< Previousthereby offering more possibilities for groups staying and meeting at the Fontainebleau. Wuebbenhorst said that sales for meetings and events have been brisk. “We are currently in pre-opening sales at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, actively selling for the first quarter of next year and beyond,’’ he said. “We are seeing incredible short-term demand for the first part of next year, with significantly larger groups of 700 to 1,200 guests on peak nights.” Caesars Remains Successful Longtime Provider One of the most successful longtime providers for large meetings in Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment, has nine hotels in the city, including the iconic Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Joe Murphy, president of Continental Buying Group, which buys and sells jewelry in wholesale and retail markets, helped to organize a meeting for 800 attendees at Caesars Palace this summer. Continental Buying Group has held the annual meeting at the property for the past 20 years. “We always precede the Jewelers Circular Keystone (JCK) Show, the largest and most renowned jewelry trade event in the world, held at the Venetian Expo Center, for the convenience of our retailers and suppliers,” he said. Murphy said that since Continental Buying Group, based in Bay Harbor, FL, is a repeat customer, Caesars Palace staff is well aware of their needs. “We always have a pre-con meeting with their staff the day before the event starts,” he said. Most of Continental Buying Group’s attendees stayed at Caesars Palace, which has 300,000 sf of meeting space. This includes the 51,000 sf Octavius and Forum pillarless ballrooms, 28,592 sf Palace Ballroom, 4,100-seat Colos- seum entertainment venue and the 4.5-acre Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis. The newest Las Vegas addition to the Caesars Entertain- ment family, Caesars Forum, which includes 550,000 sf of meeting space and the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world. The Forum and the Summit, both have 110,000 sf of meeting space, as well as Alliance and Academy ballrooms, each with 40,000 sf LEED Silver-certified, Caesars Forum features plenty of natural light, a biophilic design, video walls and a large culinary facility. After a $200 million upgrade, Harrah’s Las Vegas, another Caesars property, features redesigned guest rooms; a remod- eled lobby and casino floor, as well as new restaurants, includ- ing Ramsay’s Kitchen, highlighting the signature dishes of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Paris Las Vegas, a Caesars property with 140,000 sf of meeting space, has become widely known for its celebrity chef restaurants. MGM’s Impressive Upgrades MGM Resorts, the other major provider for large meet- ings and events along the Las Vegas Strip, has many proper- ties, including MGM Grand Las Vegas. The property also has more than 850,000 sf of meeting space, including a 350,000 sf conference center, 90,000 sf Marquee Ballroom, 10,000 sf Studio Ballroom and 17,000-seat Grand Garden Arena. Some of the rooms have been remodeled and a new restaurant con- cept called Luchini is opening this fall. MGM Grand is one of six hotels in North America to receive five Green Keys for its green meetings. This distinction is awarded to hotels that exemplify the highest standards of envi- ronmental and social responsibility for their meeting and con- vention facilities. MGM Grand features Stay Well Meetings, held in a health environment that helps increase the energy focus and productivity of attendees, as well as Stay Well guest rooms, which are designed to renew, recharge and refresh guests with aromatherapy, air purifiers, shower infusers and more. Meanwhile, MGM’s New York-New York hotel and casino launched a $63 million project last year that will remodel its guest rooms. Another MGM property, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino has undergone a $100 million upgrade of its convention center, which has included installing new Ethernet cabling, adding 11 new dynamic digital walls and providing radio fre- quency identification (RFID) locks on all meeting room doors. Inspired by the villages of Europe, MGM’s ultra-luxuri- ous Bellagio Hotel & Casino has 200,000 sf of meeting space, Courtesy Photo The Fontainebleau Las Vegas, scheduled to open this fall, will also include a 56,000 sf spa, a 14,000 sf fitness center and nightlife venues. 