Prevue May/June 2015 - (Page 64)
Gaming
Size, location and an expansive list of amenities streamline meetings
[ON LOCATION] JOHNALEE JOHNSTON/BARBARA SCOFIDIO
G
aming hotels & resorts have an edge when it comes to
meeting the demand for robust group experiences. A
variety of entertainment, shopping, spa services and
dining are generally built-in for large groups, making room
for creative programming elsewhere-whether a mixology class in a
snazzy cocktail lounge or heading offsite for a little local immersion.
Planted conveniently where the action's at, gaming hotels and resorts
also offer ease of accessibility, streamlining arrivals and departures
and access to popular local hangouts and attractions.
Regardless of how you and your groups get your game on, as the
following gaming properties will attest: Less isn't always more.
PANAMA
Aside from being one of Central America's tallest buildings,
the architectural "sail" of the 70-story Trump Ocean Club
International Hotel & Tower Panama also makes it one of the
most recognizable on Panama's Punta Pacifica peninsula. Modeled
after the iconic Bahrain World Trade Center, the hotel is fittingly just
a brief walk from the financial district. A new 75,000 sf casino adds
to this pizzazz with 600 slot machines and 34 gaming tables for
blackjack, roulette, poker and baccarat.
The Ocean Sun Casino marks a $100 million investment
by Trump Hotels, in partnership with Sun International, which
also includes areas for live entertainment and gourmet food
service. Gaming continues on the 66th floor for high rollers, where
panoramic views of the city create a light and airy backdrop to
gaming salons, a lounge bar, restaurant and infinity pool. Overall,
groups will find the 5-star hotel's amenities very accommodating-
from the Cava 15 wine lounge to tailored in-room spa services.
Every aspect of the tower has been designed to flaunt ocean views;
waterfront dining and a five-pool deck jutting out into the ocean
swept air on the 13th floor are popular gathering spots. Overall,
27,000 sf of meeting/event space is available to groups.
Panama City has seen a surge of new hotel development-
including Trump, Starwood, Waldorf-Astoria, Westin and Hard
Rock-over the past five years. The city's approachable price
points and contrast between old and new have helped to increase
visits by 50 percent since 2008. Alongside 16th century ruins
the new Frank Gehry-designed biodiversity museum, Biomuseo,
stands; a rainforest within city limits neighbors a forest of green and
blue glass skyscrapers. It's a city on the verge, so much so that its
canal is also undergoing an expansion that will double its capacity
and economic clout by 2016.
NEVADA
At the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino's 135,000-sf Beachside
Casino, shoes and shirts are optional. Surprisingly, the three-story
casino and scantly dressed patrons and dealers therein aren't
the hotel's only allure. The hotel's convention center is gaining
350,000 sf of exhibit space by January 2016. A major trend in
fine dining-beer vs. wine tastings-has also taken root here. In a
friendly but competitive five-course dinner, which can be tailored
to groups, Director of Food and Beverage and Certified Cicerone
Sarah Johnson (the only female cicerone in the state of Nevada)
60 | prevue magazine
60-63_Gaming.indd 60
4/22/15 12:33 PM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue May/June 2015
Planner’s Pick: South Africa
Fresh Meets: Sheraton Expands in China
Bureau Buzz: Meet Hawaii
Good Business: Accor on Gender Equality
Sea Shores: Windstar Cruises
Experience Luxury
MOUNTAIN MEETINGS
On Location: Destination Resorts
ORLANDO
On Location: Northeast Florida
EUROPE
COPENHAGEN
GAMING
On Location: Iberostar Playa Mita
On Location: Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Checkout: Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall & Zilara Rose Hall
Prevue May/June 2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/MarchApril2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/JanuaryFebruary2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/NovemberDecember2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/SeptemberOctober2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/fl2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorrida
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/SeptemberOctober2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/clubmed
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/JanFeb2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/july_august_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/may_june_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/march-april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/jan_feb_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/nov_dec_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/sept_oct_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/prevue/july_august_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/may_june_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/march_april_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/prevuejan_feb_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/Nov_Dec_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/sept_oct_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/july_aug_2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com