Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in

Las Vegas

Learn why you should host your next meeting, event or conference in Las Vegas.

Why Vegas for Your Next Meeting or Event?

Never a city to rest on its meetings-mecca laurels, Las Vegas is constantly updating its hospitality and tourism infrastructure. Whether for conferences, trade shows and, increasingly, major global sporting events, there is always something new or different in the city for groups. From the newly renovated Las Vegas Convention Center to the makeover currently happening at the Venetian Convention Center, there are debuts, upgrades and renovations up and down the Strip and beyond.

Meeting Hotels
by number of meeting rooms
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino122
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino69
SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand69
Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World65
Crockfords Las Vegas-LXR Hotels & Resort65
Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World65
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Curio Collection59
Fontainebleau Las Vegas57
The Signature at MGM Grand55
Bellagio Las Vegas50
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Venue Additions & Renovations

  • Caesars Entertainment has rebranded the former Cromwell as the Vanderpump Hotel, with final renovations underway and rooms and meeting spaces available to book for stays and events beginning in May. This inaugural hotel from reality TV star and entrepreneur Lisa Vanderpump will showcase her signature "industrial romantic" style and add to the Vanderpump food-and-beverage venues that have already built a following in Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas and Flamingo Las Vegas. While the 188 guest rooms and event spaces are being redesigned, the hotel's existing venues, including Giada and Drai's After Hours, will remain open throughout the process. With the official reopening, Drai's will be rebranded as Soleia, complete with the rooftop pool and nightclub experience Drai's is known for.
  • The guitar-shaped hotel tower that will be the cornerstone of the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas is on track to be completed for the resort’s planned debut in late 2027. Eventually, the tower will rise to a height of 660 feet and include 675 guest rooms. The existing buildings of the former Mirage are being either removed and rebuilt or fully renovated. All told the new complex will have nearly 3,600 rooms, 175,000 square feet of gaming space, live entertainment venues, multiple pools, two spas and dozens of food-and-beverage outlets.
  • The 3,980-room Caesars Palace, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, has unveiled some new luxury accommodations: two Presidential Villas in the Colosseum Tower and 29 Sky Villas in the Octavius Tower. Each of the rooftop Presidential Villas is more than 8,000 square feet, and each features a large terrace with sweeping views of the Strip. The two residential-style “palaces” can be combined, as well, and offer a private elevator through a grand vestibule, double-sided glass fireplaces and formal dining rooms with seating for 10. The Sky Villas, which occupy the 68th and 69th floors of the Octavius Tower, have a more contemporary design with countless high-end touches, such as soaring ceilings, sculptural lighting and curated art.
  • A new 10,000-square-foot luxury executive meeting space is coming soon to the third floor of the Venetian Convention Center. The Lusso Lounge, scheduled to debut by the end of this year, will offer a collaborative business environment that spans multiple spaces, including a billiards room for relaxed networking, a chef’s kitchen that can host interactive culinary experiences and private dining, a study, a wine room and more. The lounge is a major part of the $188 million renovation and transformation of the convention center, first announced in 2024, that aims to infuse opportunities for more personalized, bespoke experiences into the expansive facility’s space. The elegant lounge design, which is being done by local firm Woogmaster Studio, will pay homage to historic Venice and broader Italian influences. Flexible seating arrangements, private breakout areas, high-speed connectivity, and elevated food and beverage will be part of the offering. 
  • The M Resort Spa Casino nearly doubled its room count during a $206 million expansion. The introduction of a second tower has brought the total room count to 765, and the new 15,000 square-foot Montese Ballroom adds to the existing 92,000-square-foot events piazza.
  • The South Point Casino has renovated 84 of its 2,163 guest rooms, upgrading the flooring and furnishings. 
    Among these are one- and two-bedroom suites, which have separate living areas, as well as dining spaces for six people.
  • Green Valley Ranch Resort, a 493-room property in Henderson, Nev., is in the midst of a $200 million redesign, and unveiled revamped meeting and convention space earlier this year. 
  • The iconic 2,884-room Treasure Island – TI Las Vegas Hotel & Casino joined Accor’s Handwritten Collection last year. By affiliating with the French hotel company’s soft brand, TI has become the largest hotel in Accor’s portfolio and its first in Las Vegas. The casino resort is now operated under a franchise agreement between property owner Phil Ruffin and Accor. It was just the second U.S. property to join Accor’s Handwritten Collection and one of 44 hotels in the brand across the globe. Treasure Island recently received a multimillion-dollar refresh, updating design elements throughout. There are 10 restaurants and eight lounges on-site, as well as a luxury spa, 90,000 square feet of casino and gaming space, and 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Vegas Group Venues 