70 September 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com HERE, EVENTS ARE INVITING & INNOVATIVE Where immersive technology meets a breathtaking setting. Book your next event at a venue your employees will never forget. Visit mandalaybay.com.including the 45,000 sf Grand Ballroom, 30,000 sf Tower Ballroom, 22,000 sf Bellagio Ballroom, 9,570 sf Monet Ball- room and the 6,082 sf Grand Patio, an outdoor space with captivating views of the resort’s pools and courtyards. Large And Luxurious Favorites Also well known for its luxury, the Wynn and Encore Las Vegas complex offers 560,000 sf of meeting and convention space. Cindy Black, the president and owner of Five Star Produc- tions, an event manage- ment company based in Edina, MN, produced a yearly conference for about 2,000 attend- ees at Wynn Las Vegas during the spring. “The full group was also housed at the prop- erty,” Black said. “Their recently redesigned guest rooms are fantas- tic. They provided the attendees all the luxury they would expect when staying at the Wynn.” “Our event was hosted in Wynn Las Vegas’ beautiful new event space,” Black said. “The South Convention Center was the ideal place for the confer- ence. The Cristal Ball- room features 28-foot ceilings and 84,000 sf, making it easy to install a large-scale production.” She said the highlight of the event was a celebration at XS Nightclub, a lavish, gold-accented dance club in Encore, featuring a dance floor, headliner DJs and a poolside patio. “The atmosphere was stunning, the service was impeccable and the music was expertly curated,” Black said. “It was the single highest-rated experience of the conference.” A high-energy social gathering was also a highlight of the meeting that Women’s Veteran Alliance, a business serving female military veterans in Lincoln, CA. It was held at Tropi- cana Las Vegas and more than 160 people attended the meet- ing and most stayed on-site. “Our group participated in various activities, including a themed mix and mingle event held in the Havana Room,” Melissa A. Washington, CEO and founder of the group, said. “The unique ambiance of this space resonated with our attendees, and it was such a success that we have chosen a ‘Night in Havana’ theme for this year’s event.” The 12,000 sf Havana Room, the newest and most elegant of Tropicana’s reception venues, has a magnificent crystal chandelier suspended over the dance floor and is surrounded by custom-built seating areas and multiple full-service bars. Washington and her team chose Tropicana Las Vegas for their meeting for several reasons. “The proximity to the airport was a significant advan- tage as it minimized transportation costs and made it con- venient for our attendees,” she said. “Additionally, the sepa- ration of the conference center from the casino area elimi- nated the strong smell of cigarettes that can be prevalent in many casinos on The Strip. The layout allowed our attendees to easily access the conference center without having to navigate through a busy casino floor. Our room block was also conveniently located in the same tower as the conference center.” The hotel provides 100,000 sf of meet- ing space, including the 25,000 sf Cohiba Ballroom, and the more than 24,000 sf Trinidad Pavilion. Washington said that Women’s Veterans Alliance will return to Tropicana Las Vegas to meet this fall. Lisa Messina, chief sales officer for the Las Vegas Convention and Visi- tors Authority, is buoyed by the revived successes of most hotels and resorts. “Las Vegas has seen such a successful recovery, due to a unique combination of constant evolution and the destina- tion’s unwavering commitment to hospitality and visitor expe- rience,” she said. “In a time when much of the world slowed down, we were able to open three all-new resorts, a state-of- the-art stadium, and countless restaurants and shows. Each offer new and exciting reasons to book Las Vegas.” “Las Vegas is currently experiencing a boost in develop- ment, with more than $15 billion in new investment expected over the next several years,” Messina said. “Some of the most exciting projects include the opening of the Sphere, the most technologically advanced venue in the world.” The futuristic Sphere, which will offer events, shows and concerts, will feature 17,500 seats, and an exosphere with 580,000 sf of programmable lighting. C&IT Photo by Barbara Kraft Wynn’s meeting space includes the new Wynn South Convention Center, with 430,000 sf, including the Cristal Ballroom and a 20,000 sf outdoor event pavilion. 74 September 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com SIMPLIFY SUCCESS caesarsmeansbusiness.com | 855-633-8238 8303931-8.125x10.875-mtg-corpincentravelresize-v1.indd 18/21/23 1:24 PMSIMPLIFY SUCCESS caesarsmeansbusiness.com | 855-633-8238A rizona, the Spanish interpretation of an Aztec Indian word that means “silver-bearing,” has a splendor and peacefulness all its own. For many corporate meeting and event pro- fessionals, executing a memorable gather- ing, small or large, simple or elaborate can depend on the venue and locale. Luckily, Arizona offers a plethora of splendid options, complete with wonderful accouterments that surprise and delight corporate meeting attendees at every turn. Easy Air Lift & Accessiblity For corporate meeting attendees heading to Scottsdale, AZ for an event, it all starts with accessibility. Scottsdale is just