When a planner’s goal is making an unforgettable impression on a group, Las Vegas stands out with an unmatchable bounty of stupendous settings and experiences. Whether you’re on the lookout for over-the-top team building, dazzling dining or mind-blowing meeting space, this desert destination will never leave you high and dry.
“No other destination can offer the variety of group event possibilities like Las Vegas,” says Chris Meyer, vice president of global sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “From backstage tours of your favorite Cirque du Soleil show or a private sampling of cuisine at a celebrity chef-owned restaurant, to flying between hotel towers on a zipline, or watching dolphins in the desert. If a planner can dream it, they can find it in Las Vegas.”
Here’s a look at some of the most incredible offerings that Sin City has on tap for attendees, from jamming with rock stars to a private performance from one the most famed live acts in the world.
Dynamic District
As if Vegas didn’t have enough hubs of excitement, the new LINQ is slated to open soon as a dynamic one-stop setting at the heart of the Strip with singular nightlife, culinary and shopping elements.
“Planners can host anything from a semiprivate function at a restaurant to a buyout of an individual venue, or even buy out the entire LINQ for a large-scale event,” says Amy Allen, director of marketing for Caesars Entertainment, adding that the new mini-district will be augmented by the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel. The High Roller offers 28 cabins with the capacity for 40 attendees each, and the adjacent Wheel House venue boasts 2,500 square feet of event space. Functions can also be held in conjunction with the neighboring Harrah’s and Flamingo properties.
The Vortex, an adjoining architectural element with dramatic lighting elements, adds even more pizzazz to the setting. PageBreak
Rock (Your) Group
Got a group that’s ready to rock? Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp offers a Team Rock Stars corporate team-building program that dishes up some electrifying entertainment as well.
“After producing corporate events for the past 25 years, I have seen attendees watch the entertainment, half losing interest and half wishing they were part of the show,” says David Fishof, CEO of Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp. “I created Team Rock Stars to put excitement back into corporate events by allowing all participants to interact and collaborate with Rock Stars. There is nothing like seeing your timid employees transform into confident, creative leaders within hours. “
The concept, and execution, is simple. Attendees are broken into groups, with each group being supplied with a celebrity rock star leader (Roger Daltrey and Vince Neil are among recent participants). Working together, the team recreates a rock classic with new lyrics reflecting a company’s image and mission. When evening rolls around, the group performs their big hit—backed by rock stars—in front of their co-workers. Programs can engage groups of up to 400 ideally, and the fun can take place at Rock Camp’s headquarters just off the Strip or anywhere else in Vegas a planner chooses.
For something a bit less involved, MGM Resorts offers attendees the chance to play DJ at the miX Lounge atop Mandalay Bay. Perfect for smaller groups, the experience—part of MGM’s “M Life” array of uniquely personalized offerings—includes an hour of private training followed by 30 minutes of co-DJ’ing a set at the lively lounge, and the price tag includes VIP access for six with a reserved table and a select bottle to get your party started.
“The evening provides a unique bonding experience that the group likely will be talking about long after the night is over,” says Scott Voeller, an MGM Resorts spokesman.
Another ‘cool’ offering from the M Life umbrella is a private party at Minus5 at the Monte Carlo, where groups of four will receive a personalized ice sculpture, cocktails and fur coats for an hour of fun at the all-ice bar. Minus5 can also be bought out for an unforgettable group reception.
Scintillating Settings
Vegas is filled with offbeat and cutting-edge structures, but few can compare to the Frank Gehry-designed Keep Memory Alive Event Center, which also supports a memorable cause that adds deep meaning to any functions hosted on-site.
“The Keep Memory Alive Event Center not only has the biggest ‘wow’ factor of any event venue in Las Vegas due to the amazing Gehry architecture, but it also has a unique purpose and mission,” says David Watts, sales manager. “Event proceeds go to the treatment, research and clinical studies of neurological diseases at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. We host a myriad of different corporate events, galas, weddings, etc., and it is not brain science, but what is happening at the clinic in the adjacent building on campus surely is. Those hosting an event know that you are going to spend money—so doing it here also satisfies their desire to do something that counts and matters in the world.”
Among the fascinating interior facets of the snazzy steel structure are a Wolfgang Puck-designed kitchen, a 9,800-square-foot event area with a capacity for 1,500, and towering ceilings that add even more flair to an already electrifying setting.
Another superb setting awaits at The Cosmopolitan, which recently debuted The Chelsea, a 40,000-square-foot performance and event space with great flexibility. Aiming to reflect a deserted glass factory that has morphed into a functioning theater, The Chelsea can host everything from classroom-style affairs with a capacity for 900 to general sessions presented theater-style that can host more than 2,500.
