Destination - February / March 2008

By Diana Rowe

Mining has made a comeback in the state of Nevada, which now produces more gold than any other state. For planners, the state is a gold mine in a different vein, boasting all the assets of a proven meeting and convention attendance- and revenue-builder: many direct flights with reasonable airfare; amazing hotels,

The luxurious Wynn Las Vegas currently offers 200,000 square feet of meeting space and 2,716 guest rooms. Coming in 2009 is Wynn Las Vegas’ new luxury tower, the 2,000-unit Encore resort, which will add meeting space, a spa, casino, and several restaurants and nightclubs. Photo courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas

which are like cities within cities; the world’s best top-name entertainment; the finest dining on the planet; and, of course, the allure of gaming. The energy that radiates from its star cities of Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe is unsurpassed, as is the excitement it generates among attendees.

LAS VEGAS
Michael Goldsmith, director of convention sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), has statistics to prove that success. A survey of 110 meetings with trade show elements shows an 18 percent increase in attendance when cycling through Las Vegas.

Planners have an assortment of opportunities in Las Vegas with its more than 133,000 guest rooms centrally located in the city, 9.5 million square feet of convention and exhibit space that accommodates more than 6.3 million convention and meeting attendees each year, award-winning restaurants, luxurious spas, fantastic shopping, world-class golf and truly unique entertainment.

Goldsmith said, “Las Vegas loves association meetings. Associations have helped build our city as a leading meeting destination and are the foundation of our group business. Twenty years ago, Las Vegas was not at the top of the list for corporate meetings, but association groups and their strength helped us realize the value of meetings. With their extended lead time, association meetings allow the hotel community to create a strong occupancy base.”

When association planners don’t know where to begin, they can turn to the LVCVA for expert guidance, Goldsmith said. They’ll help with everything from RFP distribution to site inspection arrangements to hotel, entertainment and transportation needs, to tools for attendance promotion.

The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), one of the largest convention centers in America, is centrally located in the Las Vegas Valley, with convenient access to hotels and McCarran International Airport. The facility is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar enhancement project to be implemented in phases over the next several years. The project will add 86,000 square feet of meeting space to the existing 2.3-million-square-foot facility. The effort to improve the center is one of several components of the LVCVA’s five-year plan geared toward supporting the destination’s enormous growth and reaching the goal of a record-setting 43 million visitors by 2009.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has partnered with the LVCVA to plan their mega International Builders’ Show (IBS), which will bring more than 100,000 attendees to Las Vegas in 2009 and 2010. Geoff Cassidy, vice president of operations for the NAHB’s convention and meetings group, said NAHB leadership and the LVCVA have been meeting every two or three months for the past two years to ensure that the LVCC renovation project would not adversely impact the upcoming show.

“We love Las Vegas for our show, even though they will be in the midst of a $900 million (convention center) renovation project,” Cassidy said, noting that the IBS was last held in Las Vegas in 2004. “LVCVA understood the concerns their customers were going to have years ahead, so when they were planning this, they knew they had to bring their customers to the table early on, and they did that.”

Because the convention center construction is taking place at the front of the building, Cassidy said, “We are flipping the show on its head, and the back of the show will be the front.” To allay any apprehension Cassidy’s group might have had, he said the LVCVA provided the ongoing updates and information he 

Caesars Palace is undergoing a $1 billion expansion that will include a new 263,000-square-foot convention center that will connect to the existing meeting space in the Palace Tower and will feature 110,000 square feet of meeting space. The new Las Vegas production “Bette Midler The Showgirl Must Go On” debuts this month at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

needed to plan more effectively. “We feel as though we are in a good space with them, and obviously things will be fluid because it is a construction project.”

Cassidy said that to meet his requirement for a warm-climate destination in February, Las Vegas and Orlando are the only two cities that fit the bill for a show the size of the IBS. The 2008 show took place Februrary 13–16 in Orlando, where 100,000 attendees were spread throughout 60 Orlando hotels (see “Florida” on page 64). By comparison, the same expected attendance will fit into 25 mega-sized Las Vegas properties, with Caesars Palace designated as the headquarters hotel for the 2009 show.

