5 Reasons Meeting Profs Love It

Allegiant Stadium is a global events destination, located adjacent to The Strip. The home stadium of the Las Vegas Raiders NFL team can accommodate 65,000 guests in a fully enclosed, climate-controlled environment, and also hosts concerts and special sporting events. Over 10 event spaces feature state-of-the-art technology.

Read More: Lessons from an Over-the-Top Brand Experience Summit at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas

Since Sphere opened in September 2023, excited chatter about it hasn’t ceased. The venue became the largest spherical structure ever built and is now an iconic landmark on the Las Vegas skyline. It’s a jaw-dropper from the outside, and even better inside—the 18,600-seat auditorium has hosted leading entertainment, from live concerts to immersive screenings, and it’s something every visitor to Las Vegas has on their to-do list these days.

Swingers Las Vegas is one of the most exciting recent developments to come out of the sparkling city, and perfect for attendees who want to get their game on. Standing in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the venue is Swingers’ fourth and features four nine-hole mini-golf courses across two levels in a countryside English garden-themed setting, alongside bars serving custom craft cocktails and an old-school carnival with classic games like Skee-Ball and Whack-a-Mole.

When meeting in Vegas, you don’t want to miss out on that fabulous skyline. Legacy Club at Circa Resort & Casino has one of the best, with panoramic views from the 60^th floor. The total venue, with an outdoor patio featuring cozy firepits, spans 9,330 sq. ft. Its décor is reminiscent of classic Vegas, with plush seating and ambient lighting.

The Beverly Theater is an emblem of Vegas’ flair for showmanship, and perfect for a rewarding offsite that offers a special sense-of-place feel. The two-story, 14,306-square-foot venue seats 146 in the main theater and can retract to operate as a standing room space. Screen a classic movie in the theater, or gather in the courtyard at Segue, a fashionable jazz terrace.

 

5 Places to Meet and Stay

MGM Grand Las Vegas is the largest single hotel building in the United States. With its iconic gold windows, it’s a landmark from the outside, and guests inside are in the perfect space for a quintessential Las Vegas experience.

1,215,450 sq. ft. of meeting space; 5,044 guest rooms.

South Point Hotel stands in the Vegas Valley, moments from the Strip, with all the exciting options you’d expect in Vegas, plus a 16-screen movie theater, a 64-lane bowling alley and an equestrian center.

99,500 sq. ft. of meeting space; 2,100 guest rooms.

Las Vegas Convention Center is celebrated for its versatility and ability to seamlessly handle the hustle and bustle of a convention center of its size. It is currently undergoing a renovation project to enhance the North Hall, and recently debuted the renovated South Hall.

4.6-million-square-foot facility, with 2,934,153 sq. ft. of total meeting space.

Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Resort and Casino offers the fifth largest convention space in North America, and recently underwent a $100 million remodeling. In addition to the Mandalay Bay Hotel, it is directly connected to the all-suite Delano Las Vegas.

2,100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 3,209 guest rooms.

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas offers a unique, bespoke experience in a setting that draws inspiration from Venice, Italy, complete with its own serenading gondoliers. It recently underwent a record-setting $1.5 billion reinvestment project.

2,250,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 7,093 guest rooms.

 

A Look Inside Las Vegas’ Distinctive Style

There’s no denying that Las Vegas has a uniquely characteristic look. When you think of Las Vegas, bright colors, flashing signs and brilliant lights often come to mind. Your mind conjures up images of bustling streets and sprawling hotels and resorts.

Maybe you’re think of a glitzy, light-adorned stage with the classic, vintage Vegas Showgirl; these iconic performers were highly trained dancers who wore fabulous feathers and are featured in many classic representations of Vegas in the media. Maybe you’re dreaming of a dimly lit, exclusive lounge with jewel-toned drapery, plush velvet seating, good friends and an Old Fashioned in your hand.

Vegas has a look like nowhere else in the world. It emulates an embrace of “more is more.” Think piling on accessories, lounge seating galore, glittering sequins—it’s all about the glamour, a balanced blend of lavish indulgence with sophistication.

A Little Bit of History

Much of this can be attributed to the development of what we know and love about Vegas today: casino hotels and best of the best entertainment. The El Rancho Vegas was the first casino hotel to open in Las Vegas in 1941, with a characteristic Western style and an all-you-can-eat buffet. The 1950s saw rapid development towards today’s Las Vegas, with opening after opening of casino hotels and performances by the top-charting artists of the time, including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.

As the 21^st century approached, Vegas’ popularity continued to reign, and it evolved alongside the needs and interests of the market. Hotel spaces become more family-friendly, introducing attractions for visitors of all ages, such as Circus Circus’ playful atmosphere. Hotels themed after world-renowned destinations, like Paris and The Venetian, emerged. And the options for entertainment only expanded further. In addition to performances by the greats of the music industry, world-renowned chefs opened signature restaurants, shopping centers populated The Strip and experiential activities like thrill rides became a must-do.

What Vegas Can Teach Us About Event Design

It all comes down to character. What makes a space that people gravitate towards? How do you create an experience that people will never forget? Even in a city where character and uniqueness are everywhere, anywhere you go in Las Vegas offers its distinct flavor, differentiating itself from its neighbors (The Wynn’s winding pathways around elegant trees dressed up in thousands of lights, anyone?). This versatility makes for a patchwork of unforgettable moments that add up to make the experience of a lifetime.

If you’re planning an event in Las Vegas, you can bet that your attendees want to soak up as much as they can of the iconic city, and as many of the icons in it, as possible. Las Vegas is special because Las Vegas is unafraid to live out loud, to shout its name from the rooftops and to celebrate what makes it unique; and every space in Las Vegas takes this energy to heart. When planning a Las Vegas event, know that your creativity and uniqueness is your ultimate superpower, and this city is ready to welcome it.