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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
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