Three tips for meetings in Las Vegas

Three tips for meetings in Las Vegas.

I was happy to oblige when Mark asked me to pen a post on Las Vegas. And since I've been privy to the inside of Vegas as the SVP of Marketing for the largest property on the strip, The Venetian and Palazzo, I thought: how could I add value or for that matter say something of relative importance to Mark’s elite customer base?

The answer was simple. I’d give some tips on Vegas from the insider’s perspective. So here it goes, here are my top three tips for a better Vegas meeting experience.

1.      Casino Suites – Sounds like the obvious but you may not realize that in most of the luxury and high-end resorts, the hotel does not control the best rooms and suites. In fact your sales person and her boss are unlikely to have the authority to even commit these suites. The suites are controlled by what is generally called Casino Marketing. They are reserved for their best players; however, if the occupancy allows and the suites are vacant they can on occasion be committed or at the very least provided as an upgrade to your VIP or Keynote Speaker. And trust me if you get one, they will never forget it. They are amazing so ask for one or two or ten.

2.      Too many shows – Did you know there are more theatre seats than hotel rooms in Las Vegas? Probably not but what that means is that you can negotiate a super sweet deal if you know where to look and are a little flexible on the night. Now it is unlikely that you can negotiate a deal on the most popular shows on a Friday night but on a Tuesday or Wednesday night for a show that’s been running for several years? I’d give you 2:1 that you can get a great deal, some VIP meet & greets and perhaps even a call out by the cast if your group is large enough or you do a buyout.


3.      Gambling for fun – Every casino likes to teach you how to play the games. In fact most are more than happy to setup special free sessions to allow your attendees to learn any of the games from real dealers. The games are not hard but they are intimidating to novice players. But the reality is that with a little bit of training on the game, most players can have a great time, enjoy the experience and with a little luck, win something that doesn't stay in Vegas.


I know that Mark and his team are experts on pretty much every destination and with their insider knowledge are a powerful strategic advantage for a planner. (OK that’s a plug). Honestly they are a great team and I’m happy to assist them in any way they need.  

Robert Rippee, CEO Elysian LLC. Las Vegas based marketing and technology consulting firm. robertrippee@elysianllc.net


Always Connected

Free Wifi is everywhere, even in our parks.

In today’s tech-friendly world, we now expect free Wifi in our restaurants and hotels but where do companies draw the line in providing this as a free service to its customers?



Do you expect free Wifi when you travel or attend meetings?

This article from Travel Pulse discusses the possibility of Wifi in our national parks: http://www.travelpulse.com/news/travel-technology/yellowstone-ponders-should-there-really-be-high-speed-wifi-at-national-parks.html.


#AMHSolutions  #DigitalTech

Industry Research Finds Americans Work More and Vacation Less

According to the study, Americans took an average of 16 days of vacation last year, which is the lowest of any point in the last four decades and well below the average of 20.3 days as recently as 2000. As a result, new incentive travel trends are changing to reflect the needs of today's changing demographics.  

"If this trend continues, the vacations of our childhoods could be a thing of the past, completely unknown by the next generation. That would be a true loss for our families and our country," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. 




“Every day more corporations are increasing the number of incentive travel programs they offer as quality travel experiences increase retention, morale and productivity,” said Mark Benson, CMP, Applied Meetings & Hospitality Solutions.

Is your company offering a new incentive travel program? Share your thoughts about your work and vacation habits with us. 

Applied Meetings & Hospitality Solutions Sponsors Lake Nona Jazz Charity Event

Applied Meetings & Hospitality Solutions is a proud sponsor of Lake Nona's premiere jazz and social community event featuring "The Voice" Season 6 Finalist, Sisaundra Lewis, in support of the UCF College of Medicine and the Lake Nona YMCA Scholarship Campaigns. 


Admission to Jazz on a Green Lake Nona is only $10 in advance and can be purchased online at: www.JazzOnaGreen.com.

Client Spotlight: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort - Opening in Ft. Lauderdale, Summer 2015!

Fins Up, Meeting Planners! 

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is offering an exclusive offer for groups and events. Book your 2015/16 Meeting by December 15, 2014 and receive exclusive perks. 



Click here for details: http://bit.ly/1317jxa 

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, online at: http://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/.


Applied Meetings & Hospitality Solutions Client Spotlight

Introducing the Marco Beach Ocean Resort on Marco Island, FL 

The jewel of southwest Florida, The Marco Beach Ocean Resort, is ideal for groups of 80 people or less that want a full service luxury experience, incredible dining and catered events, and be the only group in house. The exclusive oceanfront, Four Diamond rated, all-suite resort is the ultimate reward for an incentive travel program.





Top Meeting Trends in Today’s Hospitality Industry

From leading hospitality experts, meeting professionals, and management consultants, Applied Meetings & Hospitality Solutions has uncovered some of the top meeting trends in our industry. Change is happening fast. What is on the cutting edge now might become commonplace at your next meeting. Redefining an industry through technological advances and from new trends, meetings and conferences have become an integral part of the hospitality industry.

