Smart Meetings

When Howard presented the verdict to her boss, however, his response was less than enthusiastic. “I’d call it an ‘I-don’t-think-so face,’” she recalls. “His concern was that we’d put together a great agenda with goals we needed to accomplish, and people’s minds wouldn’t be on the meeting. It would be on wanting to gamble.’”

Howard poked around a bit and, with the help of a site-selection company, found out about Lake Las Vegas, a resort area built around a manmade lake about 17 miles from the Vegas Strip, en route to Lake Mead. She honed in on The Ritz-Carlton, a luxurious property with an Italian theme, with golf, swimming, shopping and even its own version of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, just like the one in Florence, Italy, but on the edge of the Mojave Desert.
“It had ‘Ritz’ all over it, without making you feel like it was stuffy,” she says. “It didn’t have all the noise and distractions of  The Strip, but there was a casino, in case people wanted to gamble at night.”

Then, over the next few days, interspersed with two half-day meetings, the group’s attendees had the chance to go kayaking or bass and carp fishing on the lake, or venture into the desert on horseback (assuming they weren’t booked for a golf tee time or facial at the spa).

The group didn’t even take advantage of other activities dreamed up by The Ritz team just for groups, everything from painting, cooking and floral-arrangement classes to pre-planned team-building activities like “C.S.I.,” in which groups work together to solve crimes based on “evidence” at various set-up crime scenes, or “Catch Me If You Can,” a scavenger hunt through the desert followed by a poker tournament.

“We had one person who rented a Harley and did some of his own touring,” says Howard. “One group went to the Hoover Dam. Another man did the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Another group went mountain biking. And there was still a casino nearby, in case people did want to do some gambling at night.”

In the end, Howard says, no one left disappointed. “It was Las Vegas, but it was different,” she recalls. “And a good half of our group extended their stays and went to The Strip for a little vacation.”

Lake Las Vegas embodies perfectly what is so strange—and strangely alluring—about the state of Nevada. The “oasis effect” that first spawned Las Vegas is spreading to new areas all the time, as hospitality companies realize the possibilities and the value of serving up all the Nevada fun-and-sun without quite as many “what happens here, stays here” temptations.

“‘Neon and nature’ is a slogan we use to describe the contrast here,” says Chris Chrystal, spokesperson for the Nevada Commission on Tourism. “They’re intertwined. You’ve got this vast, sparsely populated expanse of nature out there, and you’ve got towns popping up throughout the state that are centers of hospitality and activity.”

Of course, there is always the possibility of sending a group to the in-between spaces, the authentic Old-West, rip-snortin’ Nevada. But the truth of the matter is, what most groups really want is the unreal Nevada, where they can play golf and hang out by the pool, maybe indulge a bit in the state’s legalized pleasures, all while basking in the warm desert sun. Give them that much, and the meeting will almost certainly be hailed
a winner.

OVERVIEW
In case you’ve forgotten, Nevada is that massive state smack-dab in the middle of the American West, bordering no fewer than five states. The state’s largest city by far is Las Vegas, located in the southwest corner, about 3–4 hours from Los Angeles by car. The largest city outside the Las Vegas area is Reno, in central western Nevada, about four hours from the San Francisco Bay Area. The state capital, Carson City, is located about a half hour south of Reno. Other smaller cities dot the state, though for the most part, human beings are few and far between.
The possibilities for holding a meeting in Nevada are as vast as the state itself. “We have huge world-class convention centers, and we have boutique-style, friendly accommodations for smaller gatherings,” says Chrystal. “You can either meet in the glitz of a place like Las Vegas, or you can meet in a rural community with a lot of Western charm, like Elko or Ely. Nearly every hotel in Nevada has meetings facilities.”

So what separates the state from, say, Arizona or Wyoming? The most obvious answer is, of course, legalized gaming. But beyond just the fun of playing cards, craps or slots, properties with casinos also offer other advantages to groups.

“A good reason for choosing Nevada for a meeting is our 24-hour lifestyle,” explains Chrystal. “Groups can focus on their business in the day, and all that dining, entertainment and shopping is not going to be closed when they finish their business. Even in the smaller towns, when you finish your business meeting, there are things open all night.”