a 15-minute commute from the nearest international airport (Phoenix Sky Harbor) and offers all the services and amenities expected of a premier meeting destination. A global food & beverage company based in Purchase, NY, recently held a corporate meeting at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas. According to Lisa Swartz, CMP, con- meeting services consultant for Meeting Services Outsource Specialists, in Rye Brook, NY, the corporate gathering was a human resources meeting with 350 attendees. The previ- ous year, they held a similar meeting, but broke it up into three different regions over three different dates in three different hotels. “We selected Scottsdale for several reasons,” Swartz said. “First, it was easy to get to. There was a lot of lift going into the Phoenix airport, and not a long trip from the airport to the destination. The second reason was we were invited for a site inspection to look at several off-site venues for our sec- ond night, and Scottsdale had great facilities. All three that we looked at were varied and there were plenty of choices. Lastly, the reason we chose Scottsdale was because The Scottsdale Plaza Resort itself was a great fit for our meet- ing space needs.” Experience Scottsdale set up the site inspections for the food and beverage company and they were made aware of an incentive they offered — to bring a meeting to Scottsdale in the form of a credit to the corporation’s master bill based on the number of attendees that actually stayed. “So that was also a very big plus,” Swartz said. “We also held our meeting in June, which most would say is not a good time to go to Arizona because of the heat. However, if the CVB works with you and the venue you select, the supplier uses all within their power to make things seamless and comfortable, and the temperature is not a concern. We moved people with buses. We had people walking outside of the property to get to the meeting space, back to the rooms, and in fact, we utilized a tent space that normally would not be used at that time of year. The hotel promised and delivered to have it air-conditioned in time for our first night’s event. So, remember, almost anything is possible with a stellar partnership. My recommendation is that planners take advantage of all resources available, includ- ing the experience of local staff, seasoned sales and convention services staff. These coupled with your own planning skills will come together to have a fantastic experience in Scottsdale.” Each year, Medtronic also hosts a series of meetings in Scottsdale at various hotels and venues. Katie Fugina, CMP, senior principal strategic meeting planning specialist, profes- sional relations at Medtronic, in Mounds View, MN, said that Medtronic’s meetings range in size from 30 to 200 attendees. Arizona BY CHLOE LABELLE Offers Endless Meeting Space 76 September 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com DESTINATION UPDATE“The last meeting we held was at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. We have a great relationship with this hotel and are always impressed by the on-site expe- rience,” Fugina said. So why do Medtronic’s meeting planners repeatedly select Scottsdale for corporate events? Quite simply, Scotts- dale is a draw for attendees. As Fugina explained, the weather and beauty of the Sonoran Desert is impressive. The Phoe- nix Sky Harbor Airport has excellent air lift, so it is an easy, direct flight for most attendees. Once they land, most venues are a quick 20-minute drive. “For planners, the qual- ity and quantity of hotel options with large meet- ing spaces, outdoor dining options and great air lift, makes Scottsdale an ideal destination,” Fugina said. “Most times of year, you don’t have to worry about flights being canceled or delayed due to the weather.” Scottsdale has proven to be a top destination for meetings, being centrally located with many flight options across the country, making it an easy flight for attendees. “For medical meetings, many hotels offer pharma menus and group rates that will keep your meeting compliant,” Fugina said. “For other meetings, there are so many activities to keep your guests busy, such as golf, spa, hiking, shopping and dining. Regardless of your meeting type, Scottsdale delivers.” Madison Breuer, event planner and junior account execu- tive at Serendipit Consulting in Phoenix, AZ, had the privi- lege of planning an event in Scottsdale for their client Der- maCrush Medical Aesthetics based there and its president and medical director Marie Baker FNP-C, last fall to cel- ebrate the company’s three- year anniversary. “We had around 100 attend- ees, and I worked closely with the DermaCrush team to exe- cute this event,” Breuer said. “The event entailed various product and treatment discounts, a Waffle Crush food truck, drinks, charcuterie, live music, a raffle, a step and repeat with a balloon arch and photo