Whether you choose to go on the Strip or off, there are plenty of venues in Las Vegas perfect for your meetings and events. Photos courtesy of Lisa Messina

There’s more to Nevada than Las Vegas, where thousands of attendees gather each year. In spite of ads promoting a mystique of racy innuendo, Las Vegas is acutely focused on convention and business travel; groups know it delivers ROI. Maybe less well known, Reno also delivers on business ROI, especially for groups on a tight budget or that simply want a smaller, more low-key destination.

Las Vegas Has You Covered

“The Las Vegas meetings and conventions outlook is strong going into 2023 and beyond. Our association customers continue to show growth in their attendance numbers due to the enduring appeal of Las Vegas and the destination’s ability to draw attendees. We here at the LVCVA (Las Vegas Convention Center Visitors Authority), along with our association leaders, are keeping a close eye on the global economy and potential impact but are forging forward with cautious optimism. Additionally, we’re focusing on the continued return of our international customer and look forward to stronger visitation in the year ahead,” says Chief Sales Officer LVCVA Lisa Messina.

Ellen Tucker, CAE, vice president of revenue and expositions with Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), most recently brought the group’s expo to Mandalay Bay, where it has been held since 2002. The expo drew a total of 15,322 attendees.

Although the pandemic may be largely behind us, Tucker says PPAI continues to keep up with current health and safety information and standard best practices for tradeshows. “Working with a city, convention center and hotels that have the same high standard regarding health and safety is important to PPAI,” she says. “Mandalay Bay Convention Center being a certified GBAC Star facility is important to us. PPAI also has a GBAC trained technician on staff, and our 2022 expo was the first GBAC Star certified event.”

Tucker says the expo is fully back in person, as are PPAI’s conference events. While they don’t do any hybrid events, they do offer a virtual follow-up to the expo.

Tucker says they’re taking “an intentional approach to focusing on quality as we grow the show back to pre-pandemic levels.” Among other things, this includes introducing a registration fee for non-members at the onset of registration, which is new for PPAI. “With this introduction,” she notes, “we were excited to be at 80% of our pre-pandemic attendance levels, and even more excited to hear from our attendees and exhibitors that this has been one of the best, if not the best PPAI show ever.”

Tucker calls Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay “perfect for our audience.” There are multiple reasons for that. “The ability to hop on a direct flight from across the country makes an ideal start and end to our attendees’ experience,” she says. “Additionally, there’s a great ‘on-campus’ and family feel that our attendees enjoy experiencing by us hosting at Mandalay Bay Convention Center and having our room blocks at the closest MGM Resorts properties” — Mandalay Bay Resort, Delano Las Vegas, Luxor Resort & Casino and Excalibur Hotel & Casino. “The ‘campus’ layout also allows us and all of our members to use multiple night clubs, meeting rooms, restaurants and unique areas to hold events, which enhances the enjoyment and energy of the entire event without extensive shuttle use.”

Another positive, Tucker notes, is that the combination of MGM properties allows attendees to choose from a range of accommodation options within walking distance. She also points to the number of special-event spaces and food outlets across the campus. Moreover, she says, “Our size of show is a perfect fit for this group of MGM Resorts properties.”

Although PPAI doesn’t use LVCVA extensively, Tucker says they do make use of LVCVA’s website, as well as connections at the bureau to monitor other shows, news from the city and the bureau’s current list of members in order to review unique and new venues citywide. Beyond the MGM campus, PPAI has, for the past two years, also hosted a party at Allegiant Stadium. “This party has turned into the can’t-miss event of the PPAI Expo, with over 2,100 tickets sold. The stadium’s proximity to the Mandalay Bay campus also reinforces our ability to fully maximize the campus feel that our attendees love about the overall show,” Tucker adds.

The stadium aside, Tucker notes that PPAI uses Mandalay Bay Convention Center for 99% of the expo’s events. She says, “In addition, our large attendee groups and exhibitors also utilize the space for many of their functions.”