Nevada properties also tend to offer value, as properties assume they’ll make some of the discounts back in the casinos. As a result, the classic “golf, pool and spa” experience can be found at relatively low prices in many places. Sure, Las Vegas has some high-end properties where you’ll be lucky to get in for less than $250 per night, but it also has oodles of rooms right along The Strip, in properties often no more expensive than your local Holiday Inn. And that Oasis Resort out in Mesquite offers weekday rates of $99 for two nights, including either two rounds of golf or two spa treatments.

Best of all, planning a meeting in Nevada tends to be as easy as pie: most hotels bend over backward for the business, and because of all the built-in entertainments, the less a meeting planner plans, the happier people seem to be. Most hotels are completely self-contained amusement centers, with world-class restaurants, entertainers and plenty of meeting space—not to mention countless spas, pools, bars, lounges and other see-and-be-seen scenes.
While getting to each oasis usually requires a flight, Nevada has more than 20 airports, including McCarran Airport in Las Vegas and the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. It’s those expanses that are the reason so many medium-sized towns have their own airport. For information about the state as a whole, contact the Nevada Commission on Tourism (travelnevada.com).

MAJOR OASES

LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas, the mother of all oases in the desert, continues to outdo itself—and that is not an easy task. Fueled by the arrival of about 100,000 visitors every day on average, the city is a well-oiled (if sometimes jam-packed) tourism and convention machine. Hotels, taxis and other service providers roll out the carpet for the mightiest of business groups (often several at the same time), then turn on a dime to greet giddy hordes of weekend partiers.
By all measures, the Las Vegas meetings business is booming. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Association (LVCVA; lvcva.org), about 16 percent of the city’s 38.9 million visitors came to the city for business, so it’s no surprise that the hotels are offering better service all the time.

While it certainly helps that Vegas is home to several of the largest convention centers in America, small groups actually make up the majority of its groups. The city hosts more than 22,000 meetings each year, and more than two-thirds of those are small business meetings, according to the LVCVA.

The first reason, as the folks from Acorda found out, is that people absolutely love to go there. Vegas is highly accessible by air. And when it comes to planning, you certainly don’t have to look very hard to find meeting or event space there. Nearly every hotel in town has at least one ballroom, and most have several dozen fantastic, well-equipped meeting and convention spaces. For the very largest groups, the Las Vegas Convention Center (lvcva.com), Mandalay Bay Convention Center (mandalaybayconventions.com) and Sands Expo and Convention Center (sandsexpo.com) all have meeting space with square feet counted in the millions. To learn more about Vegas, see lvcva.org; vegas.com; or visitlasvegas.com.

RENO/LAKE TAHOE
The “Biggest Little City in the World” may soon have to change its slogan: Reno ain’t so little anymore. Much like Las Vegas, Reno has grown in recent years, not just in size, but also in style. Slowly but surely, Reno is following in the footsteps of its bigger brother to the south, replacing its rough-around-the-edges, “Vegas in the ’70s” vibe with more upscale amenities and a more subdued, sophisticated feel.

As Knud Svendsen, vice president of sales and marketing for the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority says, “Reno-Tahoe is in the midst of an ambitious renaissance making Reno-Tahoe even more appealing, on every level, for groups.” Commenting on the number of new projects underway, he adds, “Many of our major hotel casinos are reinvesting in their properties to provide travelers with more upscale options and newly renovated accommodations.”

For example, the Peppermill Hotel, located across from the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, is developing all-suite rooms with a Tuscan theme, and adding 62,000 sq. ft. of clear-span convention space. The Grand Sierra Resort (formerly the Reno Hilton) is undergoing a $300-million renovation, with two new Charlie Palmer restaurants, not to mention a new infinity pool and a spa. Even the El Dorado has updated the coloring of its rooms from mauve to earth tones.

Other parts of Reno are changing as well, which is more great news for meeting planners. Recent months have seen the rapid development of the Truckee River Arts District, along the river’s banks, home to a growing number of galleries, boutique shops, and lounges and bars that can be used for receptions or after-hours functions. (The District is within walking distance of the downtown core.)

