Las Vegas Continues to See Vibrant Growth

A megacity located within the smallest desert in America, Las Vegas is a mecca for both business and leisure travel. In 2015, a record 42 million visitors ventured here, drawn to the endless options for work and play. It is not surprising that Las Vegas convention attendance was up by 13.4 percent, year-over-year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). It is the kind of place that people want to rediscover again and again because there is so much to see and do.

The stats speak for themselves: 150,000 hotel rooms, nearly 11 million square feet of business meeting space, and three of the 10 largest convention centers in the U.S. Groups of any size will feel welcome, whether a 10-person executive team or a major trade show with 170,000 attendees.

"Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world," says Chris Meyer, vice president of global business sales for the LVCVA. "There is always something going on -- a trade show, festival, or corporate retreat."

And there will be even more convention space opening up soon. A planned expansion of the original center will increase it from 3.2 million square feet to nearly 5.7 million square feet. Last month, the bill to approve the expansion passed in the Nevada State Senate and the State Assembly. The bill will fund the $1.4 billion Las Vegas Convention Center District project and set in motion the development of a $1.9 billion domed stadium (contingent on an NFL franchise moving to the city).

"This expansion will create a new beginning for the Las Vegas Convention Center and Destination Las Vegas, when it comes to business meetings for the next 25 years. The impact will be monumental," says Meyer.

Once the stomping ground of the Rat Pack and Hollywood royalty, Las Vegas retains its ability to reinvent itself while continuing to offer the old-school class that put it on the map. With so many choice destinations from which to select, groups may have a hard time deciding on a venue. The good news? Because of the vast number of hotel rooms, availability is almost never a problem and bargains are frequently available.

"Most groups stay between Sunday and Thursday, whereas leisure travelers usually incorporate weekends," says Meyer. "If groups are traveling midweek, chances are that you will get a great value, even though the city is continuously hosting events and trade shows. Traveling outside of weekends is the best way to get the experience you are looking for with a smart value proposition." He adds that "hotel rates here change by the minute, mainly because there are so many channels of distribution, but groups are highly valuable to hotel properties, and not just because of lodging, but because groups bring in incremental revenue beyond the regular leisure traveler."  

 

This past September, Caesars Palace celebrated its 50th anniversary with a lavish weekend celebration fit for a Roman emperor. The gathering focused on the late owner Jay Sarno, a pioneer of the glamorous, and sometimes gluttonous, approach to high-end property development. But as it celebrated its past, Caesars was hardly resting on its laurels. The property recently unveiled 587 new hotel rooms, in the new Julius Tower. Open for booking, the $75 million renovations were designed by Michael Medeiros of KNA Design as a modern update of the hotel's iconic Roman Tower. "As we enter into our milestone golden anniversary year, we continue to reinvent Rome…and Las Vegas," said Gary Selesner, regional president of Caesars Palace, in a statement.

Caesars plans to keep the celebration going all year long, with special packages that include meals in its celebrity chef-created restaurants (think Nobu), admission to its new 75,000-square-foot Omnia Nightclub, and lavish treatments in the 50,000-square-foot Qua Baths & Spa.

Caesars' new rooms aren't the only ones going up in a luxury tower downtown. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is gaining 21 exclusively designed penthouses in the Boulevard Tower of The Cosmopolitan Resort. Three different teams designed the penthouses that comprise a total of 63,000 square feet. The individual penthouse apartments for guests will range in size from 2,000 to 5,000 square feet. The design team (Tihany Design, as a consultant to Marnell Companies, Daun Curry, and Richmond International) gave a similar theme to each of the seven guest rooms they were responsible for creating. The penthouses are slated for completion by early 2017, and will include a private gaming salon as part of the package.

Las Vegas is also becoming known for its high-tech and high-stakes casinos. This May, the Malaysian-based Genting Group investment-grade gaming company got the green light to build Resorts World Las Vegas, a Chinese-themed, $4 billion megaresort, with over 3,000 rooms on the Strip, currently scheduled to open in 2019. It has also been reported that Alon Las Vegas, a $2 billion resort and casino, will go up across from the Wynn Encore, despite conflicting reports that the project has stalled.