A good physical fit is important, but also critical are the right partners and service. Tucker gives the Mandalay Bay team an A+. “The care the entire team takes to ensure that PPAI and our attendees and exhibitors have the best event is exceptional,” Tucker says.

Additionally, she points to MGM Resorts’ commitment to customer service and to the health and safety of guests, as well as their commitment to upgrades. “Mandalay Bay’s commitment to completely refurbishing the convention center space has changed the look and feel of the event, which enhances our group’s satisfaction. We utilize the entire convention center exhibition space and almost 70% of the meeting space,” she says, adding that the new and enhanced décor, specifically the new lobby, re-done exhibition space and the WOW walls, are standouts.  “The WOW walls allow us to utilize custom video not only to direct attendees but to brand our association.  We use them for a secondary broadcast space for interviews, for our general sessions and to highlight specific events.”

Tucker’s advice to planners considering any destination is to “choose one where you feel comfortable, one that’s an extension of yourself and that allows your attendees to have multiple choices in room pricing and easy access to all events, as well customer service that provides a unique relationship between customer and vendor,” adding that they have been lucky and that PPAI, specifically the PPAI Expo and MGM Resorts, works as a team.

As a Las Vegas native, Vice President of Hosts Global Jill Schneider loves to share her city and state with planners and attendees. She points to incredible variety available and the fact that the city is “perpetually changing” as two reasons it’s an amazing destination for meetings. While restaurants, chefs, shows, nightlife and gaming may come first to mind for most people, she’s quick to say that there’s much more.

Of all that’s new in town, her current personal favorite is the 18B Arts district in Downtown Las Vegas. “It has a rich history, culture, architecture, amazing restaurants, nightlife, galleries, antiques stores and everything from wonderful dive bars to craft cocktail masters. There’s always something creative and fun happening,” she says.

In addition to the entertainment on the Strip and super sports teams and events, Schneider says visitors should check out The Smith Center “for the finest in culture, theater and musical adventures.” The Smith Center has a full roster of performances.

Las Vegas, Schneider says, is built for groups, whether large or small, with conservative budgets or large budgets, and regardless of what they’re looking for. “There’s something for everyone, from whiskey tasting and Cronuts to Yoga lessons at the Grand Canyon, from helicopter tours of the Strip and dine-arounds on and off the Strip, to interactive team-building activities and cooking classes with celebrity chefs. We have it or we will create it,” she says.

One of the most anticipated openings this year is the MSG Sphere at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. At 336 feet tall and 516 feet wide, it is the world’s largest sphere. This entertainment venue will hold up to 20,000 attendees, making it perfect for meetings. It also features a 160,000 sf, 170 million-pixel LED screen. The Venetian offers meeting planners 2.25 million sf of meeting and convention space. In addition, they have 3,016 suites in The Venetian Tower, 1,013 suites in Venezia Tower and 3,064 palatial suites in The Palazzo Tower.

Caesars Forum, a LEED Silver-certified state-of-the-art conference center, can accommodate more than 10,000 attendees. Within its more than 300,000 sf of flexible meeting space are the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world. Meetings and events outdoors are also easy with its 100,000 sf outdoor plaza beneath the iconic High Roller. More than 20,000 guest rooms are within walking distance. It is only steps away from the 8,500 rooms at Harrah’s Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and LINQ Hotel+ Experience. Attendees can actually walk over the sky bridge to Harrah’s and LINQ.

Resorts World Las Vegas offers more than 250,000 sf of state-of-the-art meeting space, which includes five banquet halls and an expansive rooftop terrace. Last year, they unveiled their Las Vegas Convention Center Loop passenger station offering direct access to the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North and South halls within minutes. The $4.3 billion complex is nearby the west hall of the convention center, which has 600,000 sf of meeting space, including 328,000 sf of column-free space, the largest of its kind in North America.

