Culinary Experience

Las Vegas, Nevada
August 18-20, 2024
Paris Las Vegas

A Touch of Paris in the Heart of the Strip!

Transport yourself to the City of Lights with the same passion, excitement, and ambiance of Europe’s most romantic city. At Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, you’ll experience everything you love about Paris, right in the heart of the Strip. With 2,916 luxurious guestrooms and suites, your guests will feel like royalty, and treated to unmatched elegance rivaling the finest Parisian hotels with a stunning views of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Experience 140,000 square feet of opulent and adaptive meeting spaces, including the 85,204-square-foot Paris Ballroom, groups of any size and meetings of any scope are welcome.

AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS

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You Belong Here

Earn Extra CEUs: Fly in Early for a Free, 3-hour Contract Coaching Session

Scott Frankel

Scott Frankel, president of Animatic Media LLC & Conference-On-Demand + LIVE and 2023 Smart Meetings Quantum Leap Catalyst Award Winner After a storied event production career that spanned more than 26 years, Scott Frankel has agreed to deconstruct the fine points of audio-visual contracts shine an LED light on what the terminology means, what you really need to make your event look good and where you can save some line items.

Kelly Gleeson Smith

Kelly Gleeson Smith, vice president of sales with Caesars Entertainment and 2023 Smart Women in Meetings Industry Leader This hospitality veteran tasked with managing direct and inside meeting and convention sales with the largest luxury gaming empire in the world is on the front lines of the latest contract terms and what is—and isn’t—open to negotiation. Bring your burning contract questions and leave with the confidence to source smarter.

INNOVATIVE IDEAS

Tracy Stuckrath: Every Meal Matters

As a certified event planner with food allergies, Tracy Stuckrath is passionate about helping event organizers not offend or kill people with the food they serve. She will share tips to transform your event, hospitality service, or workplace to provide food experiences that are safe and inclusive for everyone.

Chef Sherman Branick [The Morning Chew]

With over two decades of culinary expertise, currently as the Executive Banquet Chef at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, he has garnered acclaim for his work in with Caesars Entertainment, 5-star hotels, restaurants, exclusive country clubs and catering facilities. He provides restaurant-quality catering for more than one thousand conferences annually. Prior to this, his roles as chef de cuisine at Paris and Bally's Las Vegas showcased his talent. He also excelled as assistant banquet chef & relief chef de cuisine at Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, overseeing various gourmet restaurants. Internationally, he served as chef de partie at Hanbury Manor in Ware, England. His journey also includes roles as Lead Cook at Mar a Lago Club and the Ritz Carlton Palm Beach. Earning a degree in Culinary Arts from the Florida Culinary Institute in 2001, he clinched top honors in culinary challenges and competitions, reflecting his commitment to culinary excellence.

Chef Dorthy Pace [The Morning Chew]

Caesars Entertainment Executive Pastry Chef Dorothy Pace began her journey in the world of pastry at the iconic Paris Hotel and Casino, a flagship property of Caesars Entertainment. With a portfolio of unforgettable creations and a dedication to innovation, Dorthy stands as a shining example of pastry mastery within the esteemed Caesars Entertainment family. Dorthy holds an associate degree from The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Las Vegas.

Michele Polci, CPCE, CMP [The Morning Chew]

Caesars Entertainment Director of Citywide Catering Sales, Las Vegas Michele Polci oversees the sales effort for all catered events across the company’s nine properties on The Strip: Horseshoe Las Vegas, Caesars Forum, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, LINQ, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Polci leads a team of salespeople who specialize in corporate, convention affiliate and social catering events business. She also serves as a co-chair for AVID, a Caesars Entertainment business impact group, that supports the awareness of visible and invisible disabilities. Polci is actively involved in the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Association of Catering and Events (NACE) and has held a string of positions on the local board including treasurer, vice president, and president. In July 2007 she was honored by NACE as National Caterer of the Year for her endless enthusiasm, dedication, and extraordinary commitment to the industry. In July 2011, Polci was awarded the coveted National Spirit of NACE award. Polci holds the title of the most awards-winning caterer in NACE history. Michele currently serves on the Board of Directors with the SEARCH Foundation as a secretary and event director. She also serves as a director on the Las Vegas Hospitality Association Board. She is also a 2024 Smart Women in Meetings Stellar Performer award winner.

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Elevated Experiences Schedule

Sunday, August 18, 2024 - All Times Local Standard Time

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm	White Glove Welcome: Guest Registration & Gifting Lounge & Check-In
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm	Idea Exchange - Keynote Speaker
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm	Explore the Floor: Property Tour
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm	Networking Celebration: Reception & Dinner

Monday, August 19, 2024 - All Times Local Standard Time

6:30 am - 7:15 am	Seize the Day: Wake Up Activity
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast Social
8:45am - 10:00 am	Instant Start to Smart - Keynote Speaker
10:15 am - 12:30 pm	Meet Your Matches
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Luncheon
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm	Build & Bond Brilliantly: Team Activity
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	#MeTime
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm	Ms. B’s Offsite Bash

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 - All Times Local Standard Time

7:30 am -9:00 am	Breakfast Social
9:00 am - 12:00 pm	Meet Your Matches
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm	Seal the Deal Feast: Luncheon
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm	#Departures

The Details

Smart Meetings Hosted Buyer Experiences are 100% complimentary for qualified meeting planners. Hotels and Destination Partners, please contact our sales team at salesteam@smartmeetings.com for your best available rate.

We use a sophisticated software to custom match our planners with premier properties and destinations that fit your business needs, region, budget and venue preferences. As the event nears, planners and suppliers will have the opportunity to select their appointment preferences to ensure their highest attendee satisfaction.

A qualified Meeting Planner can attend (1) one hosted buyer experience annually based on business needs. Hotels and destination partners may attend unlimited events. Contact our Sales Team for more information at salesteam@smartmeetings.com