5 MEMORABLE VEGAS DINING EXPERIENCES


These restaurants offer great food, and much more, for visiting groups

What are some options for getting a small group together for dinner? We asked Las Vegas-based Baskow and Associates, a destination management company, celebrity/talent broker, event planning, and speakers bureau, for five of their go-to spots. Here's what they suggested.


Sake Rok
A theatrical hot spot that thrills guests with more than just its array of delicious sushi, Japanese cuisine, and private-label sake. By night, Sake Rok transforms into a high-profile social dining extravaganza, immersing guests in an experience part culinary, part performance, and completely unexpected. Nightly, DJs pump up the jams with party music. Accompanying the music are sporadic choreographed theatrical vignettes and dynamic digital content. 


Del Frisco's Las Vegas
Del Frisco's in Las Vegas offers elegant dining just steps from the Strip. From its memorable James Bond Table to rich mahogany dining rooms, Del Frisco's follows the tradition of grand steak houses in true Las Vegas style. Featuring eight private dining rooms, including its stunning wine cellar, this is a standout Las Vegas steakhouse serving top-quality meats and seafood along with fine wines.


Hugo's Cellar
A warm and classy atmosphere awaits at this gourmet restaurant, reminiscent of Las Vegas the way it used to be. Ladies are greeted with a long-stemmed rose and the classic old-style Vegas menu features a table-side salad included with all entrees. Meals end with table-side flambéed desserts and complimentary white-and-dark chocolate-dipped strawberries, apricots, and figs. A private room accommodates approximately 20, and the restaurant is available for buyouts. 


NM Café, Las Vegas
Groups can enjoy a meal at one of Las Vegas' most fashionable addresses by stopping here for lunch. This casual, contemporary setting provides amazing views of the Strip through wall-to-wall windows or outside from its shaded terrace. An innovative menu features American-Mediterranean cuisine.


Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Club
Cili Restaurant encapsulates the essence of the South Pacific, with a menu of regional American cuisine infused with Thai and Asian, prepared with fresh ingredients. Meals are served amidst exotic foliage and white-powder sand, and private event spaces are available for groups ranging from 20 guests to 1,500. 

-- Andrea Doyle

5 UNUSUAL LAS VEGAS SPA TREATMENTS

Take pampering to a whole new level with some of this over-the-top city's unique spa treatments

After a long day at a meeting, conference, or convention, a 50-minute Swedish massage feels like heaven. After all, learning and networking can be just as exhausting physically as they are mentally. Warm hands on sore muscles, therefore, can be exactly what the doctor -- or, rather, the meeting planner -- ordered. As nice as a traditional Swedish rubdown feels, however, it's a little -- well, predictable. To make a lasting impression on VIPs, incentive recipients, and other spa-bound attendees, meeting planners should consider springing for spectacular spa treatments instead of standard ones. And no one does "spectacular" better than Las Vegas. Here are five Vegas spa treatments that promise to redefine relaxation for fatigued meeting-goers:

1. Watsu Massage at Spa Bellagio, Bellagio
At the two-story Spa & Salon Bellagio, you'll find 65,000 square feet of pampering. Located on the second floor, the spa features granite, travertine, and jade surfaces, as well as water walls and hand-blown glass décor -- not to mention 56 treatment rooms and separate men's and women's areas, each of which has a eucalyptus steam room, a redwood sauna, three hot Jacuzzis, and a cold plunge. The spa's highlight, however, is its treatment room with a private heated swimming pool. There, in water that's warmed to 94 degrees Fahrenheit in order to loosen your muscles, therapists perform the spa's signature Watsu Massage (70 minutes, $285 weekdays/$295 weekends), an aquatic massage that involves your massage therapist keeping you afloat in the water while manipulating, stretching, and massaging your limbs in ways that would be impossible on a massage table. Bathing suits required.

2. Harmonic Massage at Reliquary Spa, Hard Rock
Spas typically appeal to your senses of touch and smell. At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas's Reliquary Spa, your sense of hearing also has a starring role in relaxation. Like the rest of the hotel, the spa features a rock 'n' roll inspiration throughout. So much so that the 25,000-square-foot facility -- which includes 21 treatment rooms, a sauna, whirlpool, and co-ed pool -- can be rented out for private functions of up to 50 people, for which the hotel will arrange a DJ who'll spin during your bathhouse bash. For an auditory-inspired treatment, check out the Harmonic Massage (80 minutes, $225), a signature service that combines sound vibrations with acupuncture points and meridians to soothe, inspire, and relax.

