Nevada’s riches span the spectrum, from silver mines to casino floors, from grand live shows to the great outdoors. While the Silver State’s leading lady, Las Vegas, sweeps the headlines, smaller communities are quietly making news with rapid growth and expansion.
Those lesser-known regions remain the focus for the Nevada Commission on Tourism.
“We promote a lot of rural up-and-coming areas like Mesquite,” says Bethany Drysdale, media relations specialist for the commission.
The commission’s advertising slogan, “Nevada Wide Open,” refers to the state’s outdoor options, everything from hiking in Great Basin National Park to paragliding over Lake Tahoe.
“Tourism throughout the state is a $40 billion industry and only $12 billion is from gaming,” Drysdale says. “People are coming and doing other things.”
Delegate attendance is on the rise, with an increase of 2.7 percent from April 2006 through the first quarter of 2007 when compared to the same time period for the previous year.
“People are finally understanding that in Nevada there is so much to do, it’s not an endless desert wasteland,” Drysdale says.
Las Vegas
Even a kid in a candy store has easier choices than a group planning a meeting in Las Vegas.
Sin City tallies in at more than 133,000 guest rooms and 9.5 million square feet of convention and exhibit space. That’s not to mention a staggering array of star-chef restaurants, upscale spas, world-class shopping, top-tier golf, and one-of-a-kind performances.
“Groups can have a well rounded experience,” says Nancy Murphy, vice president of sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “Here the park never closes. Everything fun to do is available at night when Vegas becomes magic. Groups can have their meetings during the day and don’t have to worry about missing anything.”
Though Las Vegas virtually sells itself as a destination, the LVCVA’s advertising campaigns have added to the allure.
“The ‘What Happens Here Stays Here’ campaign has become part of pop culture,” Murphy says. “People who thought they never wanted to come want to come. Demand is tremendous.”
A support campaign, “Your Vegas Is Showing,” will be launched in January.
“We expect great things from it,” Murphy says. “It makes people think.”
Though leisure travelers represent the lion’s share of business in Vegas, the LVCVA established a goal of increasing meeting, convention and trade show visitors from its current 16 percent of total visitors to 20 percent by 2010.
There is also an emphasis on small meetings, Murphy stresses. Of the 23,000 that the city hosts per year, some two-thirds are groups of under 500 people.
“Every property on Las Vegas Boulevard has a division of small meetings or conference experts because that slice of meeting pie is so important to their business model.”
In June 2006 the LVCVA launched “Hero,” an advertising campaign promoting itself as a one-stop shop for meeting planners.
To keep up with the influx, Las Vegas is investing in its primary convention space, the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is undergoing an $890 million enhancement program.
“Every corner of the convention center will be upgraded, renovated and changed to make the customer experience better,” Murphy says.
Work on the main building will include a new lobby and a new concourse of breakout rooms providing an additional 90,000 square feet of meeting space. The program is slated for completion by the end of 2010.
The rest of the city is undergoing a flurry of development, including a dizzying number of mega resorts and residential complexes.
Opening in December is the city’s largest project, the 3,025-suite Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino. Together with the adjacent Venetian and Sands Expo, the Las Vegas Sands Megacenter will offer 2.25 million square feet of meeting space.
MGM Mirage’s CityCenter project, slated for the end of 2009, spans 76 acres between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts along the Strip. The $7.4 billion project, designed by Daniel Libeskind, is anchored by a 61-story, 4,000-room casino hotel with 300,000 square feet of function space. On the premises will also be three other hotels and a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district, including a showroom for a new Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil.
Several other new projects are taking shape. The $2.2 billion, all-suite Encore at Wynn Las Vegas is slated to open in 2009. Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a 3,889-room resort, condo-hotel and casino, is also opening in 2009. Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino debuted earlier this year in place of the former Aladdin. Boyd Gaming’s Echelon Place, on the site of the former Stardust, is scheduled to open in fall 2010 and will feature more than 5,000 rooms in five hotels.
Non-gaming hotels are also popping up, including The Platinum Hotel, which opened last year, and Trump International Hotel and Tower, a $500 million property opening next year that will feature 1,282 hotel and condo units, a spa, restaurants, and meeting rooms.
Meanwhile, numerous meetings-friendly properties are undergoing expansions and renovations, including a recent $30 million expansion of the Mandalay Bay Beach complex and a recent $100 million renovation at The Venetian. Harrah’s Entertainment is on the books for a $1 billion expansion to Caesars Palace for 2009. Tropicana is undergoing an overhaul and will offer over 10,000 guest rooms and 600,000 square feet of meeting space by the end of 2010. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and MGM Grand Hotel and Casino are also planning major expansions. Additionally, New York-New York recently expanded its meeting space to 21,000 total square feet, and the Golden Nugget finished a major renovation.
Among the city’s many other meetings-ready hotels are the Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa and the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa.
Aside from hotel function space, one of the destination’s most popular off-site facilities is The White House Las Vegas, which is moving to a new building in spring 2008 named MEET. Groups will be able to completely customize its 30,000 square feet of space.
