Incentive - July 2009 - (Page 44)

TRAVEL Below left: A new sky bridge connects the Atlantis resort to Reno-Sparks Convention Center; Below right: The Tahoe Star, available for private functions, sails nearby Lake Tahoe GAMING A Renaissance in New Infrastructure, Savings Lure Groups to Revitalized Destination By Matt Alderton & William Ng W hile many cities have pressed the pause button on projects that would have expanded or enhanced their hospitality infrastructure, the “Biggest Little City in the World” hasn’t, according to Ellen Oppenheim, president and CEO of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, who says Reno has had a dramatic increase in hospitality investments leading up to and even during the recession. “If you look at the last handful of years, it’s close to $2 billion that’s been invested in this destination,” Oppenheim says. “It’s a very positive sign that, in this financial climate, our major properties, their bankers, and our communities have been willing to make investments that are clearly transforming Reno-Lake Tahoe into an even more attractive destination.” Among the recently completed investments are several hotel expansions and renovations. Last December, the 1,635-room Peppermill Hotel Casino opened a new 600-suite hotel tower with a 30,000-sf spa and a 62,000-sf ballroom—the largest in northern Nevada. The 1,995-room Grand Sierra Resort and Casino earlier this year finished a $90 million renovation of its guest rooms and public spaces. And Reno the 1,000-room Atlantis Casino Resort Spa last year completed a $50 million expansion that tripled the size of its spa, doubled its meeting space to nearly 50,000 sf, and opened a $12.5 million, 650-foot-long sky bridge that connects the property to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. There also has been a slew of civic improvements, including the new 9,100-seat Triple-A Baseball stadium, the new 65,000-sf National Bowling Stadium, and the new 32,655-sf Reno Ballroom, giving incentive planners new venues in which to entertain attendees. According to Oppenheim, it all adds up to a major transformation. “We call it our Reno Renaissance,” she says. “A Renossance.” While new and improved venues are boosting the city’s appeal, it’s Reno’s long-standing tradition as a value destination that’s driving group demand in a down economy, according to local meeting planners. “We’ve always been aggressive because we’re a second-tier city that’s always been in the shadow of Las Vegas. Reno wants, needs, and appreciates your business, so it’ll do whatever it can to get it,” says Carey Bachman, former national sales manager at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino and now sales director for Red Carpet Events & Design, a decor and destination management company in the city. 44 | Incentive | July 2009 | incentivemag.com http://www.incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - July 2009

Incentive - July 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note: Motivation 2.0
Headlines
Cover Story: Four Industry Veterans Put the State of Motivation into Perspective
The True Face of Incentives
Orlando Summit: Road Warriors
Strategies: Survive and Thrive
Primer: Online Systems
Travel News: Where To Go
Reno/Tahoe Rebirth; Atlantic City Aces
Scotland’s Other City
Hong Kong Calling
Potentials: Here and Now
Watches & Clocks: Old Is New Again
Writing Instruments: The Write Award
Golf Meetings
Planning a Golf Meeting, 101
Formats, Games, Prizes, and the Awards Ceremony
The How, What, Why, and Win of Hole-in-one Insurance
How the PGA Professional Can Help Your Meeting Plans
A Woman's View of Golf
Opinion: The (New) Perception of Golf Resorts
In Closing: Boondoggle is Not Part of the Golf Vocabulary

Incentive - July 2009