booth props, gift bags, a custom- designed cake by Nicoleta Lesan, and industry partner tables featuring SkinMedica, Solta Medical, Alastin, SkinCeuticals, Galderma and Upneeq.” The corporate event team was fortunate enough to be able to use the spacious parking lot of the DermaCrush facil- ity, allowing for an outdoor event that is ideal for an expan- sive event of this kind. “Arizona was a natural choice for our event since Derma- Crush Medical Aesthetics is located in the state,” Breuer said. “Arizona presents a host of advantages for corporate meet- ing planners and attendees alike. The state’s winter weather, such as during the time of our event, provides a welcoming backdrop for events. With many people also escaping colder cli- mates during the winter, Arizona offers a larger audience eager to partic- ipate in events.” For planners consid- ering hosting an event in Arizona, Breuer said that it’s essential to have a com- prehensive understanding of the state’s laws and regulations. Depending on the nature of the event, planners may need to secure liability insurance, obtain liquor licenses and ensure that any staff serving alcohol has their Arizona Title 4 Alco- hol Certification. Additionally, compliance with fire code Photos by Ariel Perez Attendees networked on the links at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa during the Furniture Today Bedding Conference. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | September 2023 77 For medical meetings, many hotels offer pharma menus and group rates that will keep your meeting compliant. KATIE FUGINA, CMP Senior Principal Strategic Meeting Planning Specialist, Professional Relations, Medtronicrequirements is critical for ensuring the safety of attendees. Another popular location in Scott- sdale is the AAA Four-Diamond rated Talking Stick Resort. Not only does it offer the excitement of gaming and live entertainment that attendees crave but it is also home to more than 100,000 sf of flexible meeting space. Added Value Corporate meeting planners can make the most of attendees’ time by tak- ing advantage of all the activities Scott- sdale has to offer. Attendees can enjoy guided kayak excursions to the Lower Salt River or customized dinner-in-the- desert experiences for groups large and small with a full gourmet meal, craft cocktails, live music and unforgettable Sonoran Desert settings, like the base of the Superstition Mountains. Old Town Scottsdale offers seven Arizona wine tasting rooms featuring wines produced in the Willcox, Verde Valley and Sonoita wine regions of the state. Attendees can get a taste of award-winning local wines using the Scottsdale Wine Trail map. New And Renovated Venues Scottsdale also continually rein- vents itself with new venues ideal for corporate meetings and events. Privado Villas at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a new boutique hotel within a hotel. Consisting of residential-style luxury suites set apart from the 65-acre main property, Privado Villas offer a private entrance and reception area. The Fair- mont Scottsdale Princess has more than 316,000 sf of overall meeting space. Another new choice is Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson, which opened last year. This full-service hotel is ideal for corporate meeting attendees thanks in part to its expansive event center, as well as indoor and outdoor meeting spaces. For corporate meeting planners look- ing for private event venues in Scotts- dale, two event spaces include Mick’s Place of Scottsdale, a large unobstructed space, and Elevate Hangar, which fea- tures two side-by-side hangars with plenty of interior and exterior spaces. Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia will be completing expan- sive renovations later this summer to all of its meeting spaces. The Scottsdale Resort at McCor- mick Ranch has undergone a compre- hensive multimillion-dollar enhance- ment, which is the largest in the prop- erty’s 50-year history. Opening later this year, the Ritz- Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie will feature hotel rooms with private entrances, detached casitas, bungalows and oversized suites spread across 20 acres, with plenty of stunning views of Camelback Mountain. The new resort will include two large ballrooms and several meeting rooms, many of which will feature natural light and floor-to- ceiling windows. Looking ahead, Caesars Republic Scottsdale will open its first non-gaming hotel in the U.S. early next year and will feature a unique interior meeting space with sliding glass door opening to an expansive event lawn. Also, corporate meeting planners can watch for the opening of the rebranding of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch to Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort & Spa next year. This rebranding will include extension reno- vations to the resort’s indoor and out- door meeting and