< Previousdiscover your rhythm. Take center stage on your next event and escape the everyday in a truly extraordinary getaway with limitless possibilities. Contact our Sales Team today to learn more and book your group. 800.937.0156 | HardRockHolly.com | #GuitarHotel FINE-TUNE YOUR NEXT MEETING. © 2021. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1.888.ADMIT.IT 21-SHRH-05501 - Oct-Nov C&IT Magazine Assets.indd 19/1/2021 10:33:58 AM day cleaning, disinfecting and uphold- ing those protocols.” To planners, Haggerty says, “Make sure you’re communicating, communi- cating, communicating with your mem- bers. Let them know what the hotel is doing, what you’re doing, what’s man- datory to attend your event and what may be optional. The more comfortable they are in attending, the more they’re willing to travel and participate. Let the hotel know what your expectations are, and you know what their expecta- tions are, so there will be no surprises. Be clear on your room-set require- ments — how much space you want between chairs, tables, etc. — to ensure your room sets fit in the meeting space you’ve reserved.” AROUND THE STATE Not to be overlooked, the Fort Myers and Sanibel area on the Gulf Coast side of the state offers its own attractive options for meetings and conventions. Just south of the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, there are pristine, white-sand beaches and plenty of the outdoor and water activities for attendees. Some of the larger resort hotels include Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina, which offers more than 37,000 sf of meetings and events space, includ- ing the Lido Grand Ballroom, at 2,110 sf, and the Captiva Ballroom, at 3,000 sf. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa offers more than 82,500 sf of indoor and outdoor event space. Its Calusa Ballroom offers more than 14,000 sf of meeting space, and can accommodate more than 1,400 attendees in a theater setting. The expansive outdoor terrace can fit 660 attendees for formal dinner or 1,000 for a reception. Meanwhile, across the southern part of the state to the east, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Holly- wood beckons. The recently refurbished resort offers 120,000 sf of meeting space, includ- ing a 38,000-sf, carpeted exhibition hall that can be tailored to host trade shows, association conventions, large corporate groups and social fund- raisers. Its iconic Guitar Hotel features 638 upscale guest rooms, 168 luxury guest rooms and unique swim-up suites in the adjacent Oasis Tower. Its many amenities include a 42,000-sf spa, with a range of wellness and health-focused offerings, such as a 3,200-sf fitness center and a 3,600-sf salon; a 26,000-sf promenade of bou- tique storefronts; 13.5 acres of recre- ational waterscape and the Sound of Your Stay program, an exclusive audio experience that puts guests up close and personal with their favorite music. LARGEST REGISTRATION IN YEARS The Florida Keys present another alluring destination for planners and groups. The Florida Fire Sprinkler Association (FFSA) planned its annual in-person conference for mid-fall 2021 at Hawks Cay Resort. Just prior to the meeting, Lorrell Bush, executive direc- tor, says her group has not changed much in terms of planning other than offering masks and sanitizer. “There’s been very little reluctance to travel, everyone is looking forward to it. I’m in constant contact with the staff at Hawks Cay discussing ways to keep people safe.” The association’s fully in-person meeting has garnered the largest reg- istration of any in years. “Our group has been doing a conference for more than 20 years at Hawks Cay every other year,” Bush says. “We choose this hotel because of location and because it has a resort feel and is close enough to Miami and Key West for air travelers. We’ve had great success with negotiating room rates. Ease of access,” she adds, “is not how I would describe Hawks Cay, but the location is worth the drive. It’s a beautiful resort with some great restaurants close by.” The group uses both ballrooms. “Overseas Ballroom is great, with high ceilings and great sound in the room. It’s the main facility we use all week,” Bush says. “We use the Dolphin for din- ners. [And the] food is always delicious. In the past, I worked with the same staff for years. This year, it’s all new, and it was an adjustment for me. So far, though, they’ve been fantastic” Bush says her experience with staff and F&B over the years “cannot be com- pared to any other conference we do. They’ve been exceptionally accommo- dating, and their desire is for the customer to have a great experience. In October, [they] once again [went] over and above to make sure my group is happy.” The location, she says, sells itself. | AC&F | themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESNOVEMBER 2021 Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in the Fort Myers-Sanibel area offers more than 82,500 sf of meetings and events space. Diane Haggerty, CMP Director, Events, Exhibits & Advertising Metal Powder Industries Federation We selected The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin because of its outstanding convention services and reputation for hosting meetings. 