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Palatial gaming resorts are dotted across the United States and offer unique accommodations and amenities — something that both attendees and planners can celebrate. Images of Las Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City and other desinations come to mind.

“Gaming resorts offer a multitude of services and comps that are not available at a standard resort — above and beyond gaming or gambling credits,” says Tiffany Gravelle, CMP, event planner and owner of Hello Tiffany. “Some of these include VIP seats to large shows and concerts and exclusive dining or spa options. Additionally, because many of the gaming resorts are on sovereign land, you may have more flexibility in planning options.”

Gaming resorts typically offer more entertainment options for attendees. As Gravelle explains, gaming resorts are often more affordable, allowing for more “bang for your buck” when planning an event, due to an extensive list of in-house services.

Gaming resorts have long been the go-to destination for meetings and events thanks to the plethora of amenities, expansive event spaces and variety of entertainment options for attendees, who like to work some and play some.

“Gaming resorts offer late-night-entertainment options, gaming and gambling, larger scale shows and entertainers, live music, upscale food and beverage service, unique event space options, state-of-the-art technology, along with spa or golf services that enhance the event experience for [attendees] and planners,” says Gravelle, who has orchestrated business meetings, award events, nonprofit galas and more at gaming resorts. “They lend themselves to accommodate all sizes and types of events. Overall, gaming resorts have been very generous with perks and discounts for my nonprofit clients, [which] have been impactful to their bottom-line fundraising efforts.”

J.J. Wills, senior vice president of marketing programs & business development at ConferenceDirect, says gaming resorts have a wide range of amenities for attendees to enjoy and that can be incorporated into a meeting.

“Celebrity chef restaurants, spas and nightlife can provide unique activation opportunities under one roof that can be harder to find at a traditional hotel or resort,” Wills says.

Wills and the meeting planning team at ConferenceDirect have held several events at gaming resorts in Las Vegas, including being the first event-planning company to hold an event in CAESARS FORUM in 2020.

“This was our annual partner meeting, which we held as a fully synchronized hybrid-event with 200 people in Las Vegas and 400 people virtual,” Wills says. “We had educational sessions, awards celebrations and one-to-one trade show appointments. More recently, we held an educational conference at Resorts World Las Vegas. One of our priorities for that event was incorporating sustainability practices. The property has a vegetarian restaurant that we included in our dine-around event and they provided a wellness lounge for attendees with meditation, yoga, chair massage and sensory elements, including colored lighting, calming music and aromatherapy. As part of the Hilton brand, they also can pull a report called, Light Stay, which calculated the carbon footprint of our meeting.”

Steps To Take 

Gravelle recommends planners always schedule a full-staff pre-con meeting at least two weeks before an event. Gaming resorts are composed of larger hospitality teams serving the entirety of the event, and you want to have everyone in agreement.

“Ask what’s possible,” she says. “Gaming resorts have unique [attendee] experiences that you may not have anticipated adding to the program. Tap into their resources of entertainers, decorators and preferred vendors. This helps save time and money to work with the best in the business who are familiar with the space.”

Depending on where the resort is located, Gravelle says planners may have challenges with alcohol service, donated items or outside vendors-sponsors, depending on the sovereign laws of a gaming resort.

“As the hospitality industry continues to recover from the impact of COVID-19, gaming resorts remain consistent leaders in service and pricing options,” Gravelle says.

Wills also recommends planners ask each gaming resort about smoking policies since smoking is still allowed in many casinos as well as sign restrictions.

“Also, don’t assume that all of the VIP amenities will be made available to your group,” she says. “For example, suites may be hard to access since they are often held for gaming customers. Overall, gaming resorts are a great draw for attendance, offer unique and expansive amenities, and have some of the best meeting space in the country.”

The availability of multiple food options is one the pluses for having an event in a gaming resort. Courtesy of New Mexico United FC

Choosing a Resort

The gaming resorts around the country are as vast and varied as the meetings and events held at these locales. And while Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City are certainly the hot spots, other destinations offer gaming-resort options as well.

For instance, there is the Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas. In addition to its world-classs casino, the desination offers poolside gaming. Its Conference Center can accommodate up to 4,000 attendees, while the Imperial Ballroom is 50,000 sf — including more than 40,000 sf of pre-function space, 30 break-out rooms, five boardrooms and more.