Other top off-site venues include the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art and the Liberace Museum.
Off-Strip Developments
Officially incorporated in 1953, Henderson has since grown to be the second-largest city in Nevada. Despite its size, this resort-filled area offers a respite from the Strip, with 40 parks, nearly a dozen golf courses and access to the Colorado River and Lake Mead.
“Because Vegas continues to do so well, groups consider Henderson more and more as a great alternative,” says Edward Kirby, national sales manager for the City of Henderson Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism. “It has everything Vegas has but on a smaller scale.”
Ease of access is an attraction. Henderson is located a few miles from McCarran International Airport, while the Henderson Executive Airport, recently acquired by Clark County, is planning a major redevelopment to become a reliever airport to McCarran.
Henderson’s largest resort and residential community, Lake Las Vegas, features the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, which recently opened a glass-enclosed ballroom that accommodates up to 300 people.
In early 2008, the MonteLago Village Resort at Lake Las Vegas is adding 3,829 square feet of meeting space with the addition of the Riva di Lago Events Center. There are also plans for a Waldorf=Astoria property in Lake Las Vegas.
Also on the horizon is a 450-room M Resort on Las Vegas Boulevard in Henderson.
Henderson is also home to the Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino.
In Summerlin, Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa celebrated its first anniversary this year by opening a 72-lane bowling alley, which is available for groups.
In north Las Vegas, Station Casinos recently broke ground on the $600 million, 40-acre Aliante Station.
Laughlin
Set squarely at the nexus of where Arizona, California and Nevada meet, Laughlin continues to transform from its 1940s-era mining town roots to one of the state’s premier gaming and resort destinations. The city even made the prime-time circuit, albeit briefly, with the television show Viva Laughlin, which was canceled after two episodes.
Though its television run was fleeting, Laughlin is proving its staying power with a number of hotel and resort expansions. Aquarius Casino Resort, formerly the Flamingo Laughlin, recently took the wraps off its $40 million remodel. Features include more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
Ramada Express is now the Tropicana Express and offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space, while the Golden Nugget Laughlin is planning a guest room expansion in 2008.
“The room renovations are bringing Laughlin up to industry standard,” says Meg McDaniel, senior manager of regional sales for the LVCVA. “I think as hotel properties upgrade, we will be able to pursue the corporate market.”
Groups can explore the Mojave Desert with Extreme Mini Rails tours or join Laughlin River Tours for a dinner cruise on the Colorado River.
Mesquite
Located in the Virgin River Valley 80 miles north of Las Vegas, Mesquite’s small-town flavor is the destination’s major draw. It is also a gateway to Utah’s parks as well as a launching pad to the Valley of Fire and Lake Mead.
The Golf Channel’s own version of a reality show, Big Break Mesquite, has helped expose Mesquite’s seven area golf courses, represented by Golf Mesquite Nevada.
For Mesquite, size and affordability are part of the attraction.
“Value is huge. We’re small and friendly, very hands-on,” says Gina Mann, sales executive for Mesquite Marketing, a division of the LVCVA. “We’re intimately involved, not lost in the transaction.”
That said, Mesquite is experiencing a boom in infrastructure upgrades and expansion.
CasaBlanca Resort, Casino, Golf & Spa broke ground on a 40,000-square-foot conference facility, which will open by the end of next year.
The Oasis Resort, Casino, Golf & Spa is undergoing a room renovation, and the Eureka Casino Hotel recently completed a $30 million expansion.
In the works and slated for a 2009 opening is Solstice Mesquite, a mixed-use property featuring a 125-room boutique hotel and a 1,200-room resort casino.
“Mesquite has been in existence 18 years with very little movement. All of a sudden we’re on the brink of a lot of expansion,” Mann says.
Primm
Three properties under one banner, Primm Valley Resorts includes Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s and Primm Valley Resort and Casino.
Combined, the properties have a total of 2,600 guest rooms and 62,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, in addition to the Primm Valley Golf Club, featuring two Tom Fazio-designed courses.
Meeting facilities include a 21,000-square-foot conference center at Primm Valley Resort and Casino, a 6,000-seat arena at Buffalo Bill’s and a 700-seat showroom at Whiskey Pete’s.
The best views in the destination come from 209 feet above the ground on the Desperado rollercoaster, one of the tallest and fastest in the country.
Reno
Reno’s tagline, “America’s Adventure Place,” holds true now more than ever, with downtown Reno setting the stage for the Truckee River Whitewater Park. Reno also offers easy access to 40 area golf courses and a wealth of ski resorts in nearby Lake Tahoe.
“Reno is going through a huge renaissance right now,” says Ellen Oppenheim, president and CEO of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority.
A new 10,000-seat Minor League Baseball stadium will serve as the anchor of an $81 million downtown ballpark district, including new retail and entertainment outlets. The proposed completion date is summer 2009.
The new Nevada Discovery Museum is scheduled to open in 2009 in the former Reno City Hall.