event spaces. Additionally, Experience Scotts- dale offers a variety of FAM opportuni- ties each year, along with our Site See & Fly Free promotion, which allows associations to pick up airfare expense for qualified planners. This program encourages them to experience a cus- tomized site inspection and see first- hand what makes Scottsdale a top meet- ings destination. They work closely with their clientele to understand the indi- vidual needs and match them with the right businesses and resources in the destination to meet those specific needs. Tucson Offers Hospitality & Flexibility Tucson is a unique destination with great food, approximately 325 days of sunshine and great opportunities to connect with nature, local culture and people. As a UNESCO City of Gastron- omy, home to James Beard Award win- ners and celebrity chefs, the options for delicious dining are endless. Attendees can connect with col- leagues during a desert hike among the thousands of Saguaro cacti in Saguaro National Park or over a tasting tour in Tucson. Attendees can experience the indigenous and Mexican influ- ence on local culture firsthand by vis- iting attractions like Mission Garden and Mission San Xavier del Bac, a his- toric Spanish Catholic mission on the Tohono O’odham Nation reservation. In addition, with 233,000 sf of meet- ing space and three performance ven- ues, Tucson Convention Center has the D2 Productions Talking Stick Resort features more than 100,000 sf of flexible meeting space, including both indoor and outdoor event venues. The resort can accommodate everything from trade shows to intimate gatherings. 78 September 2023 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comsize and flexibility to accommodate your event needs. Plus, with the wide range of meeting spaces available on-site at various Tucson hotels and wide-open outdoor spaces at every turn, the meet- ing opportunities in Tucson plentiful. Jessica Byerly, director of events for the home furnishings division and the Carolinas at Bridge Tower Media in Min- neapolis, MN, recently orchestrated the company’s annual Furniture Today Bed- ding Conference at the JW Marriott Tuc- son Starr Pass Resort & Spa. They hosted 300 people from around the world. “Our event rotates from the West Coast to the East Coast, and this year, we selected Tucson,” Byerly said. “The region was beautiful, with limited chances of rain, and provided the ability to host our attendees in a unique environ- ment that offers so much beauty, warmth and hospitality. The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is a great property and the team at Visit Tucson was absolutely a planners dream to work with. The hotel was roomy and offered the space and footprint for a large group without it feel- ing like a large group. Defiantly watch for the rainy season. We were fortunate to not be in that season, just a little warm.” Byerly highly recommends fellow corporate meeting planners conduct a site visit at their chosen venue and think about ways of incorporating airport shuttles. “Work with Visit Tucson on excur- sions,” Bylerly said. “Our group did not do them, but had so many requests to include them in the future. There is really so much to offer in the area.” For planners looking for a renovated space, Omni Tucson National Resort recently completed a multimillion- dollar transformation. The resort offers more than 25,000 sf of meeting space. Much To Offer In Phoenix Looking for a big city to hold your event? Phoenix offers plenty of the resources that planners need, including luxury resorts, lush golf courses, easy airlift, a thriving arts & culture district and plenty of options for restaurants and other entertainment. When planning an event for the Scottsdale-based Hospitality Perfor- mance Network Global (HPN), Brynn Mehrkens, vice president of global accounts at HPN Global, often turns her attention to Phoenix. “I have held many events in Phoenix, ranging from 10 people all the way up to 2,500 people,” Mehrkens said. “The smaller events were held at various hotels in Phoenix and Scottsdale, while the larger events were held at the Phoenix Convention Center, with room blocks at neighboring hotels. Some of the events were corporate events, others were association and nonprofit events. I have held a few government and educational events in Phoenix as well.” The Phoenix Convention Center offers nearly 1 million sf of meeting TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | September 2023 79 SCOTTSDALE | 877.724.4687 TALKINGSTICKRESORT.COM Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. YOUR BIG EVENT NEEDS A BIG TIME VENUE Turn your meeting into an unforgettable event at Talking Stick Resort 113,000 square feet of flexible meeting space State-of-the-art visual/digital capabilities Catering for up to 2,000 attendees Award-winning accommodations for your guests Luxurious open-air spa World-class golf courseNext >