When selecting a gaming resort for an event, it is important to learn as much as you can about what the resort offers in terms of meeting rooms, food and beverage options, and entertainment packages. Most of today’s gaming resorts have meeting manuals, which clearly identify the specifics of hosting a meeting or event at their locale. And be sure to tap into the meeting-planning experts, who can help identify ways to enhance your event and make it stand out in the minds of attendees.

Las Vegas

Considered the Mecca for all things gaming for decades, Las Vegas truly offers something for everyone in the world of meetings and events. One of the favorite places to host events is the Venetian Resort, which offers luxury meeting rooms and amenities at every turn. The Venetian’s state-of-the-art facilities include the Venetian Expo, which boasts over 1 million sf of event and expo space.

While the Venetian Expo is ideal for large-scale expo-style events, as well as medium-to larger-size meetings in their separate meeting rooms, the Venetian Resort itself offers ideal options for smaller groups. This is especially true if they are looking to host events in outdoor patios, board rooms and private restaurant spaces. When not in meetings or attending an expo, attendees can enjoy the Venetian’s plethora of gaming options, entertainment spaces, cooking lessons and world-class spa.

Nearby, Wynn Las Vegas is also a great option. Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, the five-star Wynn Las Vegas boasts nearly 300,000 sf of flexible meeting space, including three ballrooms and 39 separate meeting rooms. For a unique option, consider hosting a meeting or event poolside, or at the resort’s pavilion or garden-event grounds. In addition, the Wynn’s XS venue has 40,000 sf. It offers an indoor capacity of 1,300 to 3,000 attendees within the indoor and outdoor areas. The gaming resort’s nightclub, Encore Beach Club, also opens up to a 45,000 sf outdoor pool deck.

Of course, Caesars Entertainment is synonymous with gaming resorts and has certainly made its mark on Las Vegas’ gaming scene. Considered to be the largest gaming and entertainment company in the U.S., Caesars Entertainment boasts an array of gaming resort brands, including Caesars Palace, The LINQ, Flamingo, Harrah’s Las Vegas and others.

One of the most talked about additions to Las Vegas in the last few years has been the opening of the 550,000 sf CAESARS FORUM conference center with its 300,000 sf of flexible meeting space and two pillar-less ballrooms — the largest in the world. Within the world of Caesars Entertainment, planners will find plenty of venue options and unique elements that make events memorable for attendees.

Every gaming resort has beautiful hotel rooms, upscale restaurants and amenities, but ARIA Resort & Casino offers an atmosphere teeming with natural light and an organic feel throughout its 500,000 sf of meeting space. A 200,000 sf expansion allowed attendees to enjoy beautiful indoor, open-air spaces and a glass-enclosed venue with dramatic views of The Park Vegas, an outdoor dining and entertainment district, and the T-Mobile Arena, a sports and entertainment venue.

Those planning large meetings will appreciate the MGM Grand. Its 850,000 sf conference center offers a wealth of flexible meeting space. In addition, MGM has convention spaces at Mandalay Bay as well as meeting experiences at Bellagio Las Vegas and Park MGM. All offer entertainment facilities that go beyond the casino experience.

Tropicana Las Vegas has 100,000 sf of indoor meeting space. They have spaces to accommodate any size event, with their boardroom, breakout rooms or ballrooms. Its elegant Havana Room, with its magnificent crystal chandelier and four bars, has 12,000 sf of space and can accommodate up to 300 people seated and 800 guests reception style. As far as outdoor space is concerned, the Sky Beach Club has two pools surrounded by palm trees, waterfalls and cabanas.

Fairly new to the Las Vegas meeting and event experience is Resorts World Las Vegas, which features a total of 250,000 sf of flexible event space, a 5,000 sf theater and six ballrooms. It is located near to the Las Vegas Convention Center, which expanded its West Hall about two years ago. The $1 billion expansion added 1.4 million sf. The Resorts World Las Vegas also boasts a gaming floor, nightclubs, wellness spa and seven outdoor pools. Towering windows throughout the meeting and event spaces also offer amazing views of the Las Vegas Strip.

Reno

Another place for gaming in Nevada is Reno, which has been known as the “Biggest Little City in the World.” It may be smaller than Las Vegas in size, but it still offers big value for planners when it comes to selecting gaming resorts.