 

Jean Ferrone is the director of conference services and meeting planning for the Chicago, IL-based American Dental Association’s (ADA) annual meeting. Like Cassidy, Ferrone said that Las Vegas is one of the few convention cities that can accommodate their more than 40,000 dental professionals. “Affordable airfare and unlimited activities make Las Vegas attractive to so many of our members. A member-favorite, Las Vegas is a place where a significant number of attendees extend their stay.”

The ADA selected a number of properties for their meeting, including Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, THEhotel, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Luxor Hotel & Casino, Excalibur, the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino and the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.

The ADA program included simultaneous association and affiliate group meetings. Vital to pulling off such a high number of general and breakout-intensive sessions was the four-level Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the fifth largest convention facility in the U.S. and the largest meeting facility located on the Las Vegas Strip.

MGM Grand’s popular nightclub Studio 54 can be booked for groups of 100 to 1,800 attendees for private parties and events. The two-level venue consists of four bars, five dance floors and a special VIP lounge. Photo courtesy of MGM Mirage

This convention center offers planners nearly 1 million square feet of exhibit and breakout space that can be divided into 75 simultaneous meetings — perfect for large groups. However, Ferrone cautions planners that food service outlets at the convention center can be very busy when sessions adjourn at the same time.

Associations are often required to change their pattern from weekend to mid-week dates in order to secure the significant space and room block required. The desire of attendees to meet in Las Vegas outweighs the disadvantages, so the ADA focuses on managing a great meeting. Ferrone said that’s not a difficult task since the city has such great offerings, especially at night. “Attendees don’t have to leave the meeting to enjoy the city, because Las Vegas is happening 24/7. That makes meeting planning easier for us. We can focus on managing the meetings, because we don’t have to manage the environment.”

Ferrone enlisted the assistance of Baskow & Associates, a local full-service entertainment and destination management company. “We like to be full-service to our members, but with our tight budgets and time constraints, there is only so much we can do. However, Scott Washburn and his Baskow team stepped up to the plate, fielded questions, and acted as resource to our members, affiliates and exhibitors — even setting up at a booth at the trade show to answer questions. Plus Baskow gave us insider information, like how to market the shows so our people got tickets well in advance.”

Before the event, Baskow also provided an online tour site. Ferrone said this was well-received by members, and the insider information Baskow provided allowed her team to market the shows before arrival. “Without Baskow, our members might have missed a show because of a sell-out. Baskow was a proven partner from the very beginning, giving us good information before arrival and onsite.”

Gene Inglesby, the executive director of the 55-year-old Salt Lake City-based Western Petroleum Marketing Association, said, “With 4,000-some attendees from across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the ease of getting to Las Vegas really clinched the deal for us, and that’s why we have returned for 13 consecutive years. We’ve discussed moving to other destinations, but we are unable to duplicate the central location and entertainment value for our association buck.”

Located in the heart of The Strip, the four-tower Riviera Hotel & Casino is undergoing a refurbishment of the casino and portions of the hotel’s 160,000 square feet of meeting space this spring. The Riviera Hotel & Casino is launching another renovation that will give all 2,075 guest rooms and suites a hip contemporary style and cutting-edge technology over the next couple of years. The first 980 Signature Rooms located in the Monaco Tower are scheduled to be completed by October. Photo courtesy of Riviera Hotel & Casino

Last February, Inglesby returned to The Mirage for the 54th Annual Western Petroleum Marketers Convention & Convenience Store Expo, because the planner-friendly staff and meeting space made it impossible for him to take his meeting anywhere else. “We take over the meeting space and hotel, and we feel like we are their number-one priority. For example, we made one call, and within 15 minutes, breakout seating was scaled down by 1,000 seats.”

The Mirage features more than 2,700 rooms, an erupting volcano, South Seas decor, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, and a larger-than-life aquarium. The Mirage offers planners more than 170,000 square feet of meeting and convention facilities including 27 meeting rooms, a 24-seat executive boardroom, 40,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and the divisible 90,000-square-foot Mirage Events Center.

