.

Sherry Hunt, CMP, CMM, the senior director of operations and events for Applied Systems, a software company based in University Park, IL, utilized the catering services for an event she planned recently for some 4,000 people at Aria Resort & Casino.

“The culinary team is wonderful,” she says. “We had a large group, so managing meals of this size is no easy task. Their menus are robust and creative, and the team is flexible to address the dietary restrictions needed.”

She recalls one particular F&B experience where they had a small group of approximately 50 people in the Cypress Executive Lounge. “It was an informal group, but the setup was not informal. There were interesting and interactive food stations, a whiskey tasting with dry ice around the setting, dessert towers and more.”

Several other MGM properties, including Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, have added restaurants with innovative dining concepts.

“Celebrity chef Michael Mina has a culinary empire in Las Vegas,” says Rebecca Deluca, vice president of destination sales for Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “His latest, Orla, opened at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino earlier this year. Inspired by the Mediterranean’s markets and bazaars, the new restaurant offers kebabs, zesty vegetables and fresh seafood.”

The eatery specializes in group dining, catering to parties of 15 or more attendees.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which opened last fall, with 3,644 guest rooms and 550,000 sf of meeting and convention space, is also attracting corporate and event planners’ interest with its host of restaurants, including signature dining experiences. The property offers more than 36 first-to-market F&B concepts, spanning more than 188,000 sf.

“One dining experience in particular that comes to mind is Papi Steak, which is guaranteed to leave guests awestruck,” says Kurt Wuebbenhorst, vice president of sales for the property. “It’s a high-energy dining atmosphere and every element — from the menu to the entertainment — is inspired. The Australian Wagyu tomahawk is presented in an ice-filled, gold-lined briefcase, better known as the ‘Beef Case.’ It is presented tableside by the Papi Steak team, surrounding the table with the enthusiastic singing, clapping and flashing lights, creating an atmosphere of pure excitement.”

Cantina Contramar restaurant, slated to open this year, is combining the efforts of three of the most celebrated women in the Mexican culinary and creative communities: chef Gabriela Cámara, award-winning architect Frida Escobedo and Tequila Casa Dragones founder and first maestra tequilera Bertha González Nieves. Cantina Contramar will include the chef’s signature seafood dishes and a tequila tasting room.

John DeLeon, vice president of sales and operations for MTI Events, helped to plan a meeting at Fontainebleau Las Vegas for a corporate client’s 200 members earlier this year.

“Fontainebleau Las Vegas exceeded all of our expectations,” he says. “The meeting space is strategically positioned and easily accessible. The resort’s BleauLive Theater also provided the perfect setting for our entertainment needs, offering both functionality and flair. The F&B was outstanding throughout the event. By providing impeccable food quality and amazing service, they exceeded our expectations at every turn. It can be a challenge when you have large groups, but the flexibility in menu planning ensured that everyone would be taken care of, no matter their preference.”

Melissa DeLeon, president and owner of MTI Events, notes that Fontainebleau Las Vegas was able to source the client’s special requests for wines and champagnes. She adds that the restaurants offered several private dining rooms, which were perfect for the client’s board of directors’ meetings.

“Although the hotel was new and still going through some opening challenges, the staff was all super helpful, service oriented and willing to find out if they didn’t have the answer. It is a luxury offering, and the décor and ambiance of the hotel was exactly what my client was wanting.”

Sahara Las Vegas, with its $200 million multiyear renovation, offers 1,613 guest rooms, 95,000 sf of meeting space, and new eateries, including Balla Italian Soul, featuring coastal Italian cuisine form James Beard award-winning chef Shawn McClain; The Noodle Den, offering the flavors of Northern China with unique, hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and innovative twists on classic Chinese dishes; and Chickie & Pete’s, ranked by ESPN as the top sports bar in North America.

“One of the best dining experiences at Sahara Las Vegas is the Jose’s Way tasting menu at Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres,” says Chris Bond, CMP, vice president of sales, catering and convention sales for the property. “Each course is thoughtfully crafted to showcase chef Jose Andres’ unique culinary vision, incorporating both traditional and avant-garde techniques to create unforgettable dishes, from succulent cuts of premium meats and seafood to inventive small plates and decadent desserts.”

Jennifer Hanna, CMP, the senior event manager for Conscious Discipline, an education development company based in Sanford, FL, planned a meeting for 2,023 attendees at Sahara Las Vegas last summer.

“Having multiple food options on site was a huge help for our attendees as the navigated their lunch hour,” she says. “Being in Las Vegas was a unique experience for them. The location of Sahara is great. We were on the Las Vegas Strip for easy access to shopping and entertainment, and were not very close to the busy parts. Sahara does a great job of differentiating meeting space from casino space, so attendees are not tempted to navigate their way to the meeting.”

Caesars Palace Las Vegas, with 3,500 guest rooms and 300,000 sf of meeting space, also offers an impressive array of dining choices. Peter Luger Steakhouse, a legendary establishment originally based in Brooklyn, New York, recently opened on the Caesars Palace Las Vegas property. It is known for its high-quality, aged steaks and classic steakhouse ambiance.

“We also recently opened an exceptional dining experience at Stanton Social, a popular Lower Eastside restaurant from New York City,” says Kelly Gleeson Smith, vice president of sales for Caesars Entertainment. “This upscale restaurant features a diverse menu of globally influenced dishes designed for sharing, allowing guests to sample a variety of flavors and textures in each bite.”

The Wynn and Encore Las Vegas complex, with 4,748 guest rooms and 560,000 sf of meeting space, boasts a variety of bars, casual and fine dining establishments, including Casa Playa, the newest restaurant in the Wynn collection, which offers a variety of Mexico’s regional cuisines in its sustainably sourced menu.

Resorts World Las Vegas, which offers 3,500 guest rooms and 250,000 sf of meeting space, features more than 50 F&B options, ranging from traditional American fare to Southeast Asian street foods.

Las Vegas also features several annual food festivals, including the Great American Foodie Fest in April, Vegas Unstripped in May and Las Vegas Food and Wine Festival in October.

Transportation Options

Corporate and incentive planners seeking chauffeured transportation services for dining expeditions, business affairs, nights on the town, celebrations, airport transfers and shuttles, sporting events and more — often utilize AW Ambassador. It provides a wide range of diverse luxury vehicles for groups, including sedans, SUVs, stretch limos, party buses, sprinter vans and executive mini coaches.

Las Vegas is where business meets leisure. For event planners and attendees looking for a bit of both, a word of caution: your “work and play” skills will be put to the test. Las Vegas is not only one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., but it is also the most popular destination for business travelers in the world.  C&IT