View From Vegas: Deal Us In
Author: "Lucky Chuck" Kapelke
April 2008
Columns
Slated to open in 2009, M Resort, Spa and Casino, about 10 miles south of the heart of the Vegas Strip, will be an 11-story hotel on 80 acres of land, with 390 guest rooms and suites, including nearly 40 1,200-to-2,400-square-foot lofts, corner suites and one-bedroom suites. The property (which has investment from MGM Mirage) will also include eight restaurants, four lounges and bars, a 40,000-square-foot conference center with an 18,500-square-foot grand ballroom, multiple reception areas and a convention business center; a 100,000-square-foot canyon with a pool surrounded by 20 VIP cabanas; and a multiplex cinema. And, of course, there will be a spa. There is always a spa. (themresort.com)
Whole Lotta Cows
Brand, Light Group’s new 5,000-square-foot restaurant and ultra-lounge, has opened at the Monte Carlo (and yes, the Monte Carlo has fully re-opened following the fire in January). In keeping with the Light Group, uh, brand, Brand features an evocative design, complete with a ceiling canopy made of cowhide-wrapped panels that form an abstract cow pattern. In addition to hosting small group events, Brand might be good for a memorable small-group dining experience: the “Ultimate Steak” is a mammoth 8.6-pound beef porterhouse for six people. What better way to help a group bond than to make them share a 9-pound slab of beef? (lightgroup.com)
Whole Lotta Stars
Got a group that can’t decide on which big-name entertainer to see in concert? Consider seeing them all: Tom Stevens, a singer-impressionist, performs “An Evening with Dean and Friends,” in Le Bistro Theater at the Riviera. The show pays tribute to more than 25 singers, including Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Julio Iglesias, Cher, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra and the “star” of the show, Dean Martin. (rivierahotel.com)
Virtual Site Visit
For planners who want a more close-up view of a potential meeting space, Mandalay Bay Resort is partnering with MotionVR, LLC (motion-vr.com) to offer realistic “walk-through” motion tours on its website. You can wander throughout the property—up stairs, into guest rooms, into restaurants—all from the comfort of your desktop. You can stop at any point during the tour to obtain a 360-degree perspective on any room or location in the property, with direct click-through links to floor plans for more reference. (mandalaybay.com)
Mystery Adventures Tour
For a fun team activity, Mystery Adventures offers a unique entertainment experience only available in the Las Vegas area: a team-based, puzzle-solving adventure across the city. Upon arriving at the “Mystery Inn,” players receive a mysterious briefcase (and a briefing on the case), then they set out in a small bus to solve “The Curse of the Orlov Diamond.” Prizes are awarded based on “mystery stones” found throughout the tour. The trip lasts 2.5 to 3 hours, with snacks and refreshments served along the way. Tickets are $40 per person, for groups of 2–12. (mysteryadventureslasvegas.com)
Another Side of Vegas
The Anderson Dairy, which has been serving Las Vegas residents since 1907, offers free guided tours of their facility for groups of up to 80 people. The tour uses animatronic cows and entertaining videos to guide guests through Anderson’s rich history and the dairy-making processes employed at the plant. After the tour, free ice cream samples await. (andersondairy.com)
A Grand New Space
With the opening of the Marquee Ballroom, a new, pillarless, 92,000-square-foot space next to the conference center, MGM Grand has expanded its meeting space to 602,000 sq. ft. This multipurpose building is capable of accommodating up to 6,000 guests for trade shows, general sessions and catered functions of all sizes and types. (mgmmirage.com)