Even after 13 years, Inglesby said there is always something new in the entertainment capital of the world. “Hotels like The Mirage keep re-inventing and renovating every few years. Las Vegas is all about the unique and newest of everything. Las Vegas never gets stale or feels like the same old, and our attendees are always excited about seeing what’s new and hot.”

More luxury options for association planners include the Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas. The Tuscan-inspired Bellagio, which features a mesmerizing dancing fountains show choreographed to music, offers more than 3,900 guest rooms and more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. The 2,716-room Wynn Las Vegas also provides more than 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including two ballrooms and 34 meeting rooms. Wynn’s meeting space is easily accessible from the guest room elevators, with spacious, patio views from all meeting rooms, and advanced audio-visual technology.

Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment unified the meeting sales and operations of seven distinctive Las Vegas properties (Bally’s Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Paris

MGM Mirage’s $7.8 billion CityCenter resort/residential/shopping project is expected to open next year. The project’s gaming resort will have 4,000 guest rooms and 300,000 square feet of meeting space. Photo courtesy of MGM Mirage

Las Vegas, Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino) into a single city-wide operation under one leadership umbrella.

“Association planners may offer their members, affiliates and exhibitors different tiers and locations for their accommodations,” explained Don Ross, vice president of catering, conventions and events for Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment. “We offer one-stop shopping, so planners can mix and match from our seven Las Vegas properties, yet still get credit for their booking”
The combined properties boast 1 million square feet of cumulative meeting space, nearly 18,000 guest rooms and suites, and countless options for dining, entertainment and leisure.

Ross said, “The distinct advantage for the meeting planner is the convenience and leverage of one contact and one contract, combined with the access and freedom to enjoy the wide variety of venues and amenities across all seven properties in Las Vegas.”

Although Las Vegas hosts many of the largest trade shows in the country, more than half of the meetings held there every year are for groups of 500 attendees or fewer.

For their small board and task-force meeting of 400, Amy Chisholm, CMP, director of meetings for the Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA), selected the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. With a new Las Vegas chapter, BOMA wanted to bring a meeting to the city, but didn’t want the distractions of The Strip to hinder their business. Chisholm’s solution was to take the meeting to the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa in nearby Summerlin, 20 minutes from The Strip, where they could utilize the property’s impressive, self-contained conference center and meeting space. “With one meeting after another, it was easy to move attendees in and out of the general sessions and into the small committee meetings, without losing them to the traffic of the casino.” The resort features 35 function rooms with more than 100,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor function space.

Attendees will find a welcoming watery oasis at the 11-acre Mandalay Bay Beach, a luxurious poolside environment that features a natural sand beach, wave pool, Lazy River and even poolside gaming in a new three-story, climate-controlled, glass-fronted casino. Photo courtesy of MGM Mirage

Chisholm added, “The JW Marriott’s standard rooms were probably the best I’ve seen in my career. I even had several attendees thank me during the meeting for upgrading their rooms, when in fact they were simply standard rooms.”

In an effort to green their meeting, Chisholm also noted that this was the first program that was strictly e-marketed — no printed brochures or materials. “Of course, we used online registration and e-mail blasts, using marketing material and photos provided by (the resort), which was easy to use and download.” The attendance results, Chisholm happily reported, were as successful as the previous year with printed brochures.

Located in Henderson, NV, just 17 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip, Lake Las Vegas Resort offers lakeside lodging, casinos, outdoor activities, shopping, fine dining and more. Featuring world-class golf on two courses, Lake Las Vegas Resort surrounds a 320-acre private lake adjacent to Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Located in Henderson, NV, a half-hour from The Strip, Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort is the centerpiece of the 3,600-acre Lake Las Vegas Resort. Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort features 493 guest rooms, 45,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 55,000 square feet of outdoor function space. Photo courtesy of Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort

New And Noteworthy In Las Vegas
Continuous expansions to meet planners’ demands have resulted in more than $40 billion in planned developments, which will increase the citywide room inventory to more than 170,000 by the end of 2010. All of this and more gives Las Vegas the distinction as the world’s top meeting destination. Over the next few years, the hotel boom will add more luxury options to the mix with mega-developments.