With 1.2 million sq. ft. of meeting space (and growing), Reno is more than capable of handling groups of any size. To get started, visit the Web site of the RSCVA (visitrenotahoe.com), which has a cool guide for planners with tons of useful information. Conveniently, the RSCVA also manages several facilities for groups looking to get out of their hotel for a gathering.

The Reno-Sparks Convention Center (visitrenotahoe.com/facilities/reno_sparks_cc/) offers more than 565,000 sq. ft. of exhibition and meeting space. The Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (visitrenotahoe.com/facilities/reno_livestock/) has 35,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a climate-controlled indoor arena with seating for 6,200 and a lighted outdoor arena seating 9,000. Reno has a variety of interesting event spaces, including the National Bowling Stadium (the “Taj Mahal of Ten Pins”; visitrenotahoe.com/facilities/national_bowling) and the National Automobile Museum (automuseum.org), which presents cars from bygone years within studio-like replicas of old city streets from the past.

Reno also stands out for its quick access to Lake Tahoe and its many natural play areas. The North Shore of Lake Tahoe (North Lake Tahoe Resort Association; puretahoenorth.com) is just 20–30 minutes away; the South Shore (Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority; bluelaketahoe.com) has its own small airport. Tahoe is home to major casino properties like Harrah’s/Harveys, as well as smaller hotels and condominium complexes located all around the lake. In the winter, Tahoe area’s 18 ski resorts (and seven cross-country resorts) are a natural destination for a business retreat.

LAUGHLIN
Located along the Colorado River about 90 miles south of Las Vegas (across the banks from Arizona), the town of Laughlin sees about four million visitors every year. Laughlin is an oasis in its own right, with on-site golf and swimming pools, but it also doubles as a gateway to nearby Lake Mohave, Lake Mead, Lake Havasu and the Colorado River itself, all of which offer a chance to go boating, fishing and water skiing.

Laughlin has about 11,000 rooms (mostly in large casino hotels), as well as multiple golf courses and regular appearances by entertainers. Many folks staying in town take at least one trip on a river tour boat, which can be chartered for an unusual meeting or special event. For more information, contact the Laughlin Visitors Bureau (visitlaughlin.com) or see lvcva.org.

NEWEST OASES

LAKE LAS VEGAS
Each of Nevada’s newbies is a blank slate, leaving only a planner’s imagination to fill in the gaps. Lake Las Vegas is just one of several upstart, self-contained oasis resorts that have emerged like a mirage of someplace else in recent years. The 320-acre manmade lake, the largest privately-owned expanse of water in the U.S., provides calming views of gondolas from the two luxurious hotels, and a village that encompasses retail, condos and restaurants along its shores—all in Northern Italian style.

On their first night at The Ritz, for example, the Acorda folks were welcomed with a Northern Italian-themed dinner at the property’s Florentine garden, a nearly exact replica of the Italian original. (How exact? The sand on the paths was brought in from Florence.) Likewise both Lake Las Vegas’ MonteLago Village Resort and Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort transport guests to the Italian Lake District that happens to be in the desert.

SUMMERLIN AND MESQUITE
The area known as Summerlin, west of Las Vegas, has a stunning JW Marriott (with spa and golf course), as well as the still-new Red Rock Casino Resort, operated by Station Casinos. The city of Mesquite, about an hour outside of Las Vegas, was originally developed as a first-stop on the border with Utah; it has since grown to encompass multiple golf courses, a bowling alley, skeet-shooting range and more. Mesquite even has a 950-room property literally named The Oasis Resort and the Arnold Palmer-designed Oasis golf course.

VINTAGE OASES

CARSON CITY
Located about 30 miles from Reno, Carson City is Nevada’s state capital; the town has a friendly “frontier” atmosphere, but also has a solid infrastructure for group gatherings, with more than 1,700 hotel rooms. For a good introduction, contact the Carson City Convention Bureau (carson-city.org) or check out all the information at visitcarsoncity.com.

