Tips for improving odds of a blackjack-winning event

Trying to get lucky with Saint Paddy’s Day just around the corner? You don’t need the luck of the Irish in Las Vegas, because Sin City has so much to offer when sourcing a venue for your next meeting or conference. The RFP Whisperer and the team at Smart Meetings 360, Inc. have a few tips to ensure your luck never runs out.

1. Create a flexible calendar for a better payout

Although a weekend meeting sounds enticing, put the odds in your favor by avoiding stays on high demand nights such as Friday and Saturday. You can reduce your room rate by as much as 50–75 percent by staying Sunday through Thursday. To remain on a hot streak, staying in the summer is an even safer bet. Steer clear of convention season, January through March, when prices are sure to rise. And, believe it or not, Super Bowl weekend is one of the busiest in this sports-betting town.

2. Don’t take a gamble with your hotel

Picking a property on The Strip will keep you in walking distance of most attractions. Trust your instincts, but do your research instead of relying on the luck of the draw! With so many wonderful choices in Las Vegas, it’s the little things that make each venue special. Pay particular attention to quality of guest rooms, meeting space and restaurant options.

3. Play big shot with high-adrenaline experiences

In a city that never sleeps, it’s important to make sure your group steps out of the hotel. There is no shortage of activities in Las Vegas, and although it is home to more than 40 casinos, gambling is only one of the ways to keep your group entertained. Today’s attendee thrives off social interactions and meeting experiences. Consider the adrenaline rush of virtual-reality thrills on New York New York’s 67 mph The Big Apple Coaster. If you feel the need for even more speed, sign up your group to drive exotic race cars at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Or leave them dangling mid-air, more than 1,000 feet above The Strip, at Stratosphere Tower. Another way-out adventure is personalized yoga on the 550-foot-tall High Roller Ferris Wheel at Linq Hotel & Casino.

4. Plan a fortuitous nightcap

Once all your bets are placed and your itinerary choices made, grab your lucky rabbit’s foot and head over to Velveteen Rabbit for live music, tarot card readings and hand-crafted cocktails. This is sure to end your night with a winning experience.


Gayle Klein, Smart Meetings’ global director of meetings and events, is a hospitality and sourcing expert living in San Francisco.

advertisement