Meetings and Events Las Vegas | What's in a Name?

Nestled in the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip, Tropicana Las Vegas is a true Las Vegas landmark. The historic property is currently transforming itself into a vibrant, South Beach, Miami themed escape.

What's in a Name?

Article By: Melissa Sheldon of VI: Volume 4 - Issue 1

As 2011 has some corporations continuing to trim budget fat, especially when it comes to travel, those watching the bottom line may be pleasantly surprised to learn that their dollar is going to get them farther this season. At least such is the case when looking at the Las Vegas lodging landscape. Instead of hotels and resorts investing in expansion and large scale marketing campaigns, they are finding significance in revamping their existing properties and bringing more value to customers. Several Las Vegas-area hotels are doing just that which is welcomed news for the event planning industry national wide.

When researching hotel accommodations it is now more important than ever to dig a little deeper into what the current status of the facility is and less important to rely on name recognition alone. Hotels that may have lost some of their luster when newer, more promoted properties moved into town may now actually have more modern and up-to-date guest rooms, gaming areas, bars, and meeting space. Not only do the renovations apply to material goods, but policy as well. By rehauling customer loyalty programs and complimentary guest amenities, hotels are able to bring back those who have since been gone. These renovations and brand revamping are benefiting the companies which book them for meeting and event lodging by giving guests the appeal and services of a new property but at the same pre-renovation price. The following four hotels are ones you should keep an eye on.

Tropicana Renovation
Tropicana’s head-to-toe makeover started in 2010 and was the first remodel the hotel has undergone for several decades. The idea was to bring cohesion throughout the hotel with a south-beach feel starting from the moment you walk in the door with a pumped-in tropical sent. The two-phase renovation started with updates to public, convention, and restaurant areas as well as the sports book. The first phase also included redoing the once-popular pool which Las Vegas hotels are finding to be a key element for the young demographic.

While on your way to the guest rooms you pass Thassos white marble title in the gaming pit and white painted walls in elevator lobbies, a departure from the brass and mirrors previously found on the ground floor. Completely redesigned rooms feature furnishings with rattan and bamboo material and 42-inch plasma TVs. Of course the suites and high-end rooms are even more lavish and modernized. Overall the look is cleaner and crisper with bright colors and natural light. Built in 1957 and one of the Strip’s oldest properties, the Tropicana has indeed proved it has staying power.

Caesars Palace Tower, Nobu Hotel
Perhaps one of the most innovative renovations announced this year is the conversion of a Caesars Palace tower into the Nobu Hotel. The concept is a hotel-within-a-hotel. Currently Caesars Palace features six hotel towers which will include the newly announced Nobu Hotel, replacing the existing Centurion Tower. The Nobu Hotel will feature 180 rooms fused with Nobu’s signature Japanese elegance, a restaurant and a lounge. Guests of the new hotel will have the distinction of private check-in services as well as room services from Nobu’s culinary team. Nobu Matsuhisa is the visionary of the Nobu brand and also the chef who was classically trained in Tokyo. Nobu is seeking a hospitality brand with universal appeal which is sure to entice style-makers and trendsetters.

The 9,500 square foot restaurant and lounge will be placed at the base of the Nobu tower, near the existing Appian Way at Caesars Palace. Promising to be a fun and social experience, the hotel will be attracting first-time visitors in the near future. The launch may not be ready until 2012 but with the possibility of the Nobu brand replicating this concept in other Caesar properties in other markets, you could be the first to host your organizations’ next event at this imaginative facility.

Ravella Hotel
Not often do hotel guests get to enjoy the luxuries and prestige of the Ritz-Carlton brand at about 30 percent off the usual price tag. Since the Ritz-Carlton’s 15-acre, 348-room luxury hotel closed at Lake Las Vegas in 2010, it has been given a second chance by New Jersey-based Dolce Hotels & Resorts. The new hotel is called Ravella and it has retained much of the Italian-inspired décor of the luxury brand but with added contemporary flourishes. Modern flares like bright artwork have been added to the lobby for comfort instead of the antique-looking tapestries and olive color tones. The lobby has also been divided into three sections with a restaurant, sitting area, and business area. The business section of the lobby emphasizes the focus that the Ravella Hotel has placed on the corporate traveler. TVs and tables with connectivity ports give business people a chance to operate outside of their rooms and a partnership with restaurants allows tabs to be charged back to their rooms while dining within MonteLago Village.

Also aimed at corporate travelers is the hotels on-site, once three-meal restaurant that has been replaced with a market-style restaurant for convenience. When work and business isn’t calling, SouthShore golf course, a private Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Lake Las Vegas, is open to guests looking to hit the links. The Ravella Hotel’s lakeside location, spa, and white-sand beach are also great ways to unwind after a day of business affairs.

With a more economic strategy than under Ritz-Carlton ownership to keep costs reasonable, Ravella has committed to providing service revolving around meetings and developing group business. Plus, the short yet noticeable distance from the Strip brings peace and tranquility for meeting and convention goers seeking to eliminate bright-light distractions. The lower operating costs permit affordable room rates for individuals and groups.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts Renovations
If you have ever driven east to Las Vegas you have more than likely seen the Primm Valley Casino Resorts, comprised of three hotels, located at the California/Nevada stateline. For many, the sight of these casinos brings with it a sense of excitement that Las Vegas is just a few more miles away as the neon lights on the Strip come into focus. But now the backing of $8.5 million is changing two hotels in a major way and giving area visitors a reason to stay.

Early in 2011 Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino let the media in to view the enhancements that have been made throughout the property. Included improvements are remodeled guests rooms with designer desks, chairs, dressers, night stands, and lamps which were originally intended for another hotel that fell through but were swept up at discounted prices by Buffalo Bill’s. New carpeting, refinished surfaces, new signage, and energy-saving LED bulbs are found in the gaming and common areas.

Although Buffalo Bill’s intends to eventually complete renovations in all of the rooms, the resort has only finished some as of early 2011. However, each bed has received triple sheeting commonly found at Strip hotels plus new mattresses where added. It may be best to clarify which room you will receive when making reservations.
Although these new elements have a modern style, the hotel is still steeped in western-themed roots which appeals to those interested in a distinctive and un-predictable Las Vegas hotel that can stand on its own. The upgrades have given Buffalo Bill’s a reason to actively seek guests and meeting planners to visit the new and improved property.

Primm Valley is also getting in on the room upgrades, which goes nicely with the spa that was renovated in 2010 and rivals some spas on the Strip. The multi-million dollar Primm Valley renovations also has to do with marketing the property for what it is, a boutique hotel with often over-looked amenities like direct covered access to the Fashion Outlet mall. Without the furnishings becoming available at these lowered prices, a renovation may have not been possible. The savings can now be passed on to you, the planner, so now is great time to explore these unsuspecting hotels and casinos.