With a hospitality empire that stretches across the nation, encompassing 40 gaming destination properties and all the top-shelf accoutrements that entails, Caesars Entertainment knows how to stage an event. Its late April press trip leading up to the 10th annual Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appetite culinary fete showed off this capability from soup to nuts.
Meetings Today was one of a few meetings industry trade publications to hit this jackpot of press trips—and even got to film an Executive Insights interview with Michael Massari, Caesars Entertainment’s senior vice president of national meetings—that was a 12-course affair that would make an English baroness blush.
The proceedings started at McCarran Airport, where Caesars’ fleet of stretch limos was pressed into duty shuttling new arrivals to Caesars Palace, where Diamond Club check-in to the newly renovated Julius Tower rooms ironed out any seams that could be presented by the high-volume main entrance check-in desk.
The first course was a meal at the new MR CHOW (max. cap. 250), a decidedly heavenly affair—the overwhelmingly white decor provided an atmospheric aura—that opened with a champagne trolley selection and commenced with family-style signature dishes that are setting trends in Chinese-style fine dining. The on-duty manager even rigged the centerpiece kinetic sculpture to do its thing on demand during the meal—don’t tell anyone there’s a secret switch!
Next up was a performance by Sir Elton John, playing his “Million-dollar Piano” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Besides the undeniable virtuosity of the hit-making rock legend—who even invited the audience up on stage to rock out with him near the end of the show—the sound, lighting and especially the video effects were phenomenal, serving to bring a historical context to the artist’s catalogue and providing accents that drove home the emotional peaks of John’s long career.
The third course found our group enjoying breakfast at GIADA (max. cap. 200) at the Cromwell Las Vegas. The first restaurant of Emmy Award-winning celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, the venue boasts views of Bellagio’s famed fountains and the Romanesque grounds of Caesars Palace across the Strip. Serving Italian cuisine informed by California influences, the award-winning GIADA offers an excellent option for groups to hold a dinner that immerses participants in the signature views of Vegas.
The group then took a short trot down the boulevard to tour The Vortex at The LINQ Hotel & Casino. Beckoning visitors with its swirling light display, this 7,000-square-foot venue offers a second-story deck with panoramic views of the Strip on one side and a glimpse of the High Roller observation wheel in the back. An indoor space is also in the offing.
Next on the agenda was Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub (max. cap. 4,500), which proudly showcases its love of live music—some may lament that Vegas has been taken over by DJs!—and provides a multilevel expanse that can accommodate the needs of any group, including cabanas that are ripe for sponsorship opportunities and a pool area and hot tub that overlook the prime area of the Strip.
Not forced to go hungry, we next visited Mesa Grill (max. cap. 300) at Caesars Palace, where Southwestern cuisine is served in a convenient location just off the casino floor.
The seventh course found the group really getting a prime Las Vegas view, at 550 feet, courtesy of the High Roller observation wheel—the world’s tallest—with a dedicated bartender slaking our thirst in a 40-person pod during the 30-minute rotation.
The cuisine highlights continued with a tour of Hexx Kitchen + Bar at Paris Las Vegas, where a chocolate confectionery kitchen demonstration unfolded, followed by a sumptuous Strip-side dinner.
After breakfast at Caesars Palace’s Payard Patisserie & Bistro, the 10th course unfolded even higher in the sky above Las Vegas, with a Maverick Helicopters flight to nearby Hoover Dam and a run down the Strip. A truly breathtaking experience for groups of up to 500-plus in its fresh fleet of 47 copters, the whole event unfolded in about an hour, given the efficiency of the pre-flight process and location near the Strip. Groups should schedule in about four hours, including hotel pickup and drop-off.
Leading up to the end of the program, the 11th course entailed boarding limos for a drive to the Caesars-owned Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, where groups have the option of lessons from one of the top staffs in the world at the Butch Harmon School of Golf.
And the final course? The gastronomic grandeur of the Grand Tasting in Caesars Palace’s Garden of the Gods!
CONTACT INFO
Caesars Means Business
www.caesarmeansbusiness.com