Looking for a spectacular non-traditional venue for your next meeting or event? Look no further than the Havana Room at Tropicana Las Vegas – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Located adjacent to the Sky Beach Club, their Havana Room is a lavishly designed space adorned with a magnificent crystal chandelier as the focal design element. Other highlights include custom banquette seating areas, an impressive dark wood dance floor and premium audio-visual technology, as well as numerous branding opportunities inside and outside of the space. It also features four bars and can accommodate 250 people seated and up to 800 people for a reception. This venue delivers an elevated experience, and with its location near the north entrance of the property, transportation drop-off and pick-up is effortless.

There is a plethora of options available when it comes to hotels on the Strip. But there are also other options. “I’m also very much looking forward to the opening of the breathtaking Fontainebleau at the end of 2023,” Schneider says. The Fontainebleau Las Vegas will have 550,000 sf of meeting space with its 57 distinct spaces, including a 105,000 sf pillarless ballroom, as well as a 2,800-3,300 capacity state-of-the-art theater and 3,644 guest rooms and suites.

The take-away is that groups and planners should look beyond the hype and well-known. If they do, they’ll likely discover a wealth of choices and options they didn’t know existed. How best to discover Las Vegas’s lesser-known gems? That’s easy, Schneider says. “Ask local professionals for opinions and resources.”

New hotels and meeting spaces are coming to Reno in renovated areas of town like Reno Experience District and South Reno. Donna Jarvis-Miller, director of membership and events at American Public Human Services Association, describes the affordability of Reno as being “off the charts.”

Affordable Reno

“We’re excited about what we have in store for 2023. We have new hotels and meeting space coming online in renovated areas of town, like the Reno Experience District and South Reno near the Summit Mall. There’s a lot of opportunity here, and hoteliers are actively trying to meet that demand. Bookings are steady and we’re grateful to be in a position to continue attracting a wide range of groups. Although we’re not quite back to what we experienced pre-2020, lead volume is pacing 2019-levels and we’re hopeful that trend will continue. Most challenges we foresee are related to change and adaptability. More groups are booking on shorter windows, which can create challenges to quickly finding the space they need. There are many renovation projects underway or planned for the next two years, creating opportunity for the future but potentially reducing availability in the near-term.

Like others, Donna Jarvis-Miller, CMP, CEM, Director, Membership and Events, American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), says health and safety remain a priority though protocols are evolving. “In 2021 and 2022, we had a ‘proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test required’ policy for any in-person event. In 2023, we’re moving to a statement on the importance of being vaccinated, taking care of oneself in advance of arriving at the meeting, and masks are optional based on local jurisdiction guidelines and CDC. This is all subject to change as the safety and wellbeing of our attendees will always be our top priority when bringing large numbers of individuals together in a public setting.”

Attendance is booming. “In 2022, all our in-person events were at or way above 2019 attendance levels. We found ourselves shutting down registration for some events to ensure we weren’t exceeding capacity. APHSA is fortunate in that we do not have much attrition on registration. In 2022, we had a 92- 96% show rate of all registrants for our events,” she adds. For APHSA, as well as its various affinity groups, Reno works well. “Reno provides so much for attendees, from local dining, sports and outdoor activities to entertainment. It allows our members to come in early or stay post-event to enjoy the city and area.”

Most important, perhaps, she describes the affordability of Reno for associations as “off the charts.” Just one example, she says, is coffee. “Coffee is one of the biggest expenses in almost any meeting, and in Reno, we have had all-day coffee service for our events without breaking our budget. With each of our Reno events, we’ve seen an increase in attendance. Some of our member groups are not keen on being at a casino hotel, however, with the addition of non-casino hotels, it’s easier to sell the members on Reno as an option.”

Most lodging options in Reno do not carry a major brand flag. Nevertheless, Jarvis-Miller says, “They’re amazing. The owners of the properties understand the importance of investing in their properties to keep them fresh, current and relevant for travelers. Additionally, the new smaller boutique hotels add the opportunity for attendees to extend their stay.”