3. Royal Flush at REVIV, MGM Grand
Between the scorching desert sun and the all-night parties, it's easy to overdo it in Las Vegas. The result -- extreme exhaustion and dehydration -- can ruin you for the rest of your meeting. Enter REVIV, a medical spa specializing in hydrating intravenous and vitamin therapies. Owned by emergency room physicians, the 1,270-square-foot space in The Underground at MGM Grand includes four full-body massage chair rooms as well as a group "living room" that's furnished with a large, comfortable couch and a high-definition television. Try the Royal Flush ($239), a premium IV treatment that's the perfect answer to sickness, sleep deprivation, excessive working, and hangovers. It restores hydration, replenishes essential vitamins and minerals, boosts your immune system, decreases inflammation, relieves pain and nausea, boosts energy, detoxifies the body, and cleanses vital organs.

4. Moroccan Journey at Sahra Spa & Hammam, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The center of Moroccan culture and life is the "hammam," a Turkish take on the traditional Roman bath. Every week, Moroccans go there to cleanse themselves in steam, gossip with friends and family, and complete a painstaking bathing ritual that makes their skin glow. Because it's modeled after a traditional hammam, the 50,000-square-foot Sahra Spa & Hammam at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas feels like a five-star trip to Marrakesh. Featuring sandstone halls, a waterfall-accented lounge, and 28 treatment rooms, its most decadent treatment is the Moroccan Journey (130 minutes, $450). Taking place in a private suite, it starts with a luxurious cleansing experience using volcanic black soap, which is followed by a dual exfoliation: a traditional kese mitt body buffing and a tea-infused shea butter bamboo scrub. Next, receive a detoxifying rhassoul clay masque and a hydrating pure honey application, and relax in the eucalyptus steam room and a large soaking tub, both of which you'll be able to enjoy throughout your treatment. Finally, conclude your session with a full-body massage.

5. Arctic Ice Room at Qua Baths & Spa, Caesars Palace
A modern take on an ancient Roman bathhouse, Qua Baths & Spa totals 50,000 square feet and includes three distinct pools -- each with a different size and temperature -- not to mention 50 treatment rooms, cascading waterfalls, a Laconium sauna, and a tea lounge where a tea sommelier will create a customized tea drink to pair with your spa treatments. The spa's highlight isn't a treatment, per se; rather, it's a room -- the Arctic Ice Room, which is free to use with any spa treatment. Featuring a dome ceiling, glass-tiled walls, and mint-scented air, it boasts heated floors and benches that keep you comfortable in the room's crisp 55-degree air as faux snow -- the only winter weather in Vegas -- falls from above.


-- Matt Alderton

East Heads West
"We have been really successful in getting more flights into the city and providing fliers with point-to-point destination services," says Meyer. "We know it is important to business customers to have flexibility when it comes to air travel, and we want to give consumers increased service directly to Las Vegas."

The big win for international travelers headed to Las Vegas comes out of the Far East. "China is a huge international participant in visits to trade shows," shares Meyer. "To accommodate these travelers we now have nonstop service from Beijing, the capital of China, to Las Vegas." Offered by Hainan Airlines, it is the first-ever nonstop flight between Mainland China and Las Vegas. Service begins in early December and will initially operate three days a week. It comes at a perfect time: Chinese tourists are one of the fastest-growing and largest-spending groups of international visitors to Las Vegas.

The city, explains Meyer, has established itself as a major draw for Chinese visitors traveling to the U.S. "We are extremely proud to welcome Hainan Airlines to Las Vegas with their convenient, premium-service for Chinese visitors," says Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). "China is an area where we have seen steady growth in visitation, and we will continue to focus on experiences and amenities that cater to our Chinese guests. With these first-ever flights from China to Las Vegas, we are anticipating more than $33.5 million in annual economic impact."

The same week that the Beijing planes hit the tarmac in Nevada, the Lucky Dragon is slated to open. A niche-market hotel and casino, it is a property built to cater specifically to Chinese and Chinese-American visitors. Signs will be in Chinese first, then English, and the staff will speak Cantonese, Mandarin, or other Chinese dialects. It will also feature authentic Chinese cuisine and an indoor and outdoor tea garden. (See sidebar for more information.)