Expected to open next year: the $7.8 billion CityCenter resort/residential/shopping project from MGM Mirage will feature a 4,000-room hotel tower and 300,000 square feet of meeting space; Encore, Wynn Las Vegas’ new luxury tower, will have 2,000 suites and its own spa; and the 4,000-room Fontainebleau Las Vegas is expected to have 150,000 square feet of meeting space.

Located on Las Vegas Boulevard South, the 1,430-room South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa offers 150,000 square feet of convention, exhibit and banquet space as well as the Equestrian Center, one of the most unique venues in Las Vegas. On-property entertainment and amenities include a casino, 64-lane bowling center and the Spa Costa Del Sur, which is undergoing an expansion slated for completion by the end of 2008.

Also currently under construction is a third tower that will offer approximately 800 guest rooms and suites as well as 10,000 square feet of additional conference space. The tower, which is set to open this July, is currently accepting reservations. In addition, two new restaurants and two new lounges have recently opened. Said Director of Sales Mo Robinson, “The additional 800+ guest rooms will allow the South Point the opportunity to book larger conventions into the property using our existing 80,000 square feet of exhibit hall, 65,000-square-foot conference center and our 4,400-seat arena.”

The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino unveiled its $60 million expansion at First and Fremont Streets. The addition, just west of the current property location, includes The Grand, a large multipurpose, divisible events center; an expanded gaming floor; a new sushi restaurant; and an exciting nightlife venue offering stunning views of all the action on Fremont Street. 

M Resort, Spa and Casino, expected to be completed in the spring of 2009, will be the largest resort built within the city limits of Henderson. Located on 80 acres of land at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway, the new resort will offer a total of 390 rooms and suites, 90,000 square feet of gaming and more than 40,000 square feet of meeting and conference space that includes an 18,500-square-foot grand ballroom. A variety of luxury amenities including a state-of-the-art 20,000 square foot spa as well as multiple restaurants, dining and entertainment options will provide guests with an unrivaled south Strip experience.

The colorful Reno skyline is undergoing an extensive renaissance with more than $1 billion in public and private investment. The Reno-Tahoe area offers more than 20,000 guest rooms and 1.5 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space city-wide.  Photo courtesy of Reno Tahoe Territory

The Palazzo Las Vegas, the new resort adjacent to the famed Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, held its grand opening celebration in January. While The Palazzo is everything you could hope for in a 3,000-all suite luxurious resort getaway, it fulfills every wish for association planners. As part of the Las Vegas Sands Megacenter, The Palazzo, along with The Venetian and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, forms the ultimate meeting and convention destination with more than 2.25 million square feet of meeting space; more than 7,000 luxurious accommodations; 30 acclaimed restaurants including top celebrity chefs such as CUT

The 427-room Suncoast Hotel & Casino is surrounded by 81 holes of world-class golf in the northwest area of Las Vegas, where attendees can appreciate the natural beauty of the desert landscape and surrounding mountains. In addition to 25,000 square feet of meeting space, the property features a 16-screen movie complex, 64-lane bowling center and 500-seat entertainment venue. Photo courtesy of Coast Casinos

by Wolfgang Puck, Table 10 by Emeril Lagasse; Tony Award-winning entertainment; and plenty of shopping to appease any shopaholic. Perhaps the greatest thing about the Megacenter is their “One Campus Concept.” With all facilities consolidated into one area, planners find more interaction among attendees, making for the most productive working environment.

Boyd Gaming’s 87-acre master-planned Echelon development, which will comprise five premium hotels (Hotel Echelon, The Enclave, Delano and Mondrian by Morgans Hotel Group, Shangri-La Las Vegas), will also include The Meeting Center, with dedicated entrances and convenient access to the hotels as well as a diverse array of entertainment, dining, nightlife and shopping experiences. The three-level, 650,000-square-foot Meeting Center is now accepting group bookings. A total of more than 6.5 million square feet of convention and meetings facilities are located within walking distance of Echelon, which is scheduled for completion in 2010.