A new 28,000-square-foot, $25 million ballroom is also being built in downtown Reno. When it opens in January, planners will be able to use the venue in conjunction with two neighboring facilities: the Reno Events Center and the National Bowling Stadium.
“With the new ballroom and other quality facilities, we have the flexibility to meet almost any group’s needs,” Oppenheim says.
On the hotel front, The Peppermill is set to unveil its new $400 million expansion in December, adding a 600-room, Tuscan-themed tower and 62,000 square feet of convention space. The Atlantis is undergoing a $50 million expansion, slated for completion in summer 2008, including an additional 27,000 square feet of convention and ballroom space. The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is also in the midst of a $300 million transformation. Its future plans call for the construction of the largest indoor waterpark in America.
Nearby Sparks is also growing with The Legends at the Sparks marina, an upcoming $400 million shopping and entertainment project.
Groups can hold events at the Nevada Museum of Art and National Automobile Museum.
Lake Tahoe
Millions make an annual pilgrimage to Lake Tahoe for it ski slopes, waterborne activities and sheer beauty.
“When you come up over the pass from the airport, your chin hits the ground in awe of the beauty,” says Paul Swanston, director of sales for the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, representing South Lake Tahoe.
Companies like Lake Tahoe Cruises ferry groups out on the water in private yachts or paddle-wheelers, while world-class resorts offer the allure of skiing right outside the door.
Both the North Shore and South Shore of Lake Tahoe are undergoing significant changes that will impact groups.
“The big buzz is our new hotel and convention center that has broken ground,” Swanston says of developments in South Lake Tahoe.
Chateau at Heavenly Village, part of a $420 million, 11.53-acre redevelopment project located at the base of Heavenly Mountain Resort, includes two condo-hotels and 71,000 square feet of function space, the majority of which will debut in winter 2009.
“The new happenings will open some doors for us,” Swanston says. “We can play on that next level as far as size. Right now we’re limited; we hit our peak at 1,000 attendees. Now we can truly think of citywide events for 2,000 to 4,000.”
Stateline is also home to the 440-room MontBleu Resort, Casino and Spa, with 16,000 square feet of meeting space.
On the tranquil North Shore, Crystal Bay is poised for a significant transformation. Earlier this year, development company Boulder Bay purchased the Tahoe Biltmore and the Crystal Bay Hotel, along with a large portion of land in the Crystal Bay region for $37 million. Plans include introducing a boutique casino hotel surrounded by a pedestrian village of shops and restaurants.
In addition, the Cal Neva Resort, Spa and Casino in Crystal Bay, which was once owned by Frank Sinatra, is scheduled to undergo a $60 million to $70 million restoration.
“It is really going to change that entire corridor,” says Bill Hoffman, executive director of the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau. “What we have is antiquated. It’s important to the meetings industry to all of a sudden have some superior facilities.”
Carson City
Former home of Mark Twain and current home to the Divine Nine—nine golf courses within 20 minutes of town—Nevada’s capital tempts visitors with its Wild West past and outdoor attractions.
“History and golf are the big draws for Carson City,” says Janet Jones, group sales manager for the Carson City CVB.
Downtown offers the Kit Carson Trail, a walking path through the city’s historic homes district. Just 15 miles away, the old mining town of Virginia City is home to the Nevada Gambling Museum, among other attractions.
The Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the Virginia & Truckee Railway is extending the original V&T Railway to complete the 21-mile route between Gold Hill and Carson City. The project is slated for completion in 2010. Currently the run stops at Virginia City.
Meetings-friendly options include the Carson City Plaza Hotel and the Gold Dust West Casino Hotel.
The historic Ormsby House hotel is set for a 2008 reopening following a $20 million overhaul.
Additionally, the 100-room Marriott Courtyard at Fandango is slated to debut early next year.
Elko
Surrounded by the Ruby Mountains, adventure seekers come to Elko for the hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
The Elko Convention Center is the destination’s largest group venue, with 50,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. In three years, the center will add another 80,000 square feet to its existing space, according to Tom Lester, tourism and convention manager for the Elko Convention and Visitors Authority.
Jacobs Entertainment opened the Gold Dust West Casino earlier this year, the first major casino to debut in Elko in 20 years.
The Northeast Nevada Museum, focusing on the region’s history, is open to groups, as is the Western Folklife Center, home to the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
For More Info
Carson City CVB 775.687.7410
www.visitcarsoncity.com
Elko Convention and Visitors Authority 775.738.4091
www.elkocva.com
Henderson Convention Center and Visitors Bureau 702.267.2171
www.visithenderson.com
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority 775.588.5900
www.bluelaketahoe.com
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority 702.892.0711
www.lvcva.com
Laughlin Visitors Bureau 702.298.3321
www.visitlaughlin.com
Nevada Commission on Tourism 775.687.4322
www.travelnevada.com
North Lake Tahoe Visitors and Convention Bureau 530.581.8703
www.gotahoenorth.com
Reno–Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority 775.827.7600
www.visitrenolaketahoe.com