Today's Las Vegas may pay homage to its neon and glitter roots, but it is distinctly focused on its future. Gaming remains a central part of its landscape, but the city is far more than craps and slot machines. An exotic racing experience is available at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway where participants can pick from a fleet of racing vehicles including Lamborghini, Porsche, and Aston Martin.

Another popular sport in Vegas is golf. Groups can skip the heat on the outdoor courses and head inside MGM Grand's Topgolf entertainment center, which opened in May. Topgolf has 108 climate-controlled hitting bays, microchipped balls equipped to track shots and award points, two luxurious pools, a concert venue, VIP suites, five bars, plus special-event spaces. The facility has four levels and 105,000 square feet of space. Groups can rent out their own hitting bay and other facilities. Unique venues focused on interactive entertainment for visitors appear to be on trend in Las Vegas.

Further out in the future are plans by real-estate mogul Steve Wynn to replace his golf course with Paradise Park, a lakefront resort, complete with a 38-acre lake and a 1,000-room hotel, and featuring outdoor elements like a boardwalk, sandy lakefront beach, zip-line attractions, beach activities like water skiing, nightly firework celebrations, and more. To date, the project has not received board approval, but it has been reported that the goal is to open it in 2020.

"Vegas is synonymous with constant innovation," says Meyer, who has lived for over 20 years in the Las Vegas area. "There's always something new and exciting to experience."  



Questions or comments? Email [email protected] 



This article appears in the November 2016 issue of Successful Meetings.
Beyond the Casino Floor
Gaming may be a big draw in Vegas, but it has more to offer than world-class casinos. "Las Vegas has evolved into such a dynamic destination, offering so much more than gaming," says Meyer. "Our guests can enjoy outdoor activities year-round with easy access to national parks. And downtown Las Vegas has grown into a cultural arts scene with a walkable district featuring eclectic restaurants and museums."

MGM Resorts International and other businesses are supporting the city's desire to be walkable, eco-friendly, and stacked with outdoor destinations. Case in point: As of this past spring a new open-air dining and entertainment district called "The Park" opened to an enthusiastic response. The district allows visitors to venture into a central gathering place, dine and drink al fresco at casual dining establishments like New York favorite Shake Shack or California's popular Bruxie waffle house. Enjoy a pint of ale or specialty sausage at Beerhaus, which also serves farm-to-table dishes and other organic and local products. Attendees can watch a show or sporting event in The Park, too: The 20,000 seats in the 650,000-square-foot T-Mobile Arena, which is part of the district, opened this spring. The venue will be host to between 100 and 150 events annually, and group tickets are available. The arena will also host an NHL expansion team for the 2017-18 season. (The city also has its fingers crossed that the NFL will soon approve the Oakland Raiders' bid to move to a new on-Strip stadium.) The Park is designed with sustainability in mind and the restaurant corridor recently earned a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Another new addition to The Park is MGM's 5,000-seat Park Theater, opening in December.

"One of MGM Resorts' strongest values is offering destinations that create exceptional guest experiences while reducing environmental impact," says Cindy Ortega, MGM Resorts International's chief sustainability officer. "For us, environmental responsibility is a commitment that extends across all levels of our organization. The Park exemplifies our dedication to environmental leadership in Las Vegas."

For groups who are interested in staying near The Park, MGM Resorts reports that plans are under way to spend nearly $450 million to convert the Monte Carlo into two hotels -- the Park MGM (2,700 rooms) and NoMad Las Vegas, (with 292 rooms). The project will begin in late 2016, and is expected to debut at the end of 2018.

For those hoping to stay at The Monte Carlo before then, no need to panic. According to reports, the property plans to remain open throughout the renovation and will continue to operate under the Monte Carlo name until the rebranding is complete. The Luxor's hotel tower will be getting a top-to-bottom renovation, upgrading it to take overflow groups from the Mandalay Bay and adding 20,000 square feet of meeting space, for a total of 60,000 square feet. Aria's Zarkana Theater will be converted to a three-level meeting facility.

The 289-room W Hotel Las Vegas is set to open on Dec. 1 in the LUX Tower of SLS Las Vegas, which entered into a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (before it merged with Marriott) to bring the hip boutique W to the Vegas Strip. The acquisition of the LUX Tower isn't the only deal going on in Vegas, of course. On Oct. 3, the sale of the Palms Casino Resort to Red Rock Resorts was completed, according to Station Casinos, the parent company of Red Rock. This $312.5 million acquisition will bring the number of Station Casinos to 20 in the Las Vegas area.

Reservations are being accepted as the finishing touches are under way. For groups seeking venue space, the W offers seven sites with a combined 45,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, plus an additional 50,000 square feet of outdoor function space. In the spring, the W's WET rooftop pool will open, complete with private cabanas and a poolside bar.

In early 2017, Treasure Island will finish a $6.5 million expansion to its conference and meeting facilities. The new convention space will total over 30,000 square feet and offer a panoramic view of the resort's tropical outdoor pool. The new space will accommodate nearly all budgets and group sizes, up to 1,200 guests.


Every Cuisine Under the Sun
For culinary excitement, the LVCVA is always ready to assist in finding the perfect venue to accommodate groups. "Most clients can't believe the number of culinary choices available to them. Las Vegas has something to suit everyone's needs," Meyer says. Mandalay Bay recently opened the funky gastropub Libertine Social, offering small and large plates as well as craft cocktails. "You just step off the show floor or walk out of your meeting room and you've got this great place to unwind or socialize with your group," says Meyer. "And there are so many other great places just opening up, or scheduled to open this year."  

Later this fall, Japanese culinary superstar Masaharu Morimoto will open his contemporary Japanese restaurant serving, among other menu items, signature sushi creations and original cocktails, with selections exclusive to the Las Vegas location, in the MGM Grand.

This October, Chef Gordon Ramsay cut the blue ribbon on his British takeaway-style restaurant called Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips, located at the LINQ Promenade, Caesars Entertainment's open-air dining, entertainment, and shopping district. The Park District may be home to Shake Shack, but this winter, visitors can head to the LINQ to grab a famous L.A. burger, when In-N-Out opens on the promenade.

Beyond the Casino Floor
Gaming may be a big draw in Vegas, but it has more to offer than world-class casinos. "Las Vegas has evolved into such a dynamic destination, offering so much more than gaming," says Meyer. "Our guests can enjoy outdoor activities year-round with easy access to national parks. And downtown Las Vegas has grown into a cultural arts scene with a walkable district featuring eclectic restaurants and museums."

MGM Resorts International and other businesses are supporting the city's desire to be walkable, eco-friendly, and stacked with outdoor destinations. Case in point: As of this past spring a new open-air dining and entertainment district called "The Park" opened to an enthusiastic response. The district allows visitors to venture into a central gathering place, dine and drink al fresco at casual dining establishments like New York favorite Shake Shack or California's popular Bruxie waffle house. Enjoy a pint of ale or specialty sausage at Beerhaus, which also serves farm-to-table dishes and other organic and local products. Attendees can watch a show or sporting event in The Park, too: The 20,000 seats in the 650,000-square-foot T-Mobile Arena, which is part of the district, opened this spring. The venue will be host to between 100 and 150 events annually, and group tickets are available. The arena will also host an NHL expansion team for the 2017-18 season. (The city also has its fingers crossed that the NFL will soon approve the Oakland Raiders' bid to move to a new on-Strip stadium.) The Park is designed with sustainability in mind and the restaurant corridor recently earned a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Another new addition to The Park is MGM's 5,000-seat Park Theater, opening in December.

"One of MGM Resorts' strongest values is offering destinations that create exceptional guest experiences while reducing environmental impact," says Cindy Ortega, MGM Resorts International's chief sustainability officer. "For us, environmental responsibility is a commitment that extends across all levels of our organization. The Park exemplifies our dedication to environmental leadership in Las Vegas."

For groups who are interested in staying near The Park, MGM Resorts reports that plans are under way to spend nearly $450 million to convert the Monte Carlo into two hotels -- the Park MGM (2,700 rooms) and NoMad Las Vegas, (with 292 rooms). The project will begin in late 2016, and is expected to debut at the end of 2018.