If you have the password, you can get your group into The Underground, a speakeasy and distillery in the basement of (where else?) the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Patrons enter via a secret door (but only with said password) to find an experiential exhibition of 1920s mob culture, outfitted in the spirit of the speakeasies of the Prohibition era. A new menu is debuting in the speakeasy bar, featuring small bites and cocktails that evoke the era. The venue accommodates 90 people for receptions, with existing seating for up to 50. An adjoining working distillery can hold up to 30 for receptions, while the Fitting Room, a VIP hideaway, accommodates 10. And that’s all just in the basement; for larger groups, the full, three-floor museum can be rented for events of up to 730 people.

Flyeasy
Photo Credit:Read McKendree
Flyeasy
American Express has opened a new lounge in Harry Reid International Airport, a first-of-its-kind, speakeasy-inspired intimate hangout called Sidecar by the Centurion Lounge. Tailored for solo or small groups of travelers, the space is upscale, efficient and seemingly made for Vegas.

The new Oddyssey, an underground theater and club space, just opened at AREA15. The immersive cocktail theater invites guests to move through a series of spaces and performances. Narrative, design and mixology all work in tandem here. Groups of 25 to 50 can have a private reception in the Submarine Lounge and then join a public show; or full takeovers accommodate 80 to 250 participants, who can explore the entire space with a variety of possible food-and-beverage setups.

Recently remodeled and reopened, the Clique Bar & Lounge in the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is billed as a fusion between old Hollywood glamour and modern indulgence. The Peter Max Bowden–designed gathering spot is all copper and amber tones, beckoning to passersby in a central, high-traffic area in the Chelsea Tower. Buyouts are available at the 2,800-square-foot venue, which can accommodate up to 150 people — or can seat as many as 117 for a meal among the Clique’s 18 tables.

The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, a high-tech remix of the 1939 movie classic projected in the most gigantic cutting-edge dome imaginable, will wow groups of all sizes with its cutting-edge wraparound projection, haptic seat feedback and tornado-like winds. Following the Yellow Brick Road is now more of an adventure than ever before.

Gymkhana, a London restaurant with two Michelin stars, recently opened a Las Vegas branch at the Aria Resort and Casino. The concept is inspired by private clubs in India where high society gathers to dine and engage in sporting activities.

The latest Spiegelworld dining concept, the Party at Superfrico, serves dinner as part of a fully immersive theatrical experience at The Cosmopolitan. The intimate , two-hour event for just 50 people includes three courses, cocktails and bold performances, all behind a hidden back door.

Whether or not your group has tickets to the next big race, they can experience F1-branded fun and entertainment at F1 Arcade Las Vegas, which opened last fall in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The 21,000-square-foot venue  serves food, cocktails and fun, the latter by way of 87 full-motion racing simulators, designed to accommodate all skill levels. Groups of four or more can race against each other.

Groups now can take immersive culinary classes with the Caesars executive chefs from Bedford by Martha Stewart, Nobu and Gordon Ramsay Steak. In this team-building experience, participants receive expert guidance, a keepsake apron, and a great-tasting hands-on time to remember.

