5 Reasons Meeting Profs Love Las Vegas

An experiential city. By now you’ve probably heard of Sphere, that illuminated dome you’ll see when you touch down at the airport. Well, there’s much more experiential experiences to be found once you land, like motion-activated digital experiences at the recently opened Electric Playhouse at The Forum Shops in Caesars Palace, darts and drinks at Flight Club at The Venetian and Museum of Illusions at 63 City Center.

F&B galore. Although Las Vegas has given itself the title “Entertainment Capital of the World,” don’t let that take away from the delicious food offered on and around The Strip—and new ones are constantly being created.

Outdoor fun. Outside of the city, there’s mountainous terrain that’s ready for exploration. Various tours are offered, like Pink Jeep Tours, which takes groups through the Mojave Desert, Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam, and Sun Buggy Fun Rentals, which takes groups on trips throughout the desert on ATVs and buggies.

Unique museums. Las Vegas is home to museums that are beyond the norm. The Neon Museum is home to more than 300 neon signs that provide a view into the history of Las Vegas. The Mob Museum delves into the history of organized crime and law enforcement. For music lovers, The Punk Rock Museum gives visitors a look into the history and culture of rock n’ roll.

Sports. Football. Indoor football. Hockey. Women’s basketball. Minor league baseball. Las Vegas has a team for all of them, and year-round games, presenting the opportunity for groups to watch the sport of their choice while in the city.

 

5 Places to Meet

Catch the latest flick at the 16-screen theater or hit some pins with colleagues at South Point Hotel and Casino. Additional extracurriculars include the 40,000-square-foot Spa Costa Del Sur, which features 27 treatment rooms and a full-service salon.

175,000 sq. ft. of event space; 2,163 guest rooms.

 

Located in Area15 west of The Strip, Omega Mart is what happens when a supermarket and fun house come together, with immersive art all around and inventive attractions visitors will not find anywhere else. All the way in the back is Datamosh, Omega Mart’s 60-person speakeasy.

750-person capacity for full buyout.

Durango Casino & Resort is the latest addition to the Station Casinos portfolio, located in the valley’s southeastern corner. The property is home to a food hall that houses F&B options like Irv’s Burgers, Prince Street Pizza and Nielson’s Frozen Custard, as well as standalone restaurants such as Nicco’s Steakhouse and Bel-Aire Lounge, which sits right next to its outdoor pool.

Over 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 200 guest rooms.

Located right in the middle of The Strip sits Harrah’s Las Vegas, fresh off its 50-year anniversary, which it reached in 2023. The property is home to a food hall and 10 restaurants, including Ramsay’s Kitchen, the latest addition that opened in 2022. And just down the street is the 300,000-square-foot Caesars Forum.

25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 2,540 guest rooms.

F1 enthusiasts can catch the high-speed race cars whipping around turn 12 at Gilley’s BBQ’s dining room at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. Although you can’t catch F1 at its other restaurants, the experiences to be had at locations like Senor Frog’s and Phil’s Steak House might have your heart racing with excitement.

23,500 sq. ft. of meeting space; 2,885 guest rooms.

 

Seeking Alternatives

Heading to Las Vegas as a meeting professional, the only problem you might encounter when in search of meeting spaces is sifting through the abundance. While there’s nothing wrong with opting for your four-walled boardroom, ballroom or meeting space, several others veer from the conventional spaces you’ll find on The Strip.

In addition to being home to uncommon hotel amenities like the movie theater mentioned earlier, South Point’s meeting spaces also offer uncommon options. The property features South Point Arena & Equestrian Center, which consists of a 4,600-seat equestrian arena and the 100,000-square-foot Priefert Pavilion, which can be split into two arenas. In 2020, The 40,000-square-foot, semi-outdoor Farnham Arena was the latest venue to join South Point’s equestrian complex.

Built with a different type of steed—a steely one—in mind, F1 Grand Prix Plaza opened last year, following Las Vegas’ first F1 event on a course that winds through and around The Strip. Grand Prix Plaza is stationed less than a mile outside of The Strip and is part of  F1’s Las Vegas Strip Circuit, such that on race days, attendees have views of the  first, second and third turns, as well as the pit lanes. For events, the venue features four spaces—three floors and a rooftop—across 300,000 sq. ft..

Omega Mart might be one of the largest activations at Area15, but there is far more to experience at this entertainment venue. Games like AR dodgeball, axe throwing, hang gliding and a VR game based on the movie “Army of the Dead,” an attraction added in March.

Area15 has several large and small event spaces that can be rented, including the 32,000-square-foot A-Lot, an outdoor space that is tented on those hot Vegas days; Liftoff Bar + Ride, a 3,750-square-foot outdoor bar that features a 16-person gondola that rises to the sky to offer attendees a nice view of The Strip; and Portal, a 7,500-square-foot space that features 360-degree, projection-mapped walls that allow for full customizability for meeting profs.

This article appears in the September 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.