Caesars Entertainment Breaks Ground on CAESARS FORUM Las Vegas Conference Center

July 19, 2018

On July 16, Caesars Entertainment Corporation broke ground on its newest development: the CAESARS FORUM Las Vegas conference center. Slated to open in 2020, it will feature 550,000 square feet of flexible meeting, event and convention space.

As the emcee for the ground-breaking ceremony, Roger Dow, president and CEO of U.S. Travel Association and long-time meetings industry veteran, spoke about how when he was first starting in the industry, the meetings market was an afterthought for Las Vegas. Forty years later, the city is now the leading destination for meetings within the U.S.   

Although there is already a large number of meeting and convention spaces in Las Vegas, the Caesars Entertainment team said they believe there is room for more — and that CAESARS FORUM has some key differentiators that will put it at the head of the list for large events. 

The venue will feature the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world at 110,000 sq. ft. apiece; two 40,000 sq. ft. ballrooms, more than 100 breakout rooms and FORUM Plaza, which will be the first 100,000 sq. ft. dedicated outdoor meeting and event space in Las Vegas. All ballrooms will be divisible into sections so planners will have a multitude of configuration options. 

The single-level property will easily be able to host groups of 10,000 or more attendees and with two easily accessible loading docks, items of almost any size. 

The venue has been designed with the customer in mind, with an infrastructure that will support catering and convention services as well as advances in technology. Sustainability was also an important factor in design: CAESARS FORUM has already been awarded LEED Silver certification.

During the ceremony, Mark Frissora, president and CEO of Caesars Entertainment, talked about the importance of meetings and events and the organization’s commitment to the industry. 

“This business enables organizations small and large, for profit and not for profit, public and private sector, to bring together employees, members and other stakeholders to help realize their most important objectives,” said Frissora. 

It’s an industry in which the brand is already a known leader, with 2.1 million sq. ft. of meeting space at 40 properties across the U.S. More than 17,000 meetings and events are hosted annually at Caesars Entertainment properties, with more than 1.9 million participants nationwide. 

And yet, there is still plenty of room for growth. Last month, the company broke ground on a new conference center at Harrah's Cherokee in Cherokee, North Carolina, while in the spring, Caesars announced plans to bring the brand to two hotels in Dubai and to the Puerto Los Cabos region in Mexico. 

At the CAESARS FORUM ground-breaking ceremony, a new 360-degree “fly-through” video was unveiled that showed the impressive vision for the property and what the guest experience will look like. 

 “In the center of the Las Vegas Strip with direct access to three of our premier resorts and freshly redesigned hotel rooms, CAESARS FORUM builds on our strategy to invest in infrastructure that enhances long-term value for our guests," Frissora said.

CAESARS FORUM will be located on the famous Las Vegas Strip, adjacent to the LINQ Promenade retail district. The conference center will be connected by skybridge to Harrah’s Las Vegas and The LINQ Hotel and Casino, and by pedestrian bridge to the Flamingo Las Vegas, for a total of 5,000 Caesars Entertainment hotel rooms. An additional 15,000 hotel rooms owned by Caesars are within walking distance. 

The venue has already contracted $70 million in business, according to Michael Massari, chief sales officer for Caesars Entertainment, with more in the pipeline. 

The property is also expected to help the local economy, bringing even more tourism to the city which in turn will open up more job opportunities. The conference center will create 1,000 local construction jobs and more than 450 permanent jobs once it opens, according to Caesars officials.

To learn more about CAESARS FORUM, go HERE.

 

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact