Ready to Rock: Las Vegas Sees Strong Event Bookings, Unveils New Venues
April 12, 2021
Las Vegas is back with a vengeance. That was the message at the conventions and hospitality industry panel held March 8 at the brand new West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, marking Global Meetings Industry Day.
After a devastating year, there’s pent-up demand for a return to live face-to-face meetings events, and Las Vegas is already seeing record gains in bookings through the end of the year and into 2022, according to industry executives who attended the event.
“We’re making great strides and I think things will continue to move quickly,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Everyone in this industry should feel really excited about the future, and it might be coming faster than you might be expecting.”
Over the past year, industry leaders along the Las Vegas Strip worked closely together to navigate the crisis and share best health and safety practices that defined the guidelines for individual properties as well as the destination as a whole.
Stephanie Glanzer, chief sales officer and senior vice president of sales of MGM Resorts International, said: “We’ve all gone through this together and we’ll come out of this stronger.”
At MGM properties, the Convene with Confidence program enables virus testing in hotel rooms and connects the results and vaccination records to biometric identity app company Clear. The Venetian and Las Vegas Sands Corp. rolled out Venetian Clean, a health and safety program that emphasizes thorough cleaning of facilities, while the city-wide Meet Smart, Vegas Smart initiative highlights the health protocols that have been implemented by properties to ensure attendees’ safety.
The panel expressed excitement about the new venues that have been completed over the past year and will now welcome attendees for the first time. “We’re ready to welcome back meetings and events in a very big way,” said Chandra Allison, senior vice president of sales and marketing at The Venetian Resort, which just opened its Stella Studio, an 8,000-sq,-ft. multifunctional space.
Also on tap is the new Wynn Expansion, which features an 83,000-sq.-ft. pillarless ballroom and a 20,000-sq.-ft. outdoor pavilion. Meanwhile, the 550,000-sq.-ft. Caesars Forum offers the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world at 110,000 square feet each and will welcome MPI’s World Education Congress in June.
The new 315,000-sq.-ft. Expo at World Market Center was officially unveiled on April 9, 2021, just in time for Las Vegas Market, a furniture, gift and home goods trade show set for April 11-15.
The LVCC’s new 1.4-million-sq.-ft. West Hall is getting ready to welcome World of Concrete, the first big show in Las Vegas set for June 8-10. It is expected that attendees will be able to ride on Elon Musk’s The Boring Company underground people-mover system featuring Model X and Model 3 Teslas, and lots of rainbow neon.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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