Las Vegas Invests in Venues, Creates Value for Events, Trade Shows

From mind-blowing architecture to cutting-edge technology, Las Vegas is showing its commitment to delivering world-class attendee experiences with over $4.5 billion investment in new landmarks, hotel additions, and updates to existing venues taking place in 2023 and beyond.

Just over the past two years, Las Vegas gained 2 million square feet of new trade show, convention and meeting space with the addition of the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Resorts World Las Vegas – Hilton, Conrad & Crockfords, CAESARS FORUM, The Venetian Resort’s Stella Studio, and others. 

“Vegas is built on reinvention and innovation, never failing to offer something new, exciting and noteworthy,” said Lisa Messina, chief sales officer for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, “Our endless array of new venues, experiences, and accommodations continue to deliver on what organizers and attendees expect when they host an event here.”

Now, organizers can take advantage of even more unique venues that will set the stage for the future of live events. 

Article sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Sphere

MSG Sphere to Redefine Immersive

Expected to open in 2023, the $2.1 billion MSG Sphere at the Venetian is adding a new, iconic element to the Las Vegas skyline and is set to deliver a next-level experience for events. For starters, it will be the largest spherical structure in the world with an exosphere that features a fully programmable, 580,000-square-foot LED display, the largest LED screen on Earth. Inside, the venue will house the world’s highest resolution LED screen – a 160,000-square-foot display plane that will wrap around the audience and deliver true immersion with a  HOLOPLOT sound system and 4D scent and air systems. The MSG Sphere will have approximately 17,500 seats and a scalable capacity of up to 20,000 guests. 

LVCC

$434 Million Las Vegas Convention Center Renovation

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) recently approved funding to renovate the North, Central and South exhibition halls of the 2.5 million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center. It will focus on upgrading the North and Central halls, expanding the entrance and lobby of the South hall, and is slated to begin in 2024. 

 

Mandalay

$100 Million Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Remodel

A fresh, new design and significant technology upgrades, reflecting the evolving needs of trade shows and meetings are part of the upgrades taking place at the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Already the exhibit halls and meeting spaces feel more bright and vibrant with new carpet, improved lighting, and dozens of new art pieces. All-new Cat6A cables have doubled the capacity for data transmission and increased data speeds for attendees and exhibitors. New sponsorship and communication opportunities are available through 11 digital walls measuring 24 feet by 13 feet each. In 2023, further technology enhancements will include RFID locks on all meeting room doors, as well as the installation of more than 200 motion-detection cameras throughout the facility.

Caesars

Caesars Palace Lavish Entrance Redesign

Following the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation, Caesars Palace impresses guests with a redesigned arrival experience complete with a dramatic entryway and a new Galleria Bar in the lobby. After raising the roof of the entryway to match the grandeur of the hotel lobby, guests now enter a beautifully lit space, with a coffered ceiling and an intricate, marble mosaic floor. A 15-foot-tall Carrara marble statue of Augustus Caesar welcomes visitors under the raised ceiling, which features hand-painted illustrations of Roman gods and a spectacular chandelier containing 70,000 crystals.

MResort

M Resort Spa & Casino $206 Million Addition

South of the Las Vegas Strip, M Resort Spa & Casino is set to double its capacity with the addition of a second 384-room hotel tower. Along with the additional guest rooms and suites, the property will also expand its meeting space and update amenities. The project is slated to begin construction this year. 

 

Fountainbleau

Fontainebleau Las Vegas to Finish Construction

Slated for the fourth quarter of 2023, the 67-story Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 guest rooms with a Miami beach vibe. Meeting planners will be able to take advantage of some 500,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 105,000-square-foot pillarless ballroom and a state-of-the-art theater with capacity for 3,300. The property’s location, one block from the Las Vegas Convention Center, will make it easy to welcome groups participating in a variety of trade shows and conventions. 

Las Vegas welcomed over 4.7 million business travelers in 2022. It now offers over 14 million square feet of trade show and convention space destination-wide, including three of the country’s largest convention centers, and is poised for further growth as the nation’s top trade show destination. 

Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.