Of course, for the oasis crowd, Carson City is known for its Divine Nine, nine different golf courses. Following Reno’s lead, Carson City is also boosting its adventure/eco-travel business, including river rafting, an ever-popular group pastime. “We’re working on developing the Carson River for white-water rafting and other river recreation, and we’re creating an aquatic trail along the river,” says the Nevada tourism commission’s Chrystal. “There are 12 miles of rivers there, with both placid and some pretty adventurous rapids.”

Not far from Carson City is Virginia City, a preserved 19th-century silver-mining town. Among its western-style saloons and gun fight spots are several interesting spaces that could be used for meetings or events. Contact the Virginia City Convention and Tourism Authority through virginiacity-nv.com.

ELKO
The heart of Nevada’s Cowboy Country is the city of Elko, which is increasingly an oasis destination in its own right, offering ATV trips, gold-mining tours, mountain biking, horseback riding, dude ranches, historic tours, fishing and snowmobiling. Elko has 2,000 hotel rooms and more than 50 restaurants, as well as a regional airport served by direct flights from Las Vegas, Reno and Salt Lake City.

To get started, contact the Elko Convention & Visitors Authority (elkocva.com) or check out the local tourism office (elkonevada.com). The main meeting site in town is the Elko Convention Center (elkocva.com), which has multiple meeting rooms, including a 923-seat auditorium.

A final tip for planning your next meeting in Nevada: shop around. The more the state fills up with oases—many offering an increasingly similar combination of spas, golf, swimming, entertainment and gaming—the fiercer the competition becomes to reel in business to abide under the palms. And if you’ve got ideas of your own, don’t be afraid to put them out there. The state was built on a different kind of tourism, after all. In Nevada, what’s lacking in precipitation is made up with imagination.

Back to Top

Getting There

Back to Top

Not To Be Missed

Get Out:  As much as each Nevada oasis offers the ability to stay under one roof for the duration, it never hurts to get a group out into the state’s vast, beautiful natural settings. “Every place you go in Nevada, you’re surrounded by mountains,” says Chris Chrystal, of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. “Most of the land is public land, a lot of it available for public recreation. There’s golfing, skiing, hiking, rock climbing, jet skiing, pleasure boat cruises, mountain biking and plenty of great trails to jog on.”

Get Tickets: Whether you’re in Vegas, Reno, Tahoe or even Laughlin, chances are there’s a performer in town that folks in your group will have heard of. Pick an act to suit your attendees’ tastes, then ask the host property about group rates, behind-the-scenes tours and other possible tie-ins. Vegas alone is home to Prince, Elton John and, of course, Wayne Newton, not to mention Broadway shows like The Producers, at Paris; Monty Python’s Spamalot, at the Wynn; a half dozen Cirque du Soleil shows; Blue Man Group; and more.

Get Wet: The Reno and Carson City areas have become a popular destination for white-water rafting and kayaking. The Truckee River flows right through the middle of downtown Reno, and the Carson River (near Carson City) is being developed as a white-water destination. “The Truckee River has very clean water,” says Chrystal. “It comes out of Lake Tahoe and goes right through the hotel/casino district on the way to Pyramid Lake.”

Get Help: Las Vegas is full of folks who can help to plan team-building activities or events, including scavenger hunts, ATV trips, tours of night clubs, and more. In the Lake Tahoe area, a number of companies also provide team-building; for example, the Tahoe Adventure Learning Institute offers training, consulting and outdoor adventures like ropes courses among towering cedars and pines.

Get a Tee Time: With its reliable sunshine and dry weather, Nevada is a haven for golfers. Reno has more than 40 courses within an hour and a half, and Las Vegas is within striking distance of countless desert courses (though many charge up to a few hundred dollars per round). And Carson City is home to no fewer than nine golf courses. Back to Top

What's New?

Big Gets Bigger | Get ready for a gigantic addition to the meetings scene in Las Vegas. The new Palazzo Resort Hote...

Vegas’ Biggest Yet | The Palazzo Las Vegas will celebrate its grand opening this weekend, starting Thursday, January 1...

Yet Another Game In Town | InterContinental Hotels Group announced plans to build a new 386-room Crowne Plaza near the Las V...

The King of The Strip? | New York-based developer FX Real Estate and Entertainment recently revealed its intentions to cre...

Back to Top