Music City Center and Caesars Entertainment Give Back

May 23, 2022

While the trade show and meetings industry continues its steady path toward recovery, some event-related organizations remain committed to making sure that those less fortunate within the communities they operate aren’t left behind. Check out two event industry entities who recently went the extra mile to make a difference in their home cities and beyond. 

Music City Center

Nashville’s Music City Center, in partnership with Sodexo Live! and Nestlé, recently donated 150 gallons of soup to The Nashville Food Project, a nonprofit organization that brings people together to grow, cook and share nourishing food to help alleviate hunger in the Nashville community. 

Known as “The Big Soup,” the donation provided 1,500 servings of chicken noodle soup that helped support more than 20 community groups that partner with The Nashville Food Project in the greater Nashville area. 

According to Music City Center officials, this is the second year the venue’s culinary team has collaborated with the nonprofit organization on this project. In September 2021, Music City Center and its partners donated another 150 gallons of soup to The Nashville Food Project.

“We are extremely fortunate to partner with such amazing organizations and give back to our community in this way,” said Charles Starks, president and CEO of Music City Center. “By combining our talents and resources, we’re able to better serve our neighbors in need, and we’re proud to do so.”

Freshly prepared and chilled in the Music City Center kitchen by the facility’s culinary team, the soup’s creation was a collaborative effort, with Nestlé providing seven cases of base ingredients and the venue providing the other ingredients, as well as bowls and spoons. The 30-gallon buckets used to transport the soup were then picked up by The Nashville Food Project.

“Every day, The Nashville Food Project works to ensure all of our neighbors have access to the food they want and need,” said Bianca Morton, chef and director of meals for The Nashville Food Project. “Thanks to Music City Center, Sodexo Live! and Nestlé, we can share good food with thousands across our city.”

Check out a video of “The Big Soup” preparation and donation in action at Music City Center here

Caesars Foundation

Caesars Entertainment recently made $3.3 million in donations to dozens of national and local nonprofit organizations through the company’s corporate giving platform, the Caesars Foundation 

This year’s donation recipients include a first-ever partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America, Meals on Wheels (for the 20th consecutive year) and longtime partners including Clean the World Foundation; International Center for Responsible Gaming; National Park Trust, Public Education Foundation; Second Wind Dreams; and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

According to Caesars Entertainment officials, financial gifts from the Foundation focus on nonprofit organizations working to address key issues that align with the company’s core values, including responsible gaming, sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. 

“At Caesars Entertainment, we’re focused on giving back to the communities where our guests and team members live, work and play,” said Heather Rapp, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at Caesars Entertainment. “These funds will provide critical support for communities and programs in need across the U.S.”

Funded by the resorts Caesars Entertainment owns or operates, the Caesars Foundation is dedicated to supporting the communities in which the company operates with an ongoing commitment to economic development while improving the quality of life of team members and their families, the community and society at large.

Have an inspiring give-back story to share? Reach out to lpsavas@tsnn.com.

 

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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.