40discover your rhythm. Take center stage on your next event and escape the everyday in a truly extraordinary getaway with limitless possibilities. Contact our Sales Team today to learn more and book your group. 800.937.0156 | HardRockHolly.com | #GuitarHotel FINE-TUNE YOUR NEXT MEETING. © 2021. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1.888.ADMIT.ITLAS VEGAS & RENO themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESNOVEMBER 2021 Caesars Palace was the ideal venue for the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s 84th annual Convention and Trade Show. The event attracted as many as 3,700 attendees. 42W hen it comes to select- ing the ideal recurring meeting location for a major trade show and convention, Las Vegas is a no-brainer. After all, they have a wide variety of dining, entertainment and activities to keep attendees engaged year after year. Just ask Patti Rouzie, vice president of membership and meetings for the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA). “When we look at destina- tions that can host us, Las Vegas has the largest selection of hotels with the meeting space we need,” Rouzie says. “And it offers so much for attendees — whether it’s entertainment, walking the Strip, great food — and it caters to many different levels of spend. It’s a great destination for conventions.” The NBWA has held its annual convention at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino since 2009, attracting up to 3,700 attendees. With the pandemic cancelling the event for 2020, the NBWA was determined to move forward with its 84th annual Convention and Trade Show this year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the event, which took place in late fall, was touch-and-go at several points. “We were full-steam ahead for this year, and then the Delta variant hit in June, and people started to get nervous,” Rouzie says. “But I would get a call every week from Don Ross, vice president of meeting operations at Caesars, and Janell Favaloro, senior catering and convention service manager, telling us what the hotel was doing and helping us through the decision process. The partnership and the continued communication helped NBWA feel confident as we moved forward. In the end, given the protocols we developed, the city’s protocols, and what was in place at Caesars, it was the right thing to do.” She adds, “People wanted to say ‘Hello’ again — they really wanted to be together.” Rouzie says the association has kept its show under one roof for many years to help foster a more intimate atmosphere. Although attendance dropped to just more than 2,200 this year, Caesars Pal- ace remained an ideal fit for the NBWA. “Caesars Palace has 300,000 sf of meeting space, which allows NBWA the space we need for our events, as well as for other partners that may meet with us,” Rouzie says. She calls the Caesars team second to none. “Because of our long partnership, they are able to anticipate our needs. Once we made the decision to move for- ward, the team at Caesars took over.” NBWA’s attendees were required to show proof of vaccination, along with their ID, before arriving at the registra- tion desk. Attendees who had not been vaccinated needed to have a negative COVID-19 test, performed within three days of arrival, and NBWA offered rapid testing on-site throughout the three- day event. “You could not get to our reg- istration desk without passing a check- point,” Rouzie says. “We tested about 80 attendees on-site at registration, but we also made testing available for any- one who wanted it, until the end if the event.” The show concluded with no positive tests recorded. She continues, “The Garden of the Gods pool is large enough for our welcome reception, and this year we wanted to be outside and take advantage of that; it’s a per- fect reception location,” Rouzie says. “Depending on the hotel tower guests are staying in, there can be a little more of a walk, but really, no one is more than about a five-minute walk to the pool. It’s a great option for an outdoor event.” Rouzie says Caesars understands NBWA’s priorities for the show floor, which might feature up to 30 different breweries showcasing 10 or more prod- ucts each — and all of it needs to be kept ice cold. “They’re not only carrying Bud or Miller Light, but every craft beer,” Rouzie says. “They rep breweries from across the country, and there can be over 750 cases of beer with hundreds of different products in all. There are sev- eral properties on the Strip that could handle our meeting, but we have been working with some of the Caesars staff for years, and they understand what’s really important to us. Plus, we’re the biggest group in the house, and we’re not competing with another one. At another property, we might be one of two or three large meetings.” This past summer, Caesars Palace embarked on a multimillion-dollar DESTINATIONREPORT 43 NOVEMBER 2021 themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIES Caesars Palace has embarked on a multimillion-dollar renovation of its original main entrance, including the resort’s main casino and porte cochère, with redesigned gaming areas and a new lobby bar. Nevada is on the Rebound BY DAVID SWANSONrenovation of its original main entrance, including the resort’s main casino and porte cochère, with redesigned gaming areas and a new lobby bar. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. And Caesars’ 8-year-old, hotel-within-a- hotel, Nobu, launched a remodel for all of its 182 guest rooms and public areas to create a more modern, residential feel for the guest experience. That project is also expected to be finished by the end of the year. BUSINESS IS RETURNING A number of large groups returned to business in Nevada during the last few months, including Las Vegas-based Viticus Group, which has been hosting its annual WVC Conference at Manda- lay Bay Resort and Casino for 18 years. This year’s event was originally sched- uled for late winter, but was moved to mid fall. Despite the lingering pandemic, the conference still drew 8,231 attendees. “We love the location of the Mandalay Bay, as it is close to the airport, and just 10 minutes from our training facilities,” says Andrea Davis, CEO of Viticus Group, which offers continuing education for veterinarians. “The Mandalay Bay is one of the few properties in town that is able to accommodate a group our size. Also, we really enjoy the relationships we develop with the Mandalay Bay teams — they are always top notch and helpful.” Davis cites a number of people that stood out during planning. “There are too many to mention, but we are espe- cially grateful for our partnerships . . . The hotel does a great job, and we have a long-standing relationship with them,” says Davis. She adds that Manda- lay Bay’s layout is very easy to navigate, and the facility offers excellent space for signage and advertising. Rooms are centrally located, and Davis finds it easy to move from Mandalay Bay to the Four Seasons Las Vegas or Delano Las Vegas in the same complex, with cool entertainment venues nearby. “For the first time ever, we hosted a concert at the Mandalay Bay Beach,” she says. “It was an awesome event. There were some limitations around stage size, so this limited us a bit with performers, but it all worked out fine. The sponsors loved it so much they are planning to do it again next year.” Davis suggests that, although Las Vegas has fine weather most of the year, planners may want to consider a back-up plan for the occasional bad weather. As for holding an event during a moment when the pandemic was easing, Davis says Viti- cus Group received excel- lent feedback regarding the safety of the event. “The primary reasons appeared to be the thermal-scanning sta- tions we had set-up around the entrances, and the fact we had our contract security team remind people they had to wear their masks since masks were still state-mandated at the time of our event. Overall, people were very compliant with the rules, and we appreciate having the additional safety glass and servers where necessary.” Several comments Davis made are worth noting for planners considering Las Vegas or Mandalay Bay. “Make sure you have enough coffee stations avail- able — even with a fee — as the line for Starbucks during peak times is 30-plus minutes,” Davis says. “Las Vegas con- tinues to have issues with Uber and Lyft ride-share services, so make sure you are prepared with transportation. It’s one more reason to try to keep events at the property.” But Davis reiterates how grateful Viticus Group is for how well Mandalay Bay handled its conference, “during such extraordinary times,” she adds. “We didn’t hesitate to extend our agreement to 2026.” ‘A CITY IN ITSELF’ Another planner with an affinity for one Las Vegas property in particular is Michael Grant, senior vice president, operations group at RX Global. “We are a significant annual user of the Vene- tian, with four annual trade shows,” says Grant, who adds that the group is contracted for multiple years. “It’s a high-end, integrated resort with an attached exhibition hall offering a very convenient and elegant destination to host our events. It is truly a city in itself in the center of the Las Vegas Strip.” Grant says The Venetian Resort Las Vegas was “incredibly flexible” themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESNOVEMBER 2021 Andrea Davis, right, CEO of Viticus Group, says Mandalay Bay’s location is ‘close to the airport, and just 10 minutes from our training facilities,’ making the resort one of her favorite venues. Michael Grant Senior Vice President, Operations Group RX Global The Venetian is a high-end, integrated resort with an attached exhibition hall offering a convenient destination to host our events. THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS IS FACE-TO-FACE. Las Vegas is changing the way people meet by amplifying experiences for the next generation of events, trade shows and meetings. Vegas is in a state of constant innovation with dynamic meeting venues like Resorts World Las Vegas, CAESARS FORUM and Circa. Plus, a new, Tesla-propelled, underground transportation system whisks attendees across the Las Vegas Convention Center, including the new West Hall expansion. A new era of business has already begun. Don’t get left behind. PLAN NOW AT