Expanded Anaheim Convention Center Attracts Multi-Year Event Bookings
August 16, 2018
Thanks to the flexibility and modern allure of the newly expanded Anaheim Convention Center, trade shows including the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and Natural Products Expo West have booked the facility for multiple years.
Completed in September of last year, the ACC expansion provides an additional 200,000 square feet of meeting space allowing for an even greater variety of event uses at what is known as the West Coast’s largest convention center.
Having met in Anaheim for almost 40 years, NAMM will make ACC its home through 2023. The association’s 2018 show in the expanded space was the largest in its 117-year history with a record-setting 115,000 attendees – a 7 percent increase compared to the previous year.
For its future winter shows, NAMM has secured peak January dates when attendees from across the nation are especially interested in meeting in Southern California to escape cold weather.
“Our members travel from 140 countries to attend NAMM and look forward to coming to Anaheim to advance global trade in the music and sound products industry, attend the NAMM U educational sessions and to network with friends and peers,” explained Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO.
He continued, Like NAMM, the convention center has grown over the years and we’ve expanded our activities to create a true ‘crossroads’ of the music industry. The Anaheim community has been a great partner and for me personally, having been attending NAMM since 1983, it feels like ‘coming home’ each January!”
The expanded facility also helped Anaheim’s meeting package fulfill the growing needs of Natural Products Expo West. Produced by Natural Hope Media, the 2018 edition of the show at the ACC helped enable a 5.8 percent increase in exhibitors and an 8.5 percent spike in attendance.
As a result, the show has committed to meeting in Anaheim through 2022.
“Natural Products Expo West is the gathering place for the rapidly growing natural products industry and a launching pad for industry innovation and trend-setting,” said Lacey Gautier, show director for Natural Products Expo.
She continued, “The 2018 show was the most successful yet with our much-anticipated expansion into the Anaheim Convention Center’s North Halls and we’re looking forward to future years of continued growth in Anaheim. In addition to the expanded exhibit space, the Anaheim Campus provides many unique and spacious venues for our growing audience. With a robust education program and networking opportunities throughout the week, we are able to offer an enhanced forum for community engagement.”
ACC hosts an average of nearly one million attendees each year. Thanks to its recent expansion, the center officially joined the “1 million-square-foot-club,” becoming the 11thlargest convention center in the U.S.
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Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.
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MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites.
Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation.
Reinvented Luxury Experiences
The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes.
New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May.
Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.
A “New Wave for Mandalay Bay
A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay.
Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options.
From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.
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