Business Travel Guide: Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas drew in more than 37 million people in 2010, but interestingly, not all of them came to gamble. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, convention attendees accounted for nearly 11 per cent of the total visitors to Las Vegas in 2010. There were over 18,000 conventions that year alone, which cumulatively pulled in close to 4.5 million attendees. In addition to the monstrous Las Vegas Convention center, almost all of the major hotels have their own vast meeting centers, so it's no wonder Las Vegas hosts some of the largest and most widely attended conferences in North America. Although hit hard by the recession, Las Vegas is bouncing back with steadily increasing visitor numbers. In Las Vegas, virtually all business is "show" business. The city's economy — which is driven by the hotel, gaming and recreation industries — accounts for 80 per cent of Nevada's taxable revenue, and seven of the city's top ten employers are casinos. Now that's entertainment. |
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Transportation:
Rental
Cars – Most of what happens in Las Vegas happens on the Strip or Downtown, and almost everything is a short cab, limo, tram or monorail-ride away. For business in neighboring areas, we recommend a rental car. Most national car rental chains such as Avis, Budget and Hertz can be found at the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Some have locations on the Strip, such as Avis at The Palazzo and The Venetian, and several have lots on Fremont Street. |
Taxis and Shuttles – Taxis are metered and most will accept credit card payments. A ride from the airport to the top of the Strip will run you about $16, but expect to pay approximately $25 for a trip Downtown. For those willing to share an airport shuttle with up to 20 passengers, a ride to a destination on the Strip can cost less than $10. On a side note, when leaving the airport by taxi or shuttle, please insist that your driver avoid taking the 215 airport tunnel to get to the Strip (this longer route can add $8 to $12 to your fare). |
Limousines – Limousines are a popular way to travel in Las Vegas and can be arranged at the airport without a reservation. The usual fare is generally around $35 for a minimum of two hours. Limos that are available will frequently line up outside hotels to offer special deals and, remarkably, they often cost about the same as a taxi. |
Monorail – The Las
Vegas Monorail stops at the Las Vegas Convention Center and travels the entire length of the east side of the Strip from the Sahara Station (at Paradise Rd. and Sahara Ave., the site of the now-closed Sahara Hotel) to the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. It runs between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday. A single ride costs $5, an all day pass costs $12 and passes for three days are available for $28. Be prepared to do some walking though, as all of the stations (save for one) are located a bit of a distance from most major resorts and hotels.
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| Trams – Three free trams are located on the west side of the Strip, on the opposite side of the monorail's route. Trams connect Treasure Island to the Mirage Hotel, the Monte Carlo to the Las Vegas CityCenter and the Bellagio, and the Excalibur to the Luxor and the Mandalay Bay. |
Information:
Set within twenty lushly-landscaped acres (with a sprawling courtyard as its centerpiece), this all-suite resort offers a quiet alternative to the Strip's hustle and bustle. Although within walking distance of the Strip, the property is casino-free — there isn't a slot machine in sight! Some of the suites are two stories and feature fireplaces, European wet bars, high-speed Internet access and refrigerators. On-site facilities include a bar and grill, a fully equipped health spa and an exercise room. This property is popular among business travelers for its audio-visual and secretarial services as well as its flexible meeting space for up to 1,600 people.
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Since it opened in 1966, Caesars Palace has become synonymous with Sin City. Thankfully, this Las Vegas icon has been able to survive thanks to its ability to consistently reinvent itself. The casino is constantly expanding, and several new suite towers — including the rather regal-sounding Augustus Tower — were recently added to provide additional rooms for guests. The rooms at The Augustus Tower are modern and spacious with amenities ranging from 42-inch plasma screen TVs to oversized soaking tubs. Some 240,000 square feet of meeting and convention space house events and gatherings of all sizes, with rich furnishing for a truly executive feel. Entertainment is always top notch, with headliners such as Celine Dion or Rod Stewart in residence at the Colosseum. Dining can be as casual or as formal as you choose, with options such as Payard Patisserie & Bistro, California-inspired cuisine from Bradley Ogden, New York's legendary Rao's and Restaurant Guy Savoy.
