Bright flashing lights, the ringing of slot machines and all-night Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournaments are some of the first things that probably come to mind when thinking of gaming resorts.
The top gaming locations, however, boast all the bells and whistles— cutting-edge audiovisual equipment, sequestered meeting facilities and full-tilt team-building options that go above and beyond the gaming table—to provide planners with the tools to create an event that will “wow” attendees while strengthening their bonds, which is often the ultimate goal of any meeting.
The following is just a sampling of what top gaming resorts nationwide can do to bring attendees together at your next event.
What Happens in Vegas
Las Vegas is consistently ranked as one of the top meetings destinations in North America and is of course known for its numerous gaming resorts lining the Strip.
“Gaming resorts–in Las Vegas particularly–offer so many options all under one roof, and there is no better place to gather your team to lose their inhibitions and become a cohesive unit while experiencing any sort of team-building event that you can imagine,” says Mike Pistana, vice president of sales and marketing at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, which offers organized scavenger hunts throughout its property.
Circus Circus Hotel and Casino boasts what is possibly the largest variety of team-building activities of the MGM Resorts International properties in Vegas, due to its adjacent indoor Adventuredome Theme Park, where attendees can partake in blindfolded basketball shooting, bumper cars and laser tag.
The Bellagio’s group activities range from slot tournaments, in which participants slam the spin button as fast as they can to win prizes, to a personalized backstage tour of O by Cirque du Soleil.
Caesars is another gaming staple in the area, which incorporates CSR into its yearly meeting planner FAMS in Las Vegas; Atlantic City, N.J.; South Lake Tahoe, Nev.; and Tunica, Miss., and encourages visiting planners to provide the same opportunities to meeting attendees.
“Caesars works with so many nonprofit organizations, both nationally through The Caesars Foundation and locally in the communities in which our properties operate,” says Amy Allen, director of marketing at Caesars Entertainment Corporation. “This makes it really easy for us to guide our clients on the options available to them, and help facilitate those activities whether they take place on-property or on-site at the charity’s facility.”
Allen says that CSR-related events are among the most requested team-building activities across all of Caesars’ locations.
PageBreakThe Great Outdoors
At Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa., home to the Lady Luck Casino, gaming is just one of many options on an extensive list of what the resort can offer meeting attendees.
“Having a casino option at Nemacolin means that we are providing our corporate guests with another added resort amenity,” says Ashli Mazer, director of marketing for the property. “It provides our guests with a nightlife option and gives them more variety when planning their experience.”
However, after taking a look at Nemacolin’s website, planners will discover it’s home to an extensive list of outdoor team-building options, which range from the standard zip-line and ropes courses to more specialized activities like Special Ops Paintball and JEEP Off-Road Driving, which are cited as being great activities for group trust exercises.
“Nemacolin Woodlands Resort genuinely believes that groups of people will learn more about each other during an hour of team building or ‘play’ then they will in a year of office conversation,” Mazer says. “These resort amenities, while fun, get the focus off the stresses and work-related topics that consume a team’s day-to-day lives.”
Mazer adds that the resort likes to think of itself as “a 2,000-acre playground,” which also features the PGA Tour-tested Mystic Rock Golf Course in addition to a 35-station clay shooting facility and upland group bird hunts with experienced guides.
PageBreakGiving Back Is Big
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., may be the largest gaming facility in the Northeast, but beyond its assortment of slots and table games, there is an added emphasis on giving back to the community.
“One of my personal favorite activities we have hosted is the charity bike build, where teams work to assemble new children’s bikes in timed challenges, and at the end of the event–once all bikes are double-checked for security–they are presented to children from a local organization,” says Karen O’Connell, interim director of sales at Foxwoods. “The smiles and excitement from the kids just radiates to everyone in the room.”
O’Connell mentions the resort has previously held challenges in which groups build bookshelves and furniture for libraries, schools and other organizations. Foxwoods Resort has also worked with companies to assemble backpacks with school supplies and care packages for armed forces overseas.
Other team-building activities available at the resort include an “Amazing Place” scavenger hunt, “Chopped” culinary challenge or a private bowling tournament that can be set up at the Foxwoods’ 20-lane luxury bowling alley for a private event.
“There are so many different options available to groups right here on-property that they don’t even need to leave,” O’Connell says.
PageBreakGaming on the Beach
For those meeting planners looking to hold their next event in a location where attendees can really get away from it all, the Caribbean Islands provide a number of beachside gaming retreats.
Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is an all-inclusive resort that is an ideal setting for groups.
“At Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort we can create almost any type of team-building activity a group can dream up,” says Sergio Taveras, group sales executive at the resort. “We have a variety of special facilities on-site such as an 18-hole professional golf course and a casino that allows us to host a wide range of activities catering to all interests.”
Examples of group activities available at the resort include cigar-rolling lessons, group golf tournaments and Merengue or Bachata dance classes. Team-building excursions outside of the resort include rum distillery tours, cave spelunking adventures, private aerial helicopter tours and scuba diving.
Another casino resort option in the Caribbean is Atlantis Paradise Island, located on Paradise Island, The Bahamas. While Atlantis Casino offers plenty of indoor and outdoor gaming options, it too offers a number of team-building activities focused around the resort’s underwater theme.
“We are home to the largest collection of marine habitats and aquarium exhibits in the Caribbean and one of the largest in the world,” says Bill Coteron, vice president and general manager, conference services and banquet operations at the resort. “That gives us the opportunity to offer groups experiences they won’t find anywhere else.”
Atlantis group activities include The Dig (an underground exploration of the lost city of Atlantis, which can accommodate a keynote speaker), the Stingray Experience (which allows attendees to swim with stingrays) and Dolphin Cay (where meeting planners can use dolphin interaction as a team-building exercise).
