Meeting News - March 23, 2009 - (Page 38)

Destination Insider: Las Vegas instead has been pushed to later this year; and construction on the $4.8 billion Echelon Place megaresort was delayed, with the expectation that it will resume by the end of this year. But in the mix of cancellations and project restructurings, two major resorts have arrived in Sin City: one a substantial renovation project and the other a new property. Last December, the $2.3 billion Encore opened adjacent to its 2,716-room sister property, Wynn Las Vegas, with 2,034 guest rooms and 60,000 sf of meeting space. And, on March 1, the $1 billion, 390-room M Resort, Spa and Casino opened on South Las Vegas Boulevard to near-capacity crowds. The resort has 60,000 sf of meeting space, a 23,000-sf spa and fitness center, nine restaurants, a 14screen cinema, and a destination wine cellar and tasting room. “The M has received an overwhelming response from the market,” said Anthony A. Marnell III, chairman and CEO.“In a city where a number of projects have been stopped or put on hold, we were able to open on time and under budget to thousands of eager guests. It shows that despite the economy, there are people who are willing to spend if they know they are getting great service and value.” The $750 million expansion and renovation at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is moving full speed ahead, with the first phase opening next month and all other pieces slated to be completed by the end of the year. The first phase will debut 75,000 sf of meeting space, bringing Hard Rock’s group capacity to 82,000 sf. All 40 new meeting rooms have a decor reminiscent of ’80s modern-rock glam, plus cuttingedge AV technology, such as built-in flat screens with projector capability, wireless Internet, and CAT5 cabling. A key element of the new meeting space is a new location and building for the Joint, a concert and events facility that can accommodate up to 4,000 and features state-ofthe-art sound and video systems and simulcast capabilities. By December at Hard Rock, the HRH all-suite tower and the Paradise Tower, which is adjacent to the new meeting space, will open with 860 guest rooms and suites, bringing the property to 1,525 total rooms. The property will also finish a number of amenity upgrades, including an expanded, five-acre Pool and Beach Club and a new Poker Lounge. At the $2.9 billion Fontainebleau Las Vegas, construction on the 63-story, 3,800-room condo-hotel is continuing as scheduled toward a fall property debut. The sister property of Fontainebleau Miami (both properties are owned by Fontainebleau Resorts LLC), the resort will occupy a 25-acre parcel of land at the northern end of the Strip and include a 60,000-sf spa and a 3,200-seat performing arts theater. H Carlson Meetings Buyer Takes the Good with the Bad A Vegas insider says suppliers are ready to deal amid the retrenchment As a senior buyer for Carlson Marketing World- meetings. One company consolidated its regional wide, Sandy Kitrell has been on the front lines of meetings and will bring around 4,000 employees Las Vegas’ ever-changing scene for a number of to Las Vegas for its industry end-user event.“It is a corporate meetings and incentives clients.With the common thing we are hearing with companies, to drastic recession, the public backlash on meetings, merge their divisional meetings to maintain the but great group deals to be had, and even existing numbers at a [large] meeting,” said Kitrell. contracts being rewritten, these days are a mixed Because planners now have the leverage, Las blessing. Vegas properties are partnering closely with them, “We are definitely seeing a according to Kitrell. “The clireaction to the recent events,” mate right now [means] some Kitrell said, adding, “You can’t really good values as far as room really pick out whether it is the rates,” she said. “We have one tough economy, president client that last year held its Obama’s comments, or the meeting at Bally’s; this year it media, which doesn’t undercan do it at Wynn, instead. stand the value that meetings Room rates have come down have. All of these things are that much along the Strip.” affecting what is happening For some of her clients who with meetings and incentives.” have contracted their meetings (In fact, at press time, the two and three years out, Kitrell Las Vegas Convention and Vishas heard a new term used by —Sandy Kitrell, senior buyer, itors Authority reported that Las Vegas suppliers: re-rating. Carlson Marketing Worldwide 340 meetings and conventions “Because room rates have gone have been canceled in the last three months.) down so dramatically, in certain instances, [propKitrell said some corporations have postponed erties] are willing to revisit original contract rates because of perception—not because they don’t and re-rate with a lower amount,” she said. have the money to hold the meetings, but rather Attrition is another area where hotels are workthey have simply changed the way they are doing ing closely with planners, according to Kitrell. things. Others are either cutting back the number Sometimes, it has meant extending deadlines, but of food and beverage events or the lavishness of hotels also have worked with her when a meeting specific events, including less entertainment. falls short in room revenue.“The hotels,sometimes, “They are protecting their budget a bit, but it is allow us to reallocate those funds to other areas of about perception,” said Kitrell.“They want to proj- the program,” she said.“They have also volunteered ect that the number-one reason for a meeting is numerous times to partner with us on marketing business, not entertainment.” to get attendees excited about the meeting.” Another corporate strategy is consolidation of —Heidi Waldrop Bay “Because room rates have gone down dramatically, properties are willing to revisit contracts and re-rate. ” 38 MeetingNews March 23, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 23, 2009 Contents What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Meetings Mean Business As 'Meeting Matter' Marriott Unveils Promo Columbus, OH, Addresses Convention Hotel Issues People Making News Orlando Strives for Cost Transparency Is Biz-Class Air Travel Dead? Greenest Planner Awards Mid America Insider Report: Conference Centers Destination Insider: Mississippi Gulf Coast Las Vegas Destination Insider: Cleveland Ad Index Live from the Forum

Meeting News - March 23, 2009

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