Luxury Meetings in Las Vegas

Luxury and Las Vegas have been entwined ever since Bugsey Siegel signed his own death warrant by going over budget building The Pink Flamingo. The city's sprawling, high-end resorts with regal amenities and four- and five-star restaurants appeal to connoisseurs of the good life. When traveling to Las Vegas on business, it can be a challenge to strike the right balance between work and play -- there is simply so much to do in this megacity of glitz, which welcomes more than 42 million visitors a year.

"When you are in Vegas for a meeting, sometimes it is hard to figure out how to fit in a great dinner or some entertainment into your plans," says Bri Steck, vice president of group sales for SPI Entertainment, a theatrical producer and talent agency that also specializes in arranging VIP experiences in Las Vegas for corporate clients like AARP. "We try to make it simple," she says. "We recommend to clients that they try to start planning a year in advance and we start with a budget. From there, we offer them a menu of choices. It might be a day at a high-end spa, or a great meal, or a great show with a name headliner."

Steck believes Las Vegas is experiencing a return to its performer-based roots, describing how visitors are taking an interest in seeing musical shows with headlining talent when they plan their trips to Las Vegas, SPI produces musical acts like Human Nature and the Bee Gees and can arrange for the artists to perform or hold "meet and greets" with groups. In 2017, the company is adding hotel-booking options for its corporate clients to increase its role in creating customized stay/play packages for clients. Because Las Vegas is an annual or repeat destination for many corporate groups, hiring an event planner can help ensure the experience is new for each visit.

"Almost 85 percent of people who visit Las Vegas annually are repeat visitors," says Manny Kess, CEO of The Kess Group, which creates luxury experiences for visitors.  "Our first order of planning is to discuss the client's vision and end goals; planning a hedge fund's employee appreciation weekend or organizing a new luxury-product launch is going to be very different than arranging for a corporate training seminar," he says.  In Vegas, where the old adage, "everything old is new again" remains true, groups who are planning a trip may appreciate thinking beyond the "play and stay" mindset of some Vegas visitors. "We take pride in our ability to suggest practical solutions and forward-thinking ideas that extend beyond our clients' expected range of possibilities," says Kess.

 Continual Growth
Speaking of new developments, the Las Vegas Convention Center will likely be getting an upgrade of square footage. The planned expansion of the original center will increase it from 3.2 million square feet to nearly 5.7 million square feet, including new on-site amenities and outdoor space. City insiders say the expansion will have a monumental impact on the city's business-related tourism. This will create opportunities for growth in many sectors, not the least of all in the realm of hospitality.

Groups seeking a specific experience for their stay have optimal choices if they want to go the high-end route. The Mansion at MGM Grand will appeal to those seeking a luxurious respite from the neon chaos of the Strip. Designed to resemble an 18th-century Tuscan villa, it is home to five modern facilities available for meetings and events, and the amenities are decidedly top-notch: from butler and concierge services to personalized menu preparation.

"We have the unique opportunity to be able to accommodate groups that have all interests right here under one roof," says Ernest Stovall, vice president of sales for MGM Grand. "If a group wants to stay away from the energy that comes with Las Vegas, they might consider staying in one of our Stay Well Rooms, which are designed to renew, recharge, and refresh. This experience can continue as a group moves into our Stay Well Meeting Space, with complete curated menus created in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic."

After their meeting concludes, he suggests that attendees could then enjoy several of the property's award-winning and celebrity chef--driven restaurants including its newest by the original Iron Chef, Morimoto, or the three-Michelin-star restaurant Joël Robuchon.

In addition, ARIA's Sky Suites (rated five star/five diamond) and the "Villa" are luxurious options and can now be booked online.

Caesars Palace recently renovated its guest suites and provides access to lavish amenities such as the 50,000-square-foot Qua Baths & Spa. The classic resort is celebrating its 50-year anniversary, which means there are special packages and deals available in 2017. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will be home to 21 exclusively designed penthouses this year in the Boulevard Tower, comprising a total of 63,000 square feet. Each of these 2,000- to 5,000-square-foot apartments, with stunning views of the skyline, will include access to a private gaming salon. Non-penthouse guests can still enjoy The Cosmopolitan's chic amenities, like the 50,000-square-foot Sahra Spa & Hammam that transports visitors to the exotic spa rituals of Marrakesh, Morocco. For total immersion in the luxurious Hammam experience, try the private-suite treatment, Moroccan Journey: 130 minutes of gold-star pampering for under $500 that includes a full-body massage.

Boutiques Rising
Beyond the majestic, sprawling resorts of the Strip -- like the Bellagio, Venetian, and Mandalay Bay -- a smaller, yet no less luxurious approach to hotels is growing in Vegas. In the last quarter of 2016, several luxury boutique hotels have opened their doors. Last December, the W Hotel opened on the North End of the Vegas Strip, turning an SLS Las Vegas tower into an elevated boutique hotel with all 289 rooms designed with W's signature Philippe Starck chic. W Las Vegas is home to three floors (and 15,000 square feet) of meeting and event space, plus the adjacent SLS Las Vegas hotel is home to approximately 80,000 square feet of flexible space. For total luxury, check out the W Las Vegas' Extreme WOW Suite, designed by musician Lenny Kravitz, with 2,382 square feet of living space on the top floor. This hotel-in-a-hotel placement means guests have access to the many restaurants, lounges, and bars at SLS, like Bazaar Meat, a creation of celebrity chef José Andrés; The Perq; 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, and more. Groups seeking venues for work and socializing can take advantage of the W's indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces.

The Lucky Dragon (see Q&A) opened its doors in December, offering a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy elements of Asian culture in one boutique hotel. It is small by the oversized Vegas standards, with just 203 rooms, but the attention to detail includes an eight-sided bar (considered lucky by the Chinese) and a casino filled with classic Asian table games. Authentic Chinese food is served in five dining areas, each with a distinct Asian influence; visitors will enjoy the night market feel of Dragon's Alley featuring "street food" like dim sum. Guests seeking a decidedly new American vibe should head over to the recently opened Libertine Social at the Mandalay Bay.

New American cuisine and a modern spin on classic cocktails are served up in style. Groups can rent out the chic location in many formats including the Arcade Bar (up to 70 for a drinks reception) or the main dining room that can seat 20-92 guests. It is also possible to arrange a full buyout of the location for a 350-guest reception. Event planners can assist in creating a culinary group experience at a multitude of luxurious restaurants."We love to arrange meals for our clients, and with a varied price point ranging from $40 to $110 a person, there are many great choices. One of my favorites is Giada's restaurant [located in The Cromwell]," shares Steck.

Las Vegas is renowned for its culinary scene, and celebrity chefs' restaurants dot the landscape. Skip the all-you-can-eat buffet for restaurants like Guy Savoy (typically $250 a person), or Bar Masa for delightful Japanese food. For example, The Mandarin is offering an exclusive opportunity to 'dine by city lights' at Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, where diners can enjoy five courses paired with wine, while enjoying the skyline.

What's Next, Las Vegas? 
"Over the last 10 years, the dawn of the Las Vegas supper-club and celebrity chef restaurant has been at the forefront of the city's entertainment evolution," says Kess. "We believe that Las Vegas' evolution in the years to come will be defined by projects like the new Resorts World [Las Vegas] casino (now scheduled to open in 2019); the advent of the city's first professional sports team, including whispers of others to come; and the likely continuation of the aforementioned trends already in play." And some of these trends fall outside of the city lights because Las Vegas has a wealth of adventure experiences available for group tours.

Golf aficionados can hit the links at Topgolf, at the MGM Grand. Spending the day at Topgolf goes beyond the putting green. This four-level, 105,000-square-foot space is home to 108 climate-controlled hitting bays, two swimming pools and cabanas, a concert venue, VIP suites, five bars, plus special-event spaces. Helicopter tours are a memorable way for visitors to get around (see here). Hop on one of Maverick Helicopters' flights for a tour of the city and the natural beauty beyond it. The tour doesn't fly in Red Rock Canyon but does do flights to the Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire, and, of course, flights over the Strip.

If off-roading appeals, check out SunBuggy Las Vegas -- an off-road ATV tour company, providing free shuttle service to and from resorts for its clients, or groups can select VIP private limo service. To date, there are eight tours offered, and SunBuggy is the only operation allowed by the Parks Department to provide scenic tours of the Valley of Fire State Park.

One thing is for certain, Las Vegas always has something to offer, and luxury here can be defined in many ways, but "Las Vegas can be overwhelming due to the sheer amount of entertainment options it avails," reminds Kess. "To be sure, one of the best ways to ensure clients have the best possible experience is to keep things new and exciting for them."  

Questions or comments? Email [email protected]

This article appears in the January 2017 issue of Successful Meetings.