Another new venue is the Havana Room, which debuted at the recently renovated Tropicana Las Vegas last August. Used exclusively for private events and showcasing a massive glimmering chandelier at its center, the space has a maximum capacity for just over 1,200 and can open out onto a luxurious private pool area to form a truly amazing indoor-outdoor oasis. PageBreak
Provocative Performances
Planning a reception and want to impress? LIGHT Nightclub at Mandalay Bay adds the pizzazz of a personalized Cirque du Soleil show to a party, which begins with eight performers strolling through the room and meeting attendees for 20 minutes. They then present three acts throughout the evening for the exclusive delight of your meeting group.
Another absolutely amazing option is taking your attendees to a performance by Blue Man Group, an indescribable evening of music, laughter and creativity. The group’s show at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino includes a hysterical look at the world of robots, a trip through the synapses of the human brain and plenty of interactive fun that gets the entire audience engaged and excited.
Fantastic Foodie Fun
While Vegas sizzles with dynamic and delicious dining options, it’s hard to imagine any more memorable than Picasso at the Bellagio, where guests can dine amid authentic masterpieces by the legendary Spaniard while feasting on French and Spanish fare from acclaimed Executive Chef Julian Serrano, a 13-time recipient of the AAA Five Diamond award. Outside seating is also a possibility, where stunning views of the Vegas Strip and the Bellagio’s Fountains add even more allure.
True foodies will also savor Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, showcasing the cuisine of one of the world’s most acclaimed chefs and featuring a magnificent setting of comfortable and colorful elegance that includes a massive living wall of vegetation. Mind-blowing group menus include a 16-course meal priced at $425 per diner, though far more affordable options are also on the table.
Planners can also create a memorable adventure out of the group’s meal with Dinner in the Sky Las Vegas, suspending an open-air table high above the strip from a 200-foot-tall tower and offering a deluxe three-course meal. The dynamic attraction has been offered in dozens of cities around the globe, but Vegas will mark its first permanent venue and will include a ground-level dining space with a capacity for groups of up to 800 upon its launch this spring.
For groups that might want to get hands-on with their culinary adventures, the Tuscany Kitchen at Bellagio is an exhibition cooking area designed specifically for meeting and event groups. The 1,170-square-foot space offers state-of-the-art culinary facilities in addition to top-tier technology and audiovisual, and can even be used to produce live cooking shows—or just video mementoes of your group’s experience. Anything from customized team-building cook-offs to chef demonstrations combined with cocktail receptions are possibilities. PageBreak
Lively Libations
Vegas nightlife options and famed watering holes are legendary, as is the city’s penchant for fabulously recreating iconic venues from around the world. One setting that ties together both these temptations is Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, a to-the-last-detail replica of the famed Hofbrauhaus in Munich, Germany. And while the boisterous beer hall is focused on making everyone “hoppy,” the fare is as truly Bavarian as the setting.
“The authentic food is prepared according to original German recipes, offering our guests a truly one-of-a-kind experience unlike anything else this city has to offer,” says Tony Sinzger, the venue’s vice president. “Our traditional Beer Hall is always bursting with nightly live entertainment that we bring straight from Germany or Austria every month, and our stein-holding contests are a great way for people to test out their competitive skills. Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, with its Main Hall, Schwemme, and fully climate-controlled Biergarten, is also an ideal place for large parties and can accommodate up to 1,000 people, so the more the merrier!”
Another prime possibility for group evening fun is the impressive Hakkasan Las Vegas at the MGM Resort, a remarkable five-level venue with a variety of nightclub, dining and event spaces sprawling across 80,000 square feet. The various spaces can be used as separate event areas or meshed into one massive setting, and can host groups ranging in size from 75 to 3,600.
Stupendous Shopping
For groups seeking remarkable retail experiences, The Shops at Crystals is a 500,000-square-foot bastion of spectacular stores—plus plenty of dining and other diversions—by the entrance to CityCenter.
While it’s an ideal locale to let a group shop till they drop on their own, special events can also be arranged to optimize the fun. Private shopping tours can include drinks and appetizers, according to Sandy Zanella, public relations director for MGM Resorts International, and exclusive in-store celebrations are easily arranged.
Style-conscious attendees can even enjoy a private luncheon and fashion show—looking at the latest trends, getting tips on dressing for their specific body type, and potentially even receiving exclusive deals and keepsake gifts.
