Incentive - July 2008 - (Page 65)

TRAVEL Harrah’s properties, like Paris Las Vegas (left) and Harrah’s and Harveys Lake Tahoe (right), still have classic casino gaming, but it certainly is not the only draw for these resorts: nightclubs, and concerts are a big part of the Las Vegas mystique these days, while Reno and Lake Tahoe also add the stunning destination’s outdoor activities to that mix Gaming’s still big, but now it’s one activity among many By Marc Boisclair Poker’s New Place ood news, Las Vegas: Eli Gorin, CMP, loves bringing incentive programs to The Strip. “All the shows, the nightclubs, such great dining and tour opportunities—there’s so much to see and do, I can’t wait to get back,” says Gorin, president of the Miami-based gMeetings Inc. Noticeably absent from his enthusiastic ticker of superlatives: gaming. “I don’t look at Vegas specifically for that reason—I could do gaming here in Florida if I really wanted to,” he says. Which leads to the broader question of what role gaming now plays in the world of Vegas incentives. Sure, participants still look to spend their time and money at casino halls in return for the fun, thrills and G that memorable bonding anecdote back at the office. But while gaming is still a big draw for reward programs, it’s clearly no longer Vegas’ top draw. ACROSS-THE-BOARD ACTIVITIES That concept may seem obvious to those who’ve only recently booked the destination, but for seasoned insiders the turn to “lifestyle” amenities—fine dining, posh spas, adventure sports and equally adventurous Broadway-like productions—has been occurring for some time. At the South Point Hotel Casino Spa in Las Vegas, which opened in 2005, a unique feature is the property’s Equestrian Center, which has been called the finest horse facil- ity in the country. Horse shows throughout the year are a draw for incentives. There are also a 64-lane bowling center and several movie theaters on property. “[The] paradigm has really shifted in the last five to six years,” says Chandra Allison, executive director of sales for the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino. “Vegas has grown so much since then and brought so much more to the table, especially for incentive groups. Given that, adds Allison, “as more resorts have opened they’ve also changed their stance toward group business, adding more meeting space, retail, restaurants and entertainment.” And nodding to a variety of competition in the process. “We compete a lot with cruise ships and beach resorts, and incentivemag.com | July 2008 | Incentive | 65 http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Incentive - July 2008

Incentive - July 2008 Contents Editor’s Note: Accentuate the Positive In The News Cover Story: Three Profiles in Good Corporate Citizenship Case Study Incentive Interview Senior Secrets To Thine Own Self be True Incentive Primer Motivation@Work Travel News: Where To Go and What To Do Take the Spa Home Not the Only Game in Town Here and Now Writing and Desktop Gifts Watches and Clocks Gift Cards: Health and Wellness Incentives Good Health Is Not Its Own Incentive Advertiser Index Last Word

Incentive - July 2008

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