Timothy Arnold
Vice President, National Accounts; Hospitality Performance Network; Dallas
Describe your event. I have worked with several meetings in Las Vegas over the past year or so, ranging from 20 people to 1,000. The purposes varied by client. I have worked with Caesars Palace, Bellagio and Mandalay Bay.
Why did you decide to host the meeting in Las Vegas? Easy air access, incredible hotels with flexible meeting space and lots for attendees to do after-hours.
What surprised you the most about Las Vegas? The huge hotels can be very accommodating to smaller groups.
What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most? The thousands of dining, shopping and entertainment options that they have. There is truly something for everyone.
Was anybody particularly helpful? Lorena Rivera at Mandalay Bay, Liz Butters and Sandy Sutherland at Bellagio, and Lauren Arnold and Nick Meier at Caesars Palace. All of them are exceptional salespeople and do an incredible job getting the groups in the door.
Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand? Don’t schedule any crucial sessions in the morning.
What other types of groups would fit well in Las Vegas? Vegas has a hotel for every group, regardless of size or taste. From the non-gaming hotels, including the Embassy Suites or Westin Casuarina, to the mega hotels with 3,000-plus rooms, to some beautiful resorts off-Strip, including the M Resort Spa Casino, Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, all in Henderson, any group can find their niche and have a great meeting.
What were some of the unique off-site venues that you used? The shows in Las Vegas make for great group activities. Several groups I have worked with have gone to the shows—Lion King, Phantom of the Opera and Jersey Boys, to name a few—and seemed to really enjoy those. One group I worked with did a buyout of one of the nightclubs in the hotel, and their attendees really had a blast. Keeping it closer to the hotel, don’t overlook a poolside reception for the group. This can be an inexpensive way to get out of the meeting space, and it counts toward your F&B minimum.
Did you incorporate any interesting excursions into the agenda? Adding enough time to do a group outing to Hoover Dam is always a major treat and one I highly recommend. This is an engineering marvel, and soon you will no longer be able to drive on it.
How does Las Vegas compare to other cities where you have hosted meetings? There is always a lot of excitement around having a meeting in Las Vegas. Rates are now comparable to most other cities, and there are some great deals to be had right now. Hotels currently seem to be very hungry for business.
Would you return? Of course.
Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to Las Vegas? What happens in Vegas is typically a great meeting that your attendees will remember for years to come.