VEGASMEANSBUSINESS.COM. FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS 44THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS IS FACE-TO-FACE. Las Vegas is changing the way people meet by amplifying experiences for the next generation of events, trade shows and meetings. Vegas is in a state of constant innovation with dynamic meeting venues like Resorts World Las Vegas, CAESARS FORUM and Circa. Plus, a new, Tesla-propelled, underground transportation system whisks attendees across the Las Vegas Convention Center, including the new West Hall expansion. A new era of business has already begun. Don’t get left behind. PLAN NOW AT VEGASMEANSBUSINESS.COM. FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF MEETINGSin helping RX Global adjust its 2021 shows to more favorable dates as the destination started to reopen. The Global Gaming Expo took place in mid fall, and attracted 15,000 attendees. “As a Four Diamond resort, the price point might not be for all our attendees and customers, but the Venetian truly offers a prestigious experience, and serves as a draw for most of our guests,” Grant says. “As an integrated resort with an attached exhibition hall, the Venetian is amazingly convenient for networking, receptions and hosted events for our show — all under one roof. They have a superior room product with dozens of great restaurants and bars, as well as entertainment.” And, considering the room product, restaurants and networking opportunities, Grant adds that the package enhances interest for prospective attendees. “It really becomes a marketing draw.” Grant cautions that the Venetian/ Palazzo complex is so large, that an appreciation for the layout and options is essential to ensure a good fit for your group’s needs. “They offer a variety of spaces, including carpeted ballroom space and exhibition halls over five lev- els,” he says. “There are outdoor pool decks, leased restaurants and other unique function spaces. Familiarize yourself with this extensive property when deciding on spaces, functions and needs.” He also suggests that the sheer amount of exhibition space con- nected to two hotel towers with 7,000 sleeping rooms on one property pres- ents a “hybrid” contracting element where space and rooms are considered in totality. “It’s important to under- stand that the more space one requires comes with commensurate room com- mitments.” Grant adds, “The Venetian is incredibly popular and, as such, opti- mal dates are a commodity. Allowing for as much advance planning as pos- sible is critical to securing the space and dates you want.” OPENINGS AND EXPANSIONS This past summer brought two important new assets to Las Vegas: the debut of the long-planned, $4.3 bil- lion Resorts World complex, and the opening of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s (LVCC) new $989 million, 1.4 million-sf West Hall expansion. The LVCC’s West Hall features a more con- temporary design, with ample natu- ral light and 600,000 sf of exhibition space, including 328,000 sf of column- free space — the largest such exhibition space in North America. An open-air atrium features a 10,000-sf digital screen, the largest digital experience in a convention center in the U.S., and West Hall’s 14,000-sf terrace can hold receptions with up to 2,000 attendees, with views of the Las Vegas Strip. Informa Markets’ World of Concrete was the first to use the expansion in June, while the fol- lowing month saw the Asso- ciation of Woodworking & Furniture Suppliers hold its AWFS Fair at West Hall. The largest woodworking event in North America is held in odd years, and Kim Roehricht, trade show direc- tor/assistant executive director, AWFS Fair/AWFS, says, despite many sleepless nights of planning, the orga- nization was grateful to be able to pull off a successful live event in 2021. “We know how fortunate we are, and we also know that not every in-person event has been this fortunate,” Roehricht says. “The newly opened West Hall of the LVCC is an incredible building. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to have a fully produced live event in this venue.” Roehricht continues: “With all new buildings, site visits are impor- tant, and in this case we did many, and attended shows that were happening in the building. We wanted to review all aspects of the attendee experience: ease of flow in the building, food, rest- room locations, Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities, transportation, lighting, staffing — all of it. These visits and shows were extremely valuable to us for overall planning.” Planning for AWFS Fair started months before the pandemic rocked the trade show sector, meaning Roeh- richt and her team were confronting a landscape that shifted regularly. “We put the safety of everyone top-of-mind in every detail of planning,” Roehricht says. “Ultimately, we are the hosts of this event, and our attendees’ safety is the most important priority — and truly nothing else comes close. Adding to the challenge, Las Vegas and Nevada mandates were changing, and rumors of them changing pre-show and while on-site during set up kept us vigilant in each moment.” themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESNOVEMBER 2021 Las Vegas Convention Center’s new $989 million, 1.4 million-sf West Hall expansion hosted the Association of Woodworking & Furniture Suppliers AWFS Fair earlier this year. The event drew nearly 10,000 attendees. Kim Roehricht, Trade Show Director/ Assistant Executive Director AWFS Fair/AWFS Ultimately, we are the hosts of this event, and our attendees’ safety is the most important priority — and truly nothing else comes close. VERTEX PHOTOGRAPHY 46MGM RESORTS IS WHERE INSPIRATION TAKES CENTER STAGE YOU HAD TO BE HERE. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK YOUR EVENT WITH MGM RESORTS, VISIT MGMRESORTS.COM21-0035Pjmd-Generic Sales Meetings & Conventions Ad.indd 16/28/21 9:01 AM themeetingmagazines.comASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS & FACILITIESNOVEMBER 2021 AWFS Fair 2021 chose the Las Vegas Hil- ton at Resorts World as its headquarters hotel. “It’s a short walk to the West Hall of the LVCC,” says Roehricht, who adds the show drew almost 10,000 participants this year. “Resorts World is new and exciting, and delegates that chose to stay here were happy with their experience. A huge draw for our group is that Resorts World honors and awards Hilton points.” Resorts World, which opened in early summer, repre- sents the first ground-up resort development on the Las Vegas Strip in more than a decade, and the larg- est multibrand deal in Hilton’s history. The Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World has 1,774 rooms, while the Conrad Las Vegas offers 1,496 contemporary rooms and suites starting at 550 sf and featur- ing deluxe amenities. The third brand, Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts, has a collection of 236 “ultra- luxury” guest rooms, and highly person- alized service is highlighted. The Resorts World complex includes 250,000 sf of flexible meeting and banquet space, including a 23,000-sf, Strip-facing ball- room and terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows, but it’s just a 10-minute walk from the hotel entrance to the LVCC, making it the closest Strip property to the LVCC’s West Hall. ‘RENO WAS A PERFECT FIT’ The National Prop- erty Management Asso- ciation (NPMA) was also working on its 2021 National Education Seminar prior to the pandemic, signing a con- tract in September 2019 to use the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino. For Tara Zeravsky, senior association manager at Meeting Expectations, overseeing the plan- ning, the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) was “super easy” to work with. “The process was very smooth, the space was amazing, and the oppor- tunities for attendees in Reno was a perfect fit,” Zeravsky says. “The ser- vice that Jen Sanford [executive direc- tor for NPMA) and William Franklin [president of NPMA] experienced throughout the process was excellent. Working with the RSCVA and its sales department was extremely smooth — everything the client needed, the group worked to make it happen.” The 1,621-room Peppermill is a long- standing favorite for meeting planners, offering 106,000 sf of total meeting space, including the 62,790-sf Tuscany Ballroom, which has a 32-foot ceil- ing and offers drive-in docks. NPMA used the ballroom for all its functions, including a general session, exhibit area and breakouts, save for one off-property event on closing night, held at Reno’s National Auto- mobile Museum, where attendees could mingle with docents amid the dazzling car collection. NPMA’s annual meeting typically draws 600 to 800 attendees, but with the pandemic curtailing many govern- ment employees from attending, in mid sum- mer, just two months prior to the convention, NPMA opted to go with a hybrid format for the educational content. Zeravsky notes this was the group’s first hybrid event, and she was concerned with using an untested A/V team. “I was very hesitant in going in with A/V on-site,” Zeravsky says. “Typically, I like to bring in my own A/V team, but the Peppermill under- stood our concerns. [T]he assistant director of tech services with the A/V department, and his whole team helped us so much, and their pricing was some of the most reasonable we’ve ever seen. They did a great job.” In the end, the seminar drew 214 in-person attendees and 166 virtual attendees. “The sales department was great to work with on attrition, helping us to have the best conference we could have given the reduced attendance,” Zeravsky says. “Our convention services managers . . . were also very responsive to requests. And the food at Peppermill is amazing, even the banquet food. You never hear people say banquet food is great, but we had a lot of com- pliments about it.” The 2021 National Education Seminar was successful enough that NPMA signed a contract to return to Peppermill in 2024. “The quality of support that we received while we were there means, going into 2024, this is who we’re going to use,” Zeravsky says. “I won’t have to go through the whole RFP process again.” | AC&F | The $4.3 billion Resorts World complex opened earlier this year, and offers 250,000 sf of meeting space. Peppermill Resort Spa Casino offers 106,000 sf of total meeting space and top-notch gaming. 48Next >