Previous Page
LAS VEGAS Las Vegas A valuable experience for a great value
Space and size — when it comes to assets, these are two of Las Vegas’ largest. But meet- ing planners not familiar with the iconic des- tination will be surprised to learn that there are plenty of other great reasons to meet in Las Vegas — affordability, accessibility, and proven ROI being chief among them. After all, 39.7 million visitors in 2012 alone can’t be wrong.
Whether it’s a trade show that requires the
largest of convention centers or an intimate board meeting of 20 tucked securely away in a five-star hotel, Las Vegas’ wide variety of convention facilities and hotel properties offers a solution for every situation. Three of the country’s top 10 largest convention ven- ues can be found in Las Vegas, including the 2.2-million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center; the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, a 1.7-million-square-foot facility on the south
side of The Strip; and the 1.2-million-square- foot Sands Expo and Convention Center, which is adjacent to The Venetian and The Palazzo. When it comes to hotels, more than 150,000 rooms offer planners the best group value proposition in the world. Although there’s plenty for meet-
ing attendees to see and do in their free moments in Las Vegas — dining, shopping, and celebrity-studded shows, all on a scale unrivaled by other destinations — research shows attendees typically spend most of their time getting down to business. On average, convention attendance increases 15 percent when meetings and trade shows come to Las Vegas. Research also shows that attendees spend more time in meetings and on the trade-show floor when meetings are in Las Vegas — 11 hours versus the average 8.3 hours in other cities.
When it’s time for pleasure, no matter
where attendees stay, getting to Las Vegas’ most popular attractions is safe and easy. In many cases, the close proximity of resorts eliminates the need for transportation, as delegates can walk to many destinations. When transportation is required, bus, taxi, and shuttle options are plentiful, and attend- ees can ride the country’s first automated monorail up and down The Strip. Few other cities in the world offer the
impressive lineup of restaurants that Las Vegas does, from all-you-can-eat buffets to five-star namesake restaurants of some of the finest chefs in the world. Wolfgang Puck, Joël Robuchon, Tom Colicchio, Nobu Matsuhisa, Bobby Flay, and Gordon Ramsay are just a few of the recognizable names who top the list of some of the destination’s most popular eateries, many of which offer private dining
First choice According to the 2011 METROPOLL XIV study, Las Vegas ranks No. 1 in many categories that meeting and convention planners consider when choosing a destination. For example, Las Vegas ranks at the top for being “good for large trade shows,” “good hotels,” and “excellent hotel meeting facilities.”
118 PCMA CONVENE APRIL 2013