For those hoping to stay at The Monte Carlo before then, no need to panic. According to reports, the property plans to remain open throughout the renovation and will continue to operate under the Monte Carlo name until the rebranding is complete. The Luxor's hotel tower will be getting a top-to-bottom renovation, upgrading it to take overflow groups from the Mandalay Bay and adding 20,000 square feet of meeting space, for a total of 60,000 square feet. Aria's Zarkana Theater will be converted to a three-level meeting facility.

The 289-room W Hotel Las Vegas is set to open on Dec. 1 in the LUX Tower of SLS Las Vegas, which entered into a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (before it merged with Marriott) to bring the hip boutique W to the Vegas Strip. The acquisition of the LUX Tower isn't the only deal going on in Vegas, of course. On Oct. 3, the sale of the Palms Casino Resort to Red Rock Resorts was completed, according to Station Casinos, the parent company of Red Rock. This $312.5 million acquisition will bring the number of Station Casinos to 20 in the Las Vegas area.

Reservations are being accepted as the finishing touches are under way. For groups seeking venue space, the W offers seven sites with a combined 45,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, plus an additional 50,000 square feet of outdoor function space. In the spring, the W's WET rooftop pool will open, complete with private cabanas and a poolside bar.

In early 2017, Treasure Island will finish a $6.5 million expansion to its conference and meeting facilities. The new convention space will total over 30,000 square feet and offer a panoramic view of the resort's tropical outdoor pool. The new space will accommodate nearly all budgets and group sizes, up to 1,200 guests.


Every Cuisine Under the Sun
For culinary excitement, the LVCVA is always ready to assist in finding the perfect venue to accommodate groups. "Most clients can't believe the number of culinary choices available to them. Las Vegas has something to suit everyone's needs," Meyer says. Mandalay Bay recently opened the funky gastropub Libertine Social, offering small and large plates as well as craft cocktails. "You just step off the show floor or walk out of your meeting room and you've got this great place to unwind or socialize with your group," says Meyer. "And there are so many other great places just opening up, or scheduled to open this year."  

Later this fall, Japanese culinary superstar Masaharu Morimoto will open his contemporary Japanese restaurant serving, among other menu items, signature sushi creations and original cocktails, with selections exclusive to the Las Vegas location, in the MGM Grand.

This October, Chef Gordon Ramsay cut the blue ribbon on his British takeaway-style restaurant called Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips, located at the LINQ Promenade, Caesars Entertainment's open-air dining, entertainment, and shopping district. The Park District may be home to Shake Shack, but this winter, visitors can head to the LINQ to grab a famous L.A. burger, when In-N-Out opens on the promenade.

East Heads West
"We have been really successful in getting more flights into the city and providing fliers with point-to-point destination services," says Meyer. "We know it is important to business customers to have flexibility when it comes to air travel, and we want to give consumers increased service directly to Las Vegas."

The big win for international travelers headed to Las Vegas comes out of the Far East. "China is a huge international participant in visits to trade shows," shares Meyer. "To accommodate these travelers we now have nonstop service from Beijing, the capital of China, to Las Vegas." Offered by Hainan Airlines, it is the first-ever nonstop flight between Mainland China and Las Vegas. Service begins in early December and will initially operate three days a week. It comes at a perfect time: Chinese tourists are one of the fastest-growing and largest-spending groups of international visitors to Las Vegas.

The city, explains Meyer, has established itself as a major draw for Chinese visitors traveling to the U.S. "We are extremely proud to welcome Hainan Airlines to Las Vegas with their convenient, premium-service for Chinese visitors," says Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). "China is an area where we have seen steady growth in visitation, and we will continue to focus on experiences and amenities that cater to our Chinese guests. With these first-ever flights from China to Las Vegas, we are anticipating more than $33.5 million in annual economic impact."

The same week that the Beijing planes hit the tarmac in Nevada, the Lucky Dragon is slated to open. A niche-market hotel and casino, it is a property built to cater specifically to Chinese and Chinese-American visitors. Signs will be in Chinese first, then English, and the staff will speak Cantonese, Mandarin, or other Chinese dialects. It will also feature authentic Chinese cuisine and an indoor and outdoor tea garden. (See sidebar for more information.)

