When it comes to meetings and conventions, Las Vegas is in a class by itself. From world-class venues to event-ready restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs and entertainment offerings that are second to none, Las Vegas provides planners, exhibitors and attendees an unparalleled experience both on and off the show floor.
Check out our 10 reasons why Las Vegas was made for your meeting.
1. The World's Top Meeting Facilities
Las Vegas Convention Center Exterior View
Las Vegas boasts an astounding 14 million square feet of meetings, conventions and exhibit space, with another 1.25 million square feet developing in the next two years.
Leading the charge is the new 1.4 million-square-foot expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center, opened in 2021.
Las Vegas is, in fact, home to three of the country’s 10 largest convention venues:
- Mandalay Bay Convention Center: more than 2 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space.
- The Venetian Resort Las Vegas: The Venetian Expo (which includes The Venetian and Palazzo) has over 2.25 million square feet of featured event space for any occasion.
- Las Vegas Convention Center: 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space and nearly 400,000 square feet of additional dedicated meeting space.
Other major hotels across the city offer spaces for meetings and exhibitions that can accommodate groups of all sizes as well, so the possibilities for your event are endless.
2. Unique Experiences to Inspire Any Team
High Roller Observation Wheel, Las Vegas
Las Vegas comes equipped with mind-blowing attractions that will astound attendees—it’s the ultimate stage for an event.
Entertainment options like the High Roller observation wheel take an innovative twist to shake-up to any routine. Attendees shift to a whole new perspective from this altitude and angle on the city. It’s great for a cocktail reception too, available in each of its 28 spacious cabins.
The 18,000-seat MSG Sphere arena adjacent to The Venetian will add another landmark to the Las Vegas skyline with a 160,000-square-foot spherical screen and more than 25 premier suites and lounges, perfect for incomparable presentations or off-site receptions when it opens in 2023.
The new Las Vegas Convention Center Loop provides fast and convenient transportation for attendees across the LVCC, connecting the existing campus with the new West Hall. The “loop” of underground tunnels is designed to transport more than 4,400 people an hour. The typical walk time between the West Hall to South Hall can be up to 25 minutes––the same trip on the LVCC Loop happens in about two.
3. Accommodations at Every Price Point
Las Vegas Strip Aerial View at Dusk
Resort property groups like MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Wynn Resorts have the unique ability to book multiple properties and venues with a single contract.
Global hospitality brands like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt also operate major hotels, or have partnerships with resorts that do, to accommodate loyalty programs, or a preferred supplier.
Downtown—where the glitz of Las Vegas originated—offers a great value. You’ll also find the seven-block Fremont Street Experience that immerses visitors in the Viva Vision light show. It’s the world’s largest digital display that stretches the length of five football fields. There’s even a zip line under the lights for visitors to take flight.
Downtown properties with meeting and banquet space include:
- Binion’s Gambling Hall
- California Hotel & Casino
- Circa Resort & Casino
- The D Casino Hotel
- Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
- Four Queens Hotel & Casino
- Fremont Hotel & Casino
- Golden Gate Hotel & Casino
- Golden Nugget
- Main Street Station
- Plaza Hotel & Casino
The close proximity of Downtown hotels makes getting attendees around a breeze. The area is compact, entertaining and walkable.
4. A Destination That Increases Attendance
World of Concrete Tradeshow Floor in Las Vegas, Credit: Mark Damon, Las Vegas News Bureau
Statistics show conventions in Las Vegas enjoy an average attendance increase of 9% over other destinations, and more time spent in meetings or on the show floor.
Major annual conferences from meetings industry associations, for example from Meeting Professionals International, have separated attendance figures of Las Vegas shows from other destinations. There can be no accurate “average” when the attendance numbers are so high in Vegas.
5. The Entertainment Capital of the World
Gwen Stefani – Just a Girl Performance in Las Vegas
From superstars such as Katy Perry and John Legend to Sting and Carrie Underwood, global icons often make Las Vegas their home via residences at top venues. Add to this the acrobatic magic of the many Cirque du Soleil productions and touring headliners at venues such as T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium and you have a ready-made group event that’s bucket list worthy.
6. Rock Star Chefs That Define Dining
Giada Restaurant Plated Menu Item
The Las Vegas culinary scene has taken its place among the top foodie destinations in the world. Celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, José Andrés, Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto and Giada De Laurentiis operate multiple restaurants and nightspots that bring star power to special events in venues designed with group dining and often buyouts in mind.
A popular group option that takes in some of the hottest culinary spots is offered by Donald Contursi’s Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, which tastes its way through many trending Las Vegas’ restaurants that fly under the radar.
7. Ample Air Service That's Close to the City
Businesspeople at the Airport
Harry Reid International Airport offers 3,400 inbound and outbound flights per week (an average of about 490 a day), and nonstop service linking to more than 140 U.S. and international cities. It’s just two miles from Las Vegas Boulevard and 3.5 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center. In fact, most of Las Vegas’ 150,000 hotel rooms are within a 15-minute drive. Major air carriers have even been known to add service in support of the largest Las Vegas conventions, such as CES.
8. The Greatest Arena on Earth
Allegiant Stadium Side View
Las Vegas is home to three major league professional sports franchises–the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium and the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena. These venues offer luxury suites and other unique features and programming, designed for your meeting or convention group.
Other major Las Vegas sports draws include:
- NASCAR
- Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)
- Las Vegas Aviators (MiLB)
- Las Vegas Lights F C (USL)
- UFC and championship prize fights
Esports is also throwing down its marker in Las Vegas. Luxor’s 30,000-square-foot HyperX Esports Arena thrills viewers with a 50-foot LED video wall, getting them close to the action with telescopic seating.
9. Bigger and Better
Circa Las Vegas, Downtown New-Build Hotel Rendering
Major new hotel and convention projects have transformed the Las Vegas meetings and conventions scene once again, with mammoth additions that include:
- The West Hall expansion at the Las Vegas Convention Center
- CAESARS FORUM, boasting the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world
- Resorts World Las Vegas, a three-hotel combination that offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space.
- The retro-chic Circa Las Vegas, bringing fresh excitement to Downtown––the first new-built hotel in the area since 1980.
- Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, boasting an expansive, fresh feel, with 130,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
10. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Is Your Partner
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign, Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau
The LVCVA is a world-class organization, befitting a destination that was built for business travelers. Support for meeting and convention planners includes:
- Lead distribution
- Attendance promotion
- Site inspection arrangements
- Familiarization tours
- Facility and contact information
- Local supplier coordination
- Promotion assistance
- Visitor brochures, guides, and maps
- Calendar of events and shows
- Convention/trade show planning services
- Destination research
Created in Partnership with Meetings Today, written by Tyler Davidson.
