In response to customer demand and in pursuit of an ongoing effort to grow its group business throughout Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International has officially broken ground on an approximately $130 million expansion of the MGM Grand Conference Center.

Scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018, the project entails a 250,000 square foot expansion of the facility that will increase its footprint to more than 850,000 sq. ft.

In addition, Stay Well Meetings, a wellness meetings experience featuring amenities and programs designed to stimulate healthy, productive and creative work environments, will also grow an additional 22,000 sq. ft. and encompass the Conference Center’s entire second floor.

“The Conference Center expansion allows us to grow with the needs of our clients and drive new and expanded business to Las Vegas,” explained Ernest Stovall, vice president of sales for MGM Grand.

He continued, “The expansion of Stay Well Meetings, along with our 340 Stay Well (hotel room) accommodations, allows MGM Grand to offer a completely unique destination for groups that carries through the entire resort experience – from the board room to the guest room.”

The new 250,000 sq. ft. space at MGM Grand will seamlessly connect to the existing Conference Center on all three levels and include a new 5,500 sq. ft. outdoor courtyard available for private events; a 49,000 sq. ft. ballroom; a 32,000 sq. ft. ballroom, three junior ballrooms and 11 breakout rooms. 

The resort’s unique meeting spaces include the stand-alone, 92,000 sq. ft. Marquee Ballroom and the 16,800-seat Grand Garden Arena. 

The new conference space comes on the heels of meeting and convention space expansions at MGM’s sister properties, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and ARIA Resort & Casino.

Mandalay Bay recently completed a 350,000 sq. ft. expansion that grew its convention space to more than two million sq. ft., while ARIA is currently adding 200,000 sq. ft. to its LEED-certified conference center to create more than 500,000 sq. ft. of meeting space at the resort.

ARIA’s new space is slated to open in Feb. 2018.

Upon completion of these projects, MGM Resorts International will boast a grand total of 4 million sq. ft. of premium meeting and convention space within a two-mile stretch on the Las Vegas Strip.

“The interest in Las Vegas and specifically MGM Resorts destinations has been tremendous,” said Michael Dominguez, senior vice president and chief sales officer for MGM Resorts.

He continued, “Because we deliver extraordinary events that achieve client goals, we have been able to continue cultivating loyal relationships with companies that want to grow with us. The increased demand for space compelled us to develop more robust and creative meeting options throughout our portfolio.”