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Situated on The Strip in CityCenter, the Aria Hotel boasts technologically-advanced guest rooms and an environmentally-friendly policy that has been awarded several LEED Gold certificates by the U.S. Green Building Council. The casino resort features guest rooms equipped with audio technology that verbally greets guests by their names when they enter the room. A simple "Good Night" even turns off the lights, closes the curtains and activates the "Do Not Disturb" sign. Dining options include Michael Mina's American Fish, Sage, Bar Masa and Julian Serrano. Resort-wide Wi-Fi access is available for a fee, thus allowing you to spend your downtime surfing the Internet. The property also boasts 300,000 square feet of meeting space: there are four ballrooms ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 square feet and 38 meeting/executive rooms. A free tram connects Aria to the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo. Entertainment options include Haze Nightclub and Viva Elvis!, which is a Cirque du Soleil production dedicated to the music of Elvis Presley.
Opened by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian in 1968 as the International, this hotel pioneered some of Las Vegas' top entertainment artists including Barbra Streisand and Elvis Presley. Adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center, the hotel draws a substantially large business crowd. Its own 220,000-square-foot meeting space includes the Conrad and Barron rooms that seat more than 10,000 guests. The amenities in the 3,000-plus rooms range from high-speed Internet access to even visual strobes for the hearing impaired. A high-tech business center also offers shipping, binding, and computer rentals in addition to the expected copying and fax services. The dining options include a Benihana restaurant and a TJ's Steakhouse.
The 63-acre resort recreates the romantic, Old-World charm and festival-like atmosphere of old Venice. The rooms (among the most spacious in town) are done in a rich blend of burgundy and gold with velvet-canopied beds and floral armoires. The suites are even larger and feature sunken living rooms and enormous marble bathrooms. All of the rooms have high-speed Internet access, while a business center provides computer rentals, shipping services and photocopies. Just steps away is the Sands Expo and Convention Center with 1.8 million square feet of combined meeting and event space, making it one of the largest show floors and meeting facilities in the world; and the Las Vegas Convention Center is only a two-minute cab ride away. |
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American/French/Contemporary
16/20
$$$$$ |
Dine at this Mandalay Bay restaurant just to see the unique four-story wine tower. Showgirl-style wine "angels" ascend the tower with the help of cables and pulleys to choose your trophy bottle. The menu features small plates to share, such as scallop ceviche with crispy shallots and a spicy Serrano vinaigrette, or rich and savory beef tortellini in a truffle port wine sauce. Choosing dessert may be difficult — the chocolate torte may sound tempting, but wouldn't it be more fun to order a dessert wine and watch an "angel" soar into the air to secure your sweet libation? |
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Steakhouse/Seafood/Contemporary
15/20
$$$$$ |
Named after Colombian artist Fernando Botero (several of his works are on display), dining at this chic restaurant is almost like visiting an art museum. Executive chef Mark LoRusso has crafted a menu divided into three unique sections: Farm and Fields, Inspired by the Sea and Surf & Turf. A vegan/vegetarian menu includes crispy tofu and avocado with a piquillo pepper polenta cake. A highlight from the sea menu is the hamachi tartare composed of yellowtail, crispy rice cake and sweet chili vinaigrette. Turf offerings feature steaks with three choices of preparation — pepper steak, chimichurri and traditional — as well as options for filets, which include New York strip, bone-in rib-eye, porterhouse and Châteaubriand. Any selection from among the more than 600 available wines will complement your meal wonderfully. |
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French/Contemporary
18/20
$$$$$ |
At famed chef Julian Serrano's contemporary restaurant, guests are surrounded by authentic Picasso originals — not reprints, but millions of dollars worth of the real thing. Whatever is served is dramatically presented and ultimately delicious. Surrender to such delicacies as warm lobster salad with mangoes; langoustine pulled, then grilled and drizzled with porcini oil; sautéed foie gras with Madeira sauce; squab breast cut into tiny slices and moistened with jus spooned from a tiny copper pot; and truffle-crusted lamb with Parmesan potatoes. In a town full of splendid fine-dining restaurants, this one is hard to top. |
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French/Contemporary
16/20
$$$$$ |
Nestled away on the twenty-third floor of the luxurious Mandarin Oriental hotel, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire provides an extravagant dining experience as well as an oasis of serenity. The design mixes elegant white cracked-eggshell walls and scattered, suspended pearls of illuminated bulbs while 20-feet-high windows overlook the action of the city skyline. We suggest opting for a tasting menu, though there are also items available à la carte. Sommelier Julie Lin oversees the impressive wine selection, which is housed in a dramatic glass-enclosed loft above the dining room. |
Wine aficionado Piero Selvaggio, whose restaurants are renowned for their superb wine lists, has decorated his stylish Valentino as a monument to its 24,000 wines from around the world. Located inside The Venetian, the furnishings and artifacts are (appropriately) from Italy: including the terrazzo flooring, Venetian glass lighting and soft leather chairs. Among the imaginative appetizers, we prefer the crab salad with warm artichokes in a fig-balsamic sauce. Main courses include striped bass with saffron sauce and veal osso buco with saffron rice. To make the most of a splendid dinner here, we suggest choosing one of the multi-course tasting menus. |
Celine Dion and Rod Stewart at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (Flamingo Rd.)
702-731-7604
www.caesarspalace.com
There are some 4,300 seats in the Colosseum, and they're filled almost every night during Celine Dion's and Rod Stewart's shows. Five-time Grammy Award winner Dion performs alongside 31 musicians, consisting of an orchestra and a band. Legendary rock icon Rod Stewart performs a set list of the classics that span his five-decade-long career. The two entertainment icons alternate their schedules and will be joined by Elton John in late September 2011.
"O" - Cirque du Soleil
Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (Flamingo Rd.)
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-693-8105
www.cirquedusoleil.com
Cirque du Soleil promotes its spectacular "O" as an aquatic celebration of life, love and death. And oh, what a celebration it is! Taking its name and theme from the French word eau for water, the extraordinarily talented cast performs in, on and above the water in a show that dazzles all the senses with its colorful tableaus and state-of-the-art synchronization, backed by the magnificent music of a ten-piece orchestra. The quality of "O" and its spectacular ever-changing settings have made this one of the most popular shows in town since its debut in 1998.
TPC (Tournament Players Club) Las Vegas
9851 Canyon Run Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89144
(702) 256-2000
www.tpc.com
Located in the Summerlin area 20 minutes from the Strip, this 7,063-yard golf course features vistas of the Las Vegas skyline, surrounding mountains and the backdrop of the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. A PGA Tour facility, it offers the same links that some of the biggest names on the professional circuit have played. This is a course that will challenge all aspects of your game and require the use of every club in your bag. The fairways are wide, as much as 50 yards on some holes.
Scenic
Airlines
2705 Airport Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89169
800-634-6801, 702-638-3300
www.scenic.com
Short trip? No problem. See as much as you can, as fast as you can, with this bird's-eye tour. With door-to-door service, Scenic Airlines will show you Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon — and you'll be back at your hotel within three hours. The airline offers ten different tours, and those pressed for time will appreciate this type of rapid sightseeing.
Red
Square
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (Tropicana Ave.)
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702-632-7401
www.mandalaybay.com
After
a day in the city of capitalist decadence, take a trip
behind the Iron Curtain to Red Square, Mandalay
Bay's swanky Soviet-style lounge. The Communism-themed
nightspot comes complete with a headless statue of Lenin,
an extensive caviar menu, a bar topped with a sheet
of ice and a frozen locker chilling more than 100 brands
of vodka. Guests don fur coats and caps, then brave
the walk-in freezer to hand-pick their poison. |
Going to Nevada? See our guide. |
(Updated: 01/20/12 CT)
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