New and Notable in Vegas Dining 

The long-awaited Cantina Contramar opened at the end of March at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Chef Gabriela Cámara, founder of the acclaimed Mexico City restaurant Contramar, has collaborated with architect Frida Escobedo and master tequila producer Bertha González Nieves from Casa Dragones to bring her renowned spin on seafood and Mexican flavors to Las Vegas.

Legendary chef Grant Achatz will bring his iconic Chicago restaurant Alinea to Las Vegas in the form of a residency at Bellagio Resort & Casino. From April 16 to May 31, the chef and his team will offer a not-to-be-missed dining experience at Michael Mina's flagship restaurant. 

One of the latest experiences from Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, the Chinatown Speakeasy Tour, takes participants to three hidden gems in the off-the-beaten-Strip neighborhood. This is next-level stuff for those who think they know Vegas, with signature dishes from lesser-known local favorites, accompanied by creative cocktails. Each stop is an unexpected treat, featuring cuisine inspired by Mexico, Japanese street food and Northeastern Thailand, respectively. The company has also added the new Arts District Craft Cocktail Crawl, a two-hour guided walking tour that takes participants to five bars that are enjoying quite a bit of buzz. Signature cocktails and dishes are served at each.

 

Convention Centers

Las Vegas Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 2.9 million square feet; number of meeting rooms, 225; (702) 892-0711

Mandalay Bay Convention Center; exhibit space, 1.1 million square feet; number of meeting rooms, 75; (877) 632-7900

Venetian Convention Center; exhibit space, 1,035,600 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 350; (702) 733-5556

Travel Details

Airport: Harry Reid International Airport, about one mile west of the Las Vegas Strip and five miles from downtown.

Transfer cost:

  • by taxi, $21-$29 to the Strip properties, about $40 to downtown
  • Uber and Lyft operate in Las Vegas.

Taxes:

On the Las Vegas Strip: room tax, 13.38%; stadium district plus stadium primary gaming corridor tax, 0.88%; sales tax, 8.38%; total tax on rooms, 14.26%
Downtown: room tax, 13%; stadium district tax, 0.5%; sales tax, 8.38%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13.5%. Sales tax is not applied to guest rooms or resort fees, but is applied to other hotel charges.

Golf: Las Vegas and its environs are home to a wide variety of golf options. Choices include Aliante Golf Club (702-399-4888), Angel Park Golf Club (702-254-4653), Anthem Country Club (702-614-5050), Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock (702-258-2300), Badlands Golf Club (702-242-4653), Bali Hai Golf Course (702-855-3429), Bear's Best Las Vegas (702-804-8500), Black Mountain Golf & Country Club (702-565-7933), Canyon Gate Country Club (702-363-0303), Desert Pines Golf Club (702-855-3429), Desert Willow Golf Club (702-263-4653), Dragonridge Country Club (702-614-4444), Durango Hills Golf Club (702-229-4653), Eagle Crest Golf Club (702-240-1320), Highland Falls Golf Club (702-254-7010), Las Vegas Country Club (702-734-1122), Las Vegas Golf Club (702-646-3003), Las Vegas National Golf Club (702-734-1796), Las Vegas Paute Golf Resort (702-658-1400), The Legacy Golf Club (702-897-2187), Los Prados Golf Course (702-645-5696), Painted Desert Golf Club (702-645-2570), Palm Valley Golf Club (702-363-4373), Red Rock Country Club (702-304-5600), Rhodes Ranch Golf Club (702-740-4114), Roal Links Golf Club (702-855-3429), Shadow Creek (702-791-7161), and TPC Las Vegas (702-256-2000).

Area Contacts 

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, (702) 892-0711 or (877) 847-4858; vegasmeansbusiness.com

Destination Henderson Nevada, (702) 267-2171

Laughlin Visitor Information Center, (702) 298-3321 or (800) 452-8445

2024 Stella Award Winners 

2023 Stella Award Winners

2022 Stella Award Winners

2021 Stella Award Winners

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