From luxury seaside resorts to those at major theme park attraction resorts, professional meeting planners use a diverse backdrop to provide a wide-range of services incorporating technology and health and wellness considerations as they plan for the future of meetings.

The 7 Top Meeting Trends for Meeting Professionals…

1. Always Connected
As virtual offices become the norm in today’s “always connected” work environment, it is no wonder that access to free, high-speed Wi-Fi is becoming one of the most requested services for guests. As planners, be sure to provide a hassle-free method for connecting and staying connected to the network throughout the entire meeting experience.



Furthermore, access to reliable, universal Wi-Fi for all the guests’ mobile devices will be increasingly expected going forward. “Wi-Fi is no longer an option, but a business necessity,” says Nick Balletta, CEO of TalkPoint, a New York City-based webcasting company. “More cities will be offering free public Wi-Fi to compete with those already doing so.”

2. Meeting Resources on the Web
One of the most practical current trends is the ability for planners and conference attendees to research and discover property and destination details through Google searches. Providing relevant and timely web content for planners is a critical step in assisting with the business goals of professionals in the hospitality industry. Local area videos, guests’ photos and reviews, as well as guests’ social media posts are becoming important tools in making critical decisions about meeting plans.




3. Increasing Demand
According to American ExpressMeetings & Events, meeting planners recently ranked Orlando, Florida first as the meeting destination of choice in 2014. This tourist-friendly destination provides numerous selections for meetings, accommodations and attractions within a close proximity. Orlando has been designated for the second year in a row while San Diego, Atlanta and Chicago have also gained popularity. Miami and our nation’s capital have recently slipped in popularity among meeting professionals.


PriceWaterhouseCoopers anticipates the highest occupancy levels due to group bookings in the hotel industry in the last 20 years. "The strengthening of the group segment thus far in 2014 and a strong summer travel season across all price points is encouraging for future occupancy levels and continued industry growth,” said Scott D. Berman, principal and U.S. industry leader, hospitality & leisure, PwC.


4. Expanding the Meeting Experience
Meeting planners have realized the value in the meeting experience and have started planning for meetings outside of the hotels. Hotels within easy access to zoos, aquariums, museums, event centers, and other outdoor facilities are replacing hotel conference rooms and indoor convention areas in popularity. Creating a new meeting experience is the new challenge; as meeting planners seek properties that can assist them take their meetings and events to a new level.


5. Meetings Turn Up Social Media
Today’s meeting attendees are relying on the use of social media to communicate and network with each other during their stay. Ensuring not only free Wi-Fi but providing increased bandwidth for laptops, mobile phones, and tablets, meeting planners are now charged with keeping meeting guests connected and engaged 24/7.



In terms of planning, social media is now an integral part of the programming mix. 
According to IMEX, “social media starts to receive its own budget, and begins to play a meaningful and measurable part in marketing and communications strategies across the meetings and events industry.”


6. Meeting ROI  - Does it add up?
Companies holding meetings across the state, country, and even those conducting global meetings will seek new methods to track and control costs. Taking advantage of group rates for accommodations and group fares for air travel can mean substantial savings. The best way to access those group discounts is to work with meeting planners who have the clout of an international travel management companies behind them. 


As we move into 2015, controlling expenses and achieving goals is not just another trend. They are necessities that require a strategic meeting planner who can balance trends with proven experience in what works. And powerful connections in the airline, hotel and entertainment industries can never hurt.

Meeting professionals are now creating meaningful strategies to measure the Business Value of Meetings (BVOM), as an important aspect of how meetings are measured and evaluated. Some new trends in BVOM measurement include:
•  Measuring outside sources such as attendance levels from other industry events and conducting current market trend analysis;
•  Conducting surveys that measure content recall, satisfaction and relevance;
•  Monitoring social media that shows engagement and immediate reactions;
•  Creating focus groups that reveal key motivators, preferences and expectations;
•  Conducting interviews with non-delegates that establish control group statistics to obtain rich, qualitative information.


7. Staying Healthy
According to industry experts, the hospitality industry is changing to accommodate the new healthy and holistic movement that has been sweeping the country throughout the past few years. Some easy-to-see changes are the availability of full-fledged vegetarian-friendly restaurants and an increase in gluten-free menu items. Guests also have a wider selection of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms. Some new, vegetarian and gluten-free menu options include:
  •        Black Bean Veggie Burgers;
  •         Cauliflower Pizza;
  •        Quinoa Stuffed Pork Tenderloin;
  •         Chili-Lime Chicken Kabobs. 

New fitness trends are becoming more visible to help keep the guests’ mind and body working at their best throughout their stay. Hotel and resort management are now designing new fitness experiences that take the guest outside of the typical hotel gym. A few examples include:  
  •         Underwater dolphin viewing while practicing Yoga;
  •        Full-size boxing ring;
  •        40-ft rocking climbing walls;
  •        Power walking by indoor canals.



It’s Your Turn: Connect and Engage
We value your opinion and we would like to hear from you about this article. We invite you to leave your thoughts or questions below to keep the conversation going.


What are some cutting-edge trends you have experienced or are planning to implement in the hospitality industry to create more effective meetings?