Another plus is Reno’s CVB. “I simply wouldn’t do a meeting in Reno or elsewhere without working with the DMO,” Jarvis-Miller says. “Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority is solid and the real deal when it comes to supporting planners. They’re quick to provide recommendations for events, including venues for holding off-site activities, and overall support to help planners be successful. Their success in supporting planner results is our success with our events.”

APHSA has multiple affinity groups within its membership with meetings of different sizes and different needs. They’re easily accommodated in Reno. APHSA affinity group American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD), for example, based a meeting of 250 at Peppermill Reno Resort. The National Association of Program Information and Performance Management (NAPIPM), also an APHSA affinity group, met at Silver Legacy Resort Casino with 175 attendees. While neither of these meetings required use of the convention center, Jarvis-Miller says that, because of the success of APHSA’s various meetings, Reno is bidding on the association’s largest event, which will be held at the convention center.

About the AASD Education Conference held at Peppermill, Jarvis-Miller says, “The members appreciated being the ‘big fish’ as the larger event that was in the venue over our dates. The event management team was great to work with in helping to design unique receptions that kept our attendees engaged and on property. From the sales to event execution, the Peppermill team worked with us alongside the DMO to ensure our members were welcomed. Additionally, she says, Peppermill offered flexibility for growth of the program and affordability.”

Silver Legacy offered the right space and affordability for the NAPIPM Annual Education Conference. “Silver Legacy was chosen for proximity to downtown, meeting space, ease of access from the airport and pricing,” Jarvis-Miller says. “And the staff stood out. Their commitment to success was evident from the time we arrived until we departed. We held an onsite networking event and staff went above and beyond to make it a fun atmosphere for our attendees. We utilized the hotel meeting and conference space. We sourced our own A/V as we travel with a national team; however, the local tech support that was available to augment the team was more than adequate to service our event.  The staff took extra strides to add décor and fun elements to our events.”

To planners considering Reno, Jarvis-Miller says, “Trust that you have true partners when you book the city. Utilize the DMO team as they are an extension of your team and want to make sure you succeed. The hotel partners are also real partners; they’ll provide opportunities to maximize entertainment that’s already on the books during your conference and will be creative when designing food-and-beverage experiences for your attendees.”

She adds that the recent and ongoing expansion of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport will continue to set the bar for access from destinations across the country. “In a recent presentation by the airport CEO, one take away I had was that he’s committed to helping bring meetings, conferences and conventions to Reno,” she says. As for future plans, Jarvis-Miller adds, “APHSA continues to look at Reno as an affordable location for our future events. Our members enjoy the amenities Reno offers when they are attending our conferences.”

Clare MacNab, CMP, CEM, Senior Meeting and Exhibit Manager with the Restoration Industry Association, also met at Peppermill Reno Resort. “The Peppermill was extremely accommodating and responsive in working with us on every aspect of our program,” she says. “Our 800-person meeting was held at the Peppermill during a challenging post-COVID transitionary time, but you would never have known it based on how smoothly the property operated.”

MacNab says her group was especially impressed with the A/V and catering/convention services departments. “They thoughtfully worked to make it all happen and make us look great. I loved the creativity used by the Peppermill team to achieve our goals. Through honest and open communication, we built a really effective team between the hotel and association staff.”

Schneider also notes that the airport is only two to three miles from every major hotel and Lake Tahoe is just a 30-minute scenic ride away. Her list of notable off-site options includes the Northstar gondola, Virginia City, Truckee Riverwalk, Aces Greater Field and Pioneer Theater.  Schneider says planners should also know that most Reno hotels have been recently renovated and you get the same professional A/V companies as primary markets.” Better yet, in Reno, she adds, “A group is likely to be the hotel’s only group.”

Whether your association likes a big city or a smaller one, a glitzy nightlife vibe or a laid back, super affordable destination, Nevada has you covered.   AC&F