In Reno, NV, The Grand Sierra Resort & Casino offers a scenic environment. With more than 200,000 sf of flexible meeting space, including 45 meeting meetings, Grand Sierra can accommodate groups of all sizes.

The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is another favorite meeting and event spot in Reno with its 50,000 sf of flexible meeting space, two ballrooms with over 12,000 sf, multiple breakout rooms and a newly expanded business center.

Reno’s Peppermill Resort Spa Casino recent renovations include hospitality suites, guest rooms, ballrooms and more. The resort’s large grounds include over 106,000 sf of meeting and events space, including the Tuscany Ballroom, which is considered the premier event space in Reno with 62,000 sf. For smaller events, they have their intimate 17th-Floor Suites.

Expanding Gaming Horizons; Other States to Consider

While Las Vegas and Reno have long been synonymous with gaming resorts, other locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Connecticut and New Jersey offer gaming resort options as well. New Mexico is home to the Inn of the Mountain Gods, a picturesque gaming resort located on Mescalero Apache Reservation with more than 45,000 sf of meeting and event space. When not partaking in meeting and event activities, attendees can enjoy gaming, horseback riding, boating, biking, zip lining and golfing.

In Scottsdale, AZ, Talking Stick Resort and Casino offers a wealth of gaming and entertainment amenities, in addition to offering more than 100,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Talking Stick Resort has six restaurants — ranging from quick-bites to fine dining, several bars and lounges, retail outlets, a concert showroom, a cultural art display, resort pools and cabanas, as well as an award-winning spa, which will help attendees rewind and relax after a day of meetings and events.

In Hollywood, FL, gaming is at the heart of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The resort’s new gaming floor has nearly 200 table games and more than 3,000 slot machines. The Hard Rock also boasts 120,000 sf of meeting space, including a 38,000 sf exhibition hall for trade shows, conventions, large corporate groups and social fundraisers. The resort’s flexible meeting space can also be reconfigured to accommodate groups as large as 5,000 attendees as well as smaller, more intimate meetings.

Atlantic City

Like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, NJ has been a beacon for gaming aficionados for decades. It has also evolved into a go-to destination for meeting and event planners looking for the picturesque gaming resort experience for attendees. It is known for its entertainment, award-winning cuisine, oceanside gaming retreats and more.

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Tropicana Atlantic City have become favorites among meeting planners because of their nightlife, shopping, celebrity chefs and entertainment. The Tropicana is located on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and has more than 122,000 sf of meeting space available. Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City’s Waterfront Conference Center has more than 125,000 sf of meeting space, which includes two ballrooms, each with 50,000 sf.

Resorts Casino Hotel added live weekly comedy to its list of activities. When it comes to gaming, they have 80,000 sf of slots and table games available. Their 942 guest rooms are the largest on the Boardwalk at 525 sf. They also boast more than 64,000 sf of meeting space and can accommodate up to 1,350 attendees.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City’s casino announced a few years ago that they were undergoing a $20-million renovation, including expanded gaming experiences. This locale is another favorite among meeting planners due to its more than 150,000 sf of meeting and event space.

Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City also recently underwent a casino upgrade. It is expanding its entertainment options with a new sports venue. Meeting and event attendees can have meetings in style at the beachfront resort’s 160,000 sf of flexible indoor meeting and convention space, or in the 90,000 sf of outdoor spaces.

Connecticut

While Connecticut is not often associated with casino resorts, Mohegan Sun in Uncasville offers a unique off-the-beaten-path gaming resort experience. With over 275,000 sf of flexible meeting space and 1,600 guest rooms, Mohegan Sun can host up to 10,000 attendees at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The resort also features more than 40 restaurants, a music venue, comedy club, 18-hole championship golf course and two spas.

Also in Connecticut is the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket. As one of the favorite meeting and events locales on the East Coast, Foxwoods Resort Casino recently renovated its Rainmaker Expo Center, which spans 47,075 sf, and can accommodate up to 5,000 attendees. The expo center can be used for various events including trade shows, corporate meetings and sporting events. The resort has enhanced its many outdoor event spaces. Dinners on the lawn, pool parties and golf are just a few of the activities that meeting attendees can enjoy. C&IT