DESTINATION
What happens in Vegas…
BBT rolls the dice and finds out the strengths of the city’s MICE scene
By TOM NEWCOMBE N
O SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...” wrote Hunter S. Thompson in his epic novel Fear and Loathing
in Las Vegas. This, along with the city’s current advertising slogan – ‘you know why you come here’ – are hardly ringing endorsements to take to your CEO when persuading them to pay business class flights plus accommodation for a two-day conference for your employees. So aside from the lights, gambling
and glamour, what is it about the city that attracts some of the largest events and persuades business leaders to allow employees to travel from all around the globe to attend them?
Scanning the latest stats around MICE activity in Las Vegas, the results are impressive: last year, it held almost 22,000 meetings, with a record-breaking 6.3 million delegates (up 7.1 per cent from 2015). This helped contribute US$9.3 billion to the local economy and support 66,500 jobs. It hosted 57 of the country’s 250 largest trade shows – the biggest was a technology event, CES, with 4,000 exhibitors and 113,000 attendees.
CATERING FOR ALL SIZES Reina Herschdorfer, director of marketing, Caesars Entertainment, explains it’s the diversity of offering that appeals to MICE bookers. “Las Vegas offers incredible value and can accommodate any size meeting, whether it’s five or 10,000 people,” she says. “A planner can keep all meeting attendees
in one hotel, which is unheard of for events of that size.” She adds: “We have unlimited resources and everything is available to us. For example, we have access to executive suites and villas, limos, town cars, private airports, helicopter service, butler service, top chefs and VIP lounges and check-in areas to name a few… Las Vegas can accommodate the wants and needs of any meeting planner.” Nathalie Duchene-Guenard, MICE
director, Egencia, says Las Vegas is attractive because it’s so well known. “Since the city is scaled for events, this tends to offer companies lower costs in terms of organisation – there are fewer exploration costs. Everyone knows Las Vegas – they know what they are getting when they book an event there.”
90 BBT July/August 2017
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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