Today's Las Vegas may pay homage to its neon and glitter roots, but it is distinctly focused on its future. Gaming remains a central part of its landscape, but the city is far more than craps and slot machines. An exotic racing experience is available at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway where participants can pick from a fleet of racing vehicles including Lamborghini, Porsche, and Aston Martin.

Another popular sport in Vegas is golf. Groups can skip the heat on the outdoor courses and head inside MGM Grand's Topgolf entertainment center, which opened in May. Topgolf has 108 climate-controlled hitting bays, microchipped balls equipped to track shots and award points, two luxurious pools, a concert venue, VIP suites, five bars, plus special-event spaces. The facility has four levels and 105,000 square feet of space. Groups can rent out their own hitting bay and other facilities. Unique venues focused on interactive entertainment for visitors appear to be on trend in Las Vegas.

Further out in the future are plans by real-estate mogul Steve Wynn to replace his golf course with Paradise Park, a lakefront resort, complete with a 38-acre lake and a 1,000-room hotel, and featuring outdoor elements like a boardwalk, sandy lakefront beach, zip-line attractions, beach activities like water skiing, nightly firework celebrations, and more. To date, the project has not received board approval, but it has been reported that the goal is to open it in 2020.

"Vegas is synonymous with constant innovation," says Meyer, who has lived for over 20 years in the Las Vegas area. "There's always something new and exciting to experience."  



Questions or comments? Email [email protected] 



This article appears in the November 2016 issue of Successful Meetings.

5 UNUSUAL LAS VEGAS SPA TREATMENTS

Take pampering to a whole new level with some of this over-the-top city's unique spa treatments

After a long day at a meeting, conference, or convention, a 50-minute Swedish massage feels like heaven. After all, learning and networking can be just as exhausting physically as they are mentally. Warm hands on sore muscles, therefore, can be exactly what the doctor -- or, rather, the meeting planner -- ordered. As nice as a traditional Swedish rubdown feels, however, it's a little -- well, predictable. To make a lasting impression on VIPs, incentive recipients, and other spa-bound attendees, meeting planners should consider springing for spectacular spa treatments instead of standard ones. And no one does "spectacular" better than Las Vegas. Here are five Vegas spa treatments that promise to redefine relaxation for fatigued meeting-goers:

1. Watsu Massage at Spa Bellagio, Bellagio
At the two-story Spa & Salon Bellagio, you'll find 65,000 square feet of pampering. Located on the second floor, the spa features granite, travertine, and jade surfaces, as well as water walls and hand-blown glass décor -- not to mention 56 treatment rooms and separate men's and women's areas, each of which has a eucalyptus steam room, a redwood sauna, three hot Jacuzzis, and a cold plunge. The spa's highlight, however, is its treatment room with a private heated swimming pool. There, in water that's warmed to 94 degrees Fahrenheit in order to loosen your muscles, therapists perform the spa's signature Watsu Massage (70 minutes, $285 weekdays/$295 weekends), an aquatic massage that involves your massage therapist keeping you afloat in the water while manipulating, stretching, and massaging your limbs in ways that would be impossible on a massage table. Bathing suits required.

2. Harmonic Massage at Reliquary Spa, Hard Rock
Spas typically appeal to your senses of touch and smell. At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas's Reliquary Spa, your sense of hearing also has a starring role in relaxation. Like the rest of the hotel, the spa features a rock 'n' roll inspiration throughout. So much so that the 25,000-square-foot facility -- which includes 21 treatment rooms, a sauna, whirlpool, and co-ed pool -- can be rented out for private functions of up to 50 people, for which the hotel will arrange a DJ who'll spin during your bathhouse bash. For an auditory-inspired treatment, check out the Harmonic Massage (80 minutes, $225), a signature service that combines sound vibrations with acupuncture points and meridians to soothe, inspire, and relax.

3. Royal Flush at REVIV, MGM Grand
Between the scorching desert sun and the all-night parties, it's easy to overdo it in Las Vegas. The result -- extreme exhaustion and dehydration -- can ruin you for the rest of your meeting. Enter REVIV, a medical spa specializing in hydrating intravenous and vitamin therapies. Owned by emergency room physicians, the 1,270-square-foot space in The Underground at MGM Grand includes four full-body massage chair rooms as well as a group "living room" that's furnished with a large, comfortable couch and a high-definition television. Try the Royal Flush ($239), a premium IV treatment that's the perfect answer to sickness, sleep deprivation, excessive working, and hangovers. It restores hydration, replenishes essential vitamins and minerals, boosts your immune system, decreases inflammation, relieves pain and nausea, boosts energy, detoxifies the body, and cleanses vital organs.