New meeting space at the MGM Grand recently opened. MGM Grand’s new multipurpose Marquee Ballroom, a pillarless 92,000-square-foot structure located next to the MGM Grand Conference Center, can accommodate up to 6,000 attendees for trade shows, general sessions and catered functions. With the opening of the Marquee Ballroom MGM Grand expands its meeting and convention space to an impressive 602,000 square feet.

With so many options, the most difficult decision for meetings in Las Vegas is choosing where to stay and what to do.

RENO-TAHOE
“Reno is undergoing an extensive renaissance with more than a billion dollars in public and private investment enhancing the Reno-Tahoe area as a destination for meetings,” said Knud Svendsen, vice president of sales and marketing for the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. “We offer extensive facilities, two separate convention centers, and 18 local properties offer meeting space. Reno-Tahoe has a fit for every meeting.”

Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place, is home to a wide variety of hotel properties offering anywhere from 11,000 to 200,000 square feet of full-service meeting and convention space with a combined total of 20,000

Across the street from the Reno Events Center, The National Bowling Stadium is where groups of 50 to 2,000 can have fun. The stadium features 78 lanes, stadium seating for more than 600, the stadium club and a 172-seat theater. Photo courtesy of Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place

guest rooms and suites to keep guests relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to take on another adventure.

The Reno-Sparks Convention Center boasts 500,000 square feet of space with 380,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space and 67 meeting rooms. The Reno Event Center offers a scaled-down version with its 118,000-square-foot arena facility with 55,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space and seven meeting rooms. The center is part of a $65 million two-phased project to bring special events and convention/meeting venues to downtown Reno.

Svendsen said, “When associations bring a meeting to us, they see record-breaking attendance numbers. We believe that’s because our destination offers a great value proposition for the stricter budgets of association planners.”

Eddie Lopez, contest director and district manager/regional for the U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety & Health Administration, agreed. “After 22 years, Las Vegas became too restrictive for our budget, so an alternative city with the same level of attractions became necessary. The best thing we did was to select Reno.”

Lopez organizes an annual members event for an association of mining companies and employees. The event is a field competition for mine rescuers and support personnel from firemen to first-aid responders. Lopez and his team create a mock mining disaster at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center where international teams compete for trophies and recognition. Lopez establishes a headquarters at one hotel, hosting registration, formal gatherings, receptions and banquets. Past headquarter hotels have included the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino (formerly the Reno Hilton), Peppermill Resort Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

“Our attendees work for mining companies located in primarily small, isolated towns,” Lopez explained, “and the friendliness of Reno was the clincher. Reno offers what Las Vegas does, just Las Vegas on a smaller scale.” Even though the city knows how to do business, they have managed to retain the hometown charm when dealing with people, said Lopez. “Since most of our 1,000 attendees come from small towns, they immediately sense this welcoming spirit. We feel our business is important to the entire city. In the eight years we’ve gone to Reno, there has never been a single mini-crisis or a major setback. At the end of the intensive week, it’s all handshakes and hugs. The professionalism and friendliness keep us coming back.”

In fact, Lopez reported that when the destination switched from Las Vegas to Reno, attendance went up. “For a solid year, we marketed the new Reno destination, and I admit I felt a bit of nervousness that members might not want to change after 22 years. Our increase in attendance may initially have been due to curiosity, but ultimately our attendance has remained steady and climbing. The entire week is more laid-back and far less expensive.

“When the meetings and competition are done,” Lopez added, “attendees can still choose from a huge array of activities and attractions. Great headliners and even celebrity chefs are finding a home in Reno, and Reno can be as affordable as their budgets require. This is important to our attendees, since this is often their big hurrah. They’ll bring the kids and grandparents, and extend it to a family vacation.”

New And Noteworthy In Reno
Opening February 2008 is the new $25 million, 28,000-square-foot Downtown Reno Ballroom, which can be used in conjunction with two neighboring facilities: the Reno Events Center and the National Bowling Stadium. The facility will have a commercial kitchen with the capacity to prepare banquets for more than 1,900 guests and can seat 2,900 for a general session. Column-free meeting space is divisible into six self-sufficient rooms.

New construction this year includes the $800 million Legends Marina Casino-Resort-Spa (Sparks), which will include 1,000 upscale hotel rooms and suites, and more than 50,000 square feet of convention and meeting space. And Station Casinos announced plans to begin construction on two Reno properties within the next four years.

