"The Biggest Little City in the World" has blossomed into an event destination that is becoming impossible for meeting planners to resist.
World-class casino hotels, a burgeoning culinary scene and a welcoming Riverwalk District along the mighty Truckee are just a sampling of the draws—with its accessibility and affordability providing some enticing intangibles.
"The value and variety is what surprises most people about Reno-Tahoe," says John Leinen, vice president of convention and tourism sales for the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA). "This destination is very well-rounded; it holds 290 days of special events each year, so there is almost always an exciting event in town."
As expected, many of these doings take place at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, a 500,000-square-foot hotbed of meetings and events, or the 118,000-square-foot Reno Events Center. But a vast variety of other venues await as well, from the National Bowling Stadium to the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, which has Reno rollicking every summer with its annual rodeo. These four venues are among a number of facilities owned and operated by the RSCVA, an operating model allowing for more flexibility with large groups, dining options and other planning factors.
While gambling is still alive and thriving, the city's major casinos—much like their Vegas counterparts—have evolved into all-purpose enclaves sure to entertain, even if you can't tell a poker chip from a potato chip. Their evolution has also included a huge focus on meeting and event space, and recent developments at some of the main players reflect the aggressive forward movement of the area.
"In recent years, over $1 billion has been spent to make Reno-Tahoe a great destination for any traveler," Leinen says. "From hotel partners who've remodeled and expanded their meeting facilities, including major technology upgrades to match competing destinations, to the millions of dollars spent on Wingfield Park in downtown Reno, this destination has made a commitment to create an enjoyable experience for everyone. If you haven't seen Reno-Tahoe in the past three years, than you really haven't seen what this destination has to offer."
To that end, numerous properties have undergone major upgrades. The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino is the recent recipient of a $400 million makeover poured into greening the property, adding an all-new, two-story executive boardroom and constructing the gleaming new Tuscany Tower and its 600 suites. Atlantis Casino Resort has also significantly enhanced offerings, spending $100 million to add rooms with free Wi-Fi, an executive boardroom, two dining options and a sports book and lounge. The Silver Legacy Resort Casino invested $15 million on a renovation of its 1,700 guest rooms and suites. Meanwhile, the Siena Hotel Spa Casino reopened in April following a major facelift. The entire property has been completely made over, resulting in a stylish oasis of cutting-edge design and lush pampering.
But Reno's revolution goes well beyond the world-class casino hotel scene, including plenty of possibilities for fresh-air fun.
"Reno has a new baseball stadium downtown within easy walking distance from any of the downtown hotels," says Bethany Drysdale, director of public relations for Travel Nevada, referring to Aces Ballpark, which opened in 2009 as the home field for the Arizona Diamondback Triple-A-affiliate Reno Aces. "It's a great place to hold a special event or reward conference attendees with tickets to a game."
While plenty of small cities may boast minor-league ball, a connecting development known as the Freight House District takes the experience to the next stage. Based on the second level of the stadium's plaza with views of the field, the complex is a handsome hive of activity that includes restaurants, bars and frequent live music events during the summer.
Pro basketball is on tap in Reno now as well, with the Bighorns of the NBA's Developmental League now entering their fourth season of play. With the Reno Events Center serving as the Bighorns' home arena, plenty of spaces are conveniently available for groups wanting to hold a pre- or post-game function. Led by former NBA head coach Eric Musselman, the team is one of the best in the high-flying D-league.
Additionally, golfing remains a top standby, with 50 courses within a 90-minute drive, including the heralded Thunder Canyon Golf Course just south of Reno. The course was recently named the best in Nevada and second-best in the entire nation by the National Golf Course Owners Association.
Drysdale also praises the Truckee River Whitewater Park in downtown Reno, where a rafting and kayaking concessionaire enables groups to sign up for rafting trips that end in downtown—within walking distance of their hotels. The setting also shows off 11 kayaking pools for all skill levels and has a neighboring amphitheater and plaza that serve as frequent hosts for celebrations and events of every kind.
"Without a doubt, Whitewater Park has changed the face and character of the city," Drysdale says. "It welcomed the outdoors back, and since its completion about eight years ago, downtown has become a lively, artsy, active place. There are new restaurants and bars and lots of locally owned shops."
Another upcoming development that is sure to give downtown Reno an added boost is CommRow (short for Commercial Row), set for a September launch. The 16-story "urban adventure destination" on the site of the old Fitzgerald's Casino will feature 11 culinary offerings, event space that includes two live performance venues and a state-of-the-art climbing facility that will grab plenty of attention via the world's tallest climbing wall's prominent position on its exterior facade. A hotel with more than 100 guest rooms will also be added in several months.