4. Moroccan Journey at Sahra Spa & Hammam, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The center of Moroccan culture and life is the "hammam," a Turkish take on the traditional Roman bath. Every week, Moroccans go there to cleanse themselves in steam, gossip with friends and family, and complete a painstaking bathing ritual that makes their skin glow. Because it's modeled after a traditional hammam, the 50,000-square-foot Sahra Spa & Hammam at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas feels like a five-star trip to Marrakesh. Featuring sandstone halls, a waterfall-accented lounge, and 28 treatment rooms, its most decadent treatment is the Moroccan Journey (130 minutes, $450). Taking place in a private suite, it starts with a luxurious cleansing experience using volcanic black soap, which is followed by a dual exfoliation: a traditional kese mitt body buffing and a tea-infused shea butter bamboo scrub. Next, receive a detoxifying rhassoul clay masque and a hydrating pure honey application, and relax in the eucalyptus steam room and a large soaking tub, both of which you'll be able to enjoy throughout your treatment. Finally, conclude your session with a full-body massage.

5. Arctic Ice Room at Qua Baths & Spa, Caesars Palace
A modern take on an ancient Roman bathhouse, Qua Baths & Spa totals 50,000 square feet and includes three distinct pools -- each with a different size and temperature -- not to mention 50 treatment rooms, cascading waterfalls, a Laconium sauna, and a tea lounge where a tea sommelier will create a customized tea drink to pair with your spa treatments. The spa's highlight isn't a treatment, per se; rather, it's a room -- the Arctic Ice Room, which is free to use with any spa treatment. Featuring a dome ceiling, glass-tiled walls, and mint-scented air, it boasts heated floors and benches that keep you comfortable in the room's crisp 55-degree air as faux snow -- the only winter weather in Vegas -- falls from above.


-- Matt Alderton

5 MEMORABLE VEGAS DINING EXPERIENCES


These restaurants offer great food, and much more, for visiting groups

What are some options for getting a small group together for dinner? We asked Las Vegas-based Baskow and Associates, a destination management company, celebrity/talent broker, event planning, and speakers bureau, for five of their go-to spots. Here's what they suggested.


Sake Rok
A theatrical hot spot that thrills guests with more than just its array of delicious sushi, Japanese cuisine, and private-label sake. By night, Sake Rok transforms into a high-profile social dining extravaganza, immersing guests in an experience part culinary, part performance, and completely unexpected. Nightly, DJs pump up the jams with party music. Accompanying the music are sporadic choreographed theatrical vignettes and dynamic digital content. 


Del Frisco's Las Vegas
Del Frisco's in Las Vegas offers elegant dining just steps from the Strip. From its memorable James Bond Table to rich mahogany dining rooms, Del Frisco's follows the tradition of grand steak houses in true Las Vegas style. Featuring eight private dining rooms, including its stunning wine cellar, this is a standout Las Vegas steakhouse serving top-quality meats and seafood along with fine wines.


Hugo's Cellar
A warm and classy atmosphere awaits at this gourmet restaurant, reminiscent of Las Vegas the way it used to be. Ladies are greeted with a long-stemmed rose and the classic old-style Vegas menu features a table-side salad included with all entrees. Meals end with table-side flambéed desserts and complimentary white-and-dark chocolate-dipped strawberries, apricots, and figs. A private room accommodates approximately 20, and the restaurant is available for buyouts. 


NM Café, Las Vegas
Groups can enjoy a meal at one of Las Vegas' most fashionable addresses by stopping here for lunch. This casual, contemporary setting provides amazing views of the Strip through wall-to-wall windows or outside from its shaded terrace. An innovative menu features American-Mediterranean cuisine.


Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Club
Cili Restaurant encapsulates the essence of the South Pacific, with a menu of regional American cuisine infused with Thai and Asian, prepared with fresh ingredients. Meals are served amidst exotic foliage and white-powder sand, and private event spaces are available for groups ranging from 20 guests to 1,500. 

-- Andrea Doyle