The 1,995-room Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is in the midst of a $90 million transformation, with renovations to the casino floor, restaurants and bars already completed. The resort transformed the upper 11 floors into a luxury condominium hotel, The Summit at Grand Sierra. Updates to the guest rooms are underway. Among the resort’s newly opened restaurants are Charlie Palmer Steak, Charlie Palmer Fin Fish and Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante. Attendees also can sample 80 wines and champagnes at the non-smoking Reserve wine bar. Renovation of the property’s 200,000 square feet of meeting, function and exhibition space, including 45 breakout rooms, is expected to be complete in March. Other features include an electrical system that supports 1,000 exhibit booths, a broadcast production studio, and sound system for meetings and concerts.

The Peppermill Resort Casino Reno recently unveiled its new $400 million expansion. Combining European sensibility with contemporary luxury amenities, the expansion includes a Tuscan-themed, all-suite hotel tower that adds 600 rooms to increase the room count to 1,635. A clear-span convention center of 62,000 square feet more than doubled the property’s existing meeting space. Future plans include a new three-story, European spa and saloon, and renovation of the tower suites and guest rooms by late 2008.

Silver Legacy Resort Casino is another property under renovation. Late 2006 began with $12 million in renovations including the addition of the ultra-modern Drinx Lounge and other public areas. Aura Ultra Lounge, the most extensive project, opened last fall as an upscale, elliptical-shaped lounge. The 1,720-room property offers 90,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, including a 20,000-square-foot ballroom and a 40,000-square-foot pavilion.

The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa’s $50 million expansion is slated for completion in summer 2008, and a 27,000-square-foot convention and ballroom expansion will double its current meeting space. The property is also adding a pedestrian skywalk to the south property, connecting the Atlantis to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, a much needed convenience for association meetings.

Other renovations in Reno-Sparks include $30 million in upgrades and additions to Boomtown Hotel & Casino; a $60 to $70 million restoration of the historic Cal Neva Resort, Spa and Casino in Crystal Bay (North Lake Tahoe); significant renovations to Circus Circus Reno’s North Tower; new local ownership and $3 million in improvements at Fitzgerald’s Hotel and Casino; and a $15 million east tower hotel remodel at John Ascuaga’s Nugget (Sparks).

The Peppermill Resort Casino Reno’s new $400 million expansion includes a Tuscan-themed, all-suite hotel tower that adds 600 rooms for a total of 1,635. A clear-span convention center of 62,000 square feet more than doubled the property’s existing meeting space. Photo courtesy of Peppermill Resort Casino Reno

Unique Meeting Venues
With everything from a subterranean magic theater to an historic estate with sweeping views of Lake Tahoe, the region is home to indoor and outdoor locations for planners seeking a departure from traditional meeting facilities in Reno-Tahoe.

Dubbed the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins,” the National Bowling Stadium (NBS) is the only facility of its kind in the world where groups of 50 to 2,000 can relax and have fun. Guests can discuss the art of the deal over beer and popcorn or enjoy a sit-down dinner and full-service bars for a more formal gathering.

The downtown National Automobile Museum, which is ranked among the nation’s top 10 automobile museums, features more than 220 vintage and collectible automobiles, presenting attendees with an opportunity to cruise into the past. The downtown facility is ideal for meetings, receptions, dinners, luncheons and themed events, accommodating groups of 50 to 1,200 attendees.

Built in the late 1930s, the Thunderbird Lodge is an historic Lake Tahoe estate punctuated by sandy coves and a 50-foot waterfall. The estate offers approximately 5,400 square feet of meeting space in six distinctive rooms, including a 400-square-foot outdoor patio with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe, accommodating groups up to 300.

From Amy Chisholm’s 400 attendees to Geoff Cassidy’s 100,000-strong contingent, Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe are built to handle any size meeting or event with the facilities and infrastructure to match every need — not to mention an unrivaled, attendance-boosting wow factor. With all the ongoing renovations and new properties in the pipeline every year, Nevada is a sure bet for years to come.    ACF