While officially closing its doors in May 2015, the Riviera Hotel & Casino, which opened in 1955 as the Strip’s first high-rise, has not gone down without a fight. In recent months, the “Riv,” its six-decade legend fashioned by the likes of Liberace, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, who once greeted high-rollers in the “Dino Den” bar, has been used by the FBI, K-9 teams and area firefighters for high-rise training exercises.
In late April, however, wrecking crews began tearing down the Riviera’s convention center and other low-level buildings. With the Riviera’s Monte Carlo and Monaco towers reportedly scheduled for implosion this month and August, respectively, the 26-acre site is destined for a new action role in the proposed $2.3 billion Las Vegas Global Business District.
The Riviera site is being prepared to be used in 2017 as extra outdoor exhibition space by CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the international tradeshow for the construction and concrete industries, and Las Vegas’ largest event by exhibit space. The cleared site will then be developed to extend the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The current plan calls for a new 600,000-square-foot exhibition hall interconnected with existing LVCC halls, with a new main entrance on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Additionally, the Global District Plan calls for multimodal, destination-wide transportation upgrades to meet the continuing rise in conventioneers, delegates and other visitors.
To paraphrase the late Hal Rothman, renowned chair of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ History Department and foremost Vegas expert, the destination, forever “enticed by tomorrow,” is making a number of muscular moves to protect and perpetuate its convention future.
Magic Moments
Las Vegas boasts three of the Top 10 Tier 1 convention centers in the nation, or those offering more than 1 million square feet of prime exhibit space. Along with the LVCC, this group, known as the Millionaire’s Club, includes the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, paired with the attached 272-room Venetian and Palazzo Congress Center.
Yet, even with close to 11 million square feet of total space at these and other properties, the city is bursting at the seams. In fact, The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), owner and producer of CES, the city’s largest overall show, has capped attendance at 175,000 for its 2016 and 2017 shows, due to the lack of present expansion options in Las Vegas (see Zoom In, this page).
Ahead of the LVCC expansion, Mandalay Bay, also responding to customer demand for more space, commenced a $70 million convention center expansion in October 2014. Among those customers was long-time client MAGIC, the world’s largest fashion marketplace for men’s and women’s apparel, footwear, sourcing and more.
Tony Calanca, executive vice president of exhibitions for UBM ADVANSTAR, the show’s producer, recalls the conversation around that time.
“They counseled with us on the project, including timetables,” he says. “One day after, we asked if they could move up the schedule for our show, they said yes,” Calanca says. “They build fast in Las Vegas, and delivered on time, providing us with the 60,000 square feet we needed to grow.”
With MAGIC christening the space, the first phase introduced a 350,000-square-foot expansion, new 20,000-square-foot foyer and underground parking. With the final phase, unveiled in January 2016, adding the 70,000-square-foot Oceanside Ballroom, total space at the venue now exceeds 2 million square feet, including 900,000 square feet of exhibit space, cementing its place as No. 5 in North America in both total square feet and exhibit space.
“Las Vegas continues to evolve as a meetings destination and this development solidifies Mandalay Bay as a top choice for corporate groups and tradeshows of all sizes,” says Stephanie Glanzer, vice president of sales for Mandalay Bay and Delano Las Vegas.
“In addition to enabling our current clients to grow with us and develop larger events, the additional space and flexibility allows us to attract new business to Las Vegas,” she continues. “With numerous meeting spaces as well as a wide variety of hotel, dining and entertainment options all under one roof, we do ‘large’ well but we equally excel at small meetings and group events. Many people are surprised to learn that small groups are a large portion of our business, and we have a dedicated team focused on providing top-level service for all their needs.”
Concluding an approximately $100 million remodel that began in 2015, Mandalay Bay has also completed its resort-wide remodel of more than 3,000 guest rooms and suites.
“The rule of thumb in the tradeshow business is to take the sellers to where the buyers are,” Calanca says. “From great hotel rooms to incredible food and entertainment options, Las Vegas offers many things, and our people know they will have fun there. That said, our view of a destination’s value is entirely agnostic. Our purpose is to do business, and that’s why we choose Las Vegas—because it’s good for business.”
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On Target
Facility upgrades, such as the $37 million recently invested by the LEED Gold-certified Sands Expo and Convention Center in redesigning and reconfiguring its lobby with new escalators, Wi-Fi hotspots, food outlets, digital signage and other amenities, resonate profitably with customers. Hosting some 25 of the world’s 200 largest conventions, Sands counts CES, IMEX America and the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, or SHOT Show, among its biggest clients.
Owned by the Connecticut-based National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the SHOT Show is the world’s largest tradeshow for professionals in the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries. Attracting a record 67,000 attendees in 2014, NSSF cited Sands’ commitment of “millions of dollars evolving the venue in order to meet SHOT Show’s needs and to make our attendees feel welcome” as one reason it chose to extend the show until 2018.
Opened in 2009, the convention center at the AAA Five Diamond ARIA Resort & Casino was an instant hit, offering 300,000 square feet of versatile, naturally lit space.
“We have continued to experience growing demand since our doors opened, especially in corporate and technology business,” says Tony Yousfi, ARIA’s vice president of sales. “In fact, we have more meetings on the books for this July and August than any other year.”
Scheduled to have commenced last month with anticipated completion in February 2018—or earlier, in time for CES that year—ARIA is expanding the award-winning LEED Gold-certified venue by 200,000 square feet.
“As we look ahead and prepare for the future, the $154 million project will enhance the technologically advanced, flexible meeting space across four stories, highlighted by stunning indoor and open-air spaces and a glass-enclosed venue with dramatic views of The Park and spectacular new T-Mobile Arena,” Yousfi says. “With the completion of the expansion, ARIA will feature more than 500,000 square feet and strengthen our position as one of North America’s premier destinations for large-scale meetings and events.”
The new convention space will maintain MGM Resorts International’s commitment to build all new venues to LEED Gold standards or better, creating one of the most expansive high-end, environmentally friendly meeting facilities in the world. ARIA has integrated environmentally responsible practices and services for all meetings, conventions and events, earning it a prestigious five keys from Green Key Global’s Eco-Rating Program.
Convention City
Beyond ARIA and the big three, the Las Vegas convention campus extends in all directions. From Bellagio’s magnificent ballrooms and 100,000 square feet of recently upgraded space at the Tropicana Las Vegas–a DoubleTree by Hilton, the Strip runs with options.
Featuring 4,400 guest rooms, including 487 suites, Luxor hotel and casino offers 20,000 square feet of customizable space for groups of 20 to 1,000, including the spacious Egyptian Ballroom. With its sleek black pyramid shape and light beam projecting into the sky at night, Luxor also offers 7,000 square feet of unconventional space, such as the Oasis Pool, featuring an expansive deck and 15 private cabanas.
Off-Strip standouts, meanwhile, include the award-winning 390-room M Resort, Spa & Casino, sister to Tropicana Las Vegas, under the Penn National Gaming umbrella.
With the advantage of sitting 400 feet higher in elevation than other Vegas resort-casinos, the property offers singular Strip views from LUX, its dedicated 16th floor event space, along with more than 92,000 square feet of meeting space and the 100,000-square-foot Villaggio Del Sole pool and entertainment deck.
Featuring 2,079 rooms and 165,000 square feet of meeting, function and exhibit space just 10 minutes south of the Strip, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa’s unique appeal includes its 4,400-seat Equestrian Arena. Attached to South Point’s 80,000-square-foot exhibit hall, it’s the only facility of its kind in Las Vegas.
Located on West Flamingo Road parallel to the Strip across the Las Vegas Freeway, the Palms Casino Resort and contemporary non-gaming boutique Palms Place Hotel and Spa are group coordinates with their own distinct personalities. Comprising three towers and offering more than 1,200 guest rooms in a mix of styles, including the celebrated Fantasy Suites, the lifestyle-oriented Palms caters to groups and business customers with over 60,000 square feet of versatile conference space. Accommodating groups from five to 5,000, facilities include the multifunctional Pearl Theater as well as 20,000 square feet of connected ballroom and breakout space.