The dynamic growth isn't limited to Reno proper, with neighboring Sparks also seeing plenty of activity—including the recently added Outlet at Legends Mall, ripe with group opportunities focused on casual dining and diversions. Among the drinking and dining options at the development are a BJs Brewery, Grimaldi's and Fuddruckers—the latter boasting an excellent private room for a lively group gathering.
Among the meetings-friendly properties in Sparks are John Ascuaga's Nugget, with 110,000 square feet of meeting space and more than 1,500 guest rooms divided between two prominent towers. Smaller groups might consider the Fairfield Inn & Suites Reno Sparks, with 65 guest rooms and a 725-square-foot meeting room.
Regardless of group size, planners will be pleased by the low cost and surprising simplicity of doing business in the region.
"Our sales team regularly hears from meeting planners who say the ease of doing business in this region is unparalleled—from the cohesive management practices in place throughout RSCVA-operated facilities to working with the region's cooperative hotel partners," says the association's Leinen. "RSCVA clients also say they've realized a savings of 30 to 35 percent when comparing the food and beverage offerings in Reno-Tahoe to other destinations."
Tempting Tahoe
"So near and yet so far" might be a worn-out cliche, but it applies perfectly to the beckoning Lake Tahoe area, which lies less than an hour's drive southwest—but a world apart—from Reno. With its bevy of natural wonders and endless gamut of outdoor adventures, Tahoe is a true temptation, whether you're seeking a full-fledged event destination or just awesome off-site excitement for your Reno agenda.
Jason Neary, director of conference sales for the North Lake Tahoe Visitors and Convention Bureau, sums it up succinctly.
"Lake Tahoe's affordable meeting facilities are as varied and unique as the surrounding High Sierra terrain and offer up everything from intimate, small boardroom spaces to timber-lined meeting rooms to upscale ballrooms that fit hundreds," Neary says. "It's also an ideal venue for groups in Reno wanting to meet and dine off-site, especially with Tahoe's high-end cuisine and unparalleled views of the country's largest alpine lake."
Travel Nevada's Drysdale says Tahoe offers a plethora of fun things to do in an afternoon or after meetings. She specifically recommends a jaunt on the water aboard the M.S. Dixie paddlewheel boat (out of Zephyr Cove Resort on the South Shore), or taking the Gondola at Heavenly for skiing or viewing the superb scenery.
"In the summer it's the best sightseeing ride at Lake Tahoe," she says.
Groups might also enjoy catching the newest outdoor wave to make a splash on the lake: stand-up paddle boarding, where participants stand aboard an extended surfboard of sorts, using a long paddle as a guide and propellant.
Kings Beach, on the north shore, is a hub of these stand-up sojourns. Sometimes referred to as Lake Tahoe's "banana belt" due to its long, sunny days, the community is home to outfitter Tahoe Paddle & Oar and will also host the 2011 Quiksilver Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand-Up Paddle Classic Aug. 13-14, which will include competitions for various ages and skill levels.
New to the event this year is the Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand Up Paddleboard Experience, where beginners will learn how to paddle from an experienced instructor and then join them on a guided tour. A $30 per-person fee includes a demo board, paddle instruction, guided tour and lunch.
Capitalizing on Carson City
Nevada's cozy capital is another nearby option that can hold its own as a meetings destination or serve as a superb side trip. Less than a 45-minute drive south of Reno, the Western-flavored community offers the charms of the region's yesteryear without short-changing planners on the lookout for modern facilities and comfort.
Among the top meetings properties in the small city of about 50,000 are the Carson Nugget Casino, Casino Fandango and the Gold Dust West Hotel and Casino. The newest non-gaming facility is the Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, with 168 guest rooms and a stand-alone conference center offering about 4,000 square feet of function space.
An outdoorsy alternative to Carson City is the adjoining Carson Valley, a rural retreat encompassing little towns like Minden, Gardnerville and Genoa. The region is rich with fishing, hiking and rafting opportunities, and for something a bit different there are two options for clay shooting: the Walker River Resort and Carson Valley Clays.
Meetings properties include the Carson Valley Inn, which has undergone more than $12 million in upgrades over the past 18 months after being purchased by new ownership in January 2010. The inn features 227 guest rooms, a substantial casino and about 5,000 square feet of function space.
