Successful Meetings - September 2009 - (Page NE22)

LOEWS LAKE LAS VEGAS RESORT suburban SANCTUARIES Las Vegas’ outlying resorts provide a quiet haven for serious business with top-notch amenities and easy access to the excitement of the Strip. By Irene Korn WHILE THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT THE LAS VEGAS STRIP IS A DRAW FOR GROUPS OF ALL KINDS, the outlying resorts claim their own strong appeal, providing a middle ground of proximity to the fast-paced glamour of Las Vegas along with a resort feel set amid beautiful natural surroundings. From Henderson, Summerlin, and Lake Las Vegas to Primm and Laughlin, these suburban resorts serve up their own first-class golf and spas, top-notch meeting facilities, easy access to outdoor activities, and in many cases, their own gaming on site. “I hadn’t been to Las Vegas before and I had no idea how beautiful it can all be beyond the glitz and glamour of the Vegas Strip,” says Kathleen M. Cassidy, vice president of meetings and convention services for the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA). The group’s annual convention took place at the Red Rock Casino, Resort, and Spa in Summerlin, on the outskirts of the city about 10 minutes west of the Strip. “There’s this whole other side to Las Vegas of beautiful natural scenery right outside the door. So many people who base on the Strip also want to get out into the surrounding mountains and canyons—at Red Rock, we were right there, but attendees were also easily able to take the free shuttle to the Strip if they wanted.” In addition to a significant increase in spouse attendance, Cassidy found “a huge shoulder pickup. Some attendees came as early as the Tuesday before our Sunday meeting or stayed several days after the end. When our meeting is at a great destination like this, attendees turn it into a mini-vacation before or after.” With about 1,400 attendees this past April for its national convention, the group found Red Rock to be an “almost perfect” fit. “It was a perfect fit when we signed the contract,” laughs Cassidy, “but then our meeting grew quite a bit. We ended up taking over every square inch of their convention space, and it still worked out well for our group. The Red Rock is a convention hotel—it’s designed for conventions so they knew how to accommodate us and did a great job.” ASLRRA took over the resort’s 94,000 square feet of meeting and event space, which includes four ballrooms and 10 breakout rooms, as well as the bulk of the 816 guest rooms and suites. An additional 300 or so rooms were booked at the nearby JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa, which has 548 guest rooms and its own 32 meeting rooms for a total of 100,000 square feet of 22 SEPTEMBER 2009 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - September 2009

Successful Meeting - September 2009
Table of Contents
Incentive Travel Report
Convention Centers
Shiny & New
Social Agenda
Meetings Merchandise
Rocky Mountain Resorts
Greater LA
Phoenix/Scottsdale
Caribbean
Monaco
Hawaii: Incentive Planner's Handbook
Hawaii Table of Contents
Paradise Found
No Task Too Big
Golf, Hawaii-Style
Nevada
Nevada Table of Contents
Las Vegas: New and Now
Meet Me in Las Vegas
That's Entertainment
Suburban Sancuaries
Meet Me in Reno-Lake Tahoe

Successful Meetings - September 2009