Meetings and Events Las Vegas | CityCenter: the epitome of what makes Las Vegas a great event destination

CityCenter: the epitome of what makes Las Vegas a great event destination

Article By: Meeting Planner Resources of Meeting Planner Resources

Las Vegas is a city of neverending entertainment and perpetual fun. An adult’s limitless playground, Sin City is without a question the event destination of choice for many companies because of the after-hours incentives offered to business professionals. Trade-show and convention organizers know that attendees are only occupied with their event’s itinerary for a fraction of their stay, which leaves many hours for them to fill with exciting opportunities. For years, the Las Vegas Strip has represented the ultimate Las Vegas experience with world-class fine-dining establishments, amenity-filled meeting spaces and memorable entertainment options just steps away.

However, established meeting planners working in the Las Vegas market have realized that the Strip sometimes can feel like it lacks spontaneity, especially for professionals who visit for business annually or even biannually. While there’s no mistaking the appeal of the Strip for first-time visitors, repeat attendees often find themselves looking for a change of scenery. Thanks to the joint project of Dubai World and MGM Mirage, the Strip has a new and powerful weapon in its arsenal: CityCenter. This bastion of luxury lodging, dining, shopping and event-space options is developing and changing all the time, offering a world of possibilities for local and national planners looking to create fresh and innovative Las Vegas event experiences.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS AT CITYCENTER
Large-scale planning begins with arranging accommodations for attendees. Since hotels are where visitors and convention goers spend most of their private time, where guests stay sets the tone for their entire experience. Guestrooms should be comfortable and equipped with all of the essential amenities; and, when planning for corporate events, planners should look for hotels with private workstations or complimentary access to a business center. CityCenter’s diverse accommodations match and go beyond the high standards of the Strip. Staying in CityCenter surely will rejuvenate interest and excitement in Las Vegas for attendees who think they know everything about the Entertainment Capital of the World.

ARIA Hotel & Casino
The crown jewel of CityCenter accommodations, ARIA Hotel & Casino offers stunning contemporary architecture that creates a shimmering palatial focal point for the entire complex.

The hotel’s 4,004 guestrooms, including 568 suites, offer incredible luxury amidst advanced hotel technology, including customized lighting, room temperature and music that are just a fingertip away and allow guests to create their ideally soothing environment. The atmosphere, created by a blend of inside and outside space as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the rooms with abundant natural sunlight, is enough to cause guests to pause and wonder, and the posh interiors are accentuated by frame-worthy views of the surrounding area.

ARIA Sky Suites heighten the luxury even more. After a limousine picks up Sky Suite guests at the airport, they are greeted in a separate lobby for check-in and treated to drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the exclusive ARIA Sky Suites lounge before they’re taken up to their accommodations in a private elevator. With more than 1,000 square feet of living space, each suite is designed to feel a little bit like home—only better.

Natural light from the dramatic glass curtain wall on the entire north façade of ARIA illuminates its 300,000-square-foot convention and meeting facility. The sophisticated, contemporary design creates a perfect setting for events from private affairs for 10 to dinners for 5,000. ARIA’s four ballrooms bring present expansive, pillar-free spaces. On the first level, the 51,225-square-foot Bristlecone can divide into 10 sections or be combined with Pinyon’s 38,070 square feet, also divisible into eight sections. On the third level, the Ironwood has 38,049 square feet of space, which can divide into eight sections, and the 19,871-square-foot Juniper can be divided into up to four sections. In addition, ARIA has 36 meeting and breakout rooms as well as two executive boardrooms, each seating up to 24. ARIA also offers full convention and catering services to make your events successful and memorable.

Additional first-class amenities at ARIA Hotel & Casino give guests access to exclusive retailers, a casino and fine dining options, all of which are available for private event rentals. Choose from BARMASA (Japanese), Shaboo (Japanese omakase—meaning the food is chef’s choice), Sage (refined American), Julian Serrano (tapas), Jean Georges Steakhouse (American steakhouse), Sirio Ristroante (Italian), AMERICAN FISH (seafood) and Blossom (Chinese).

From its soothing spa and salon to its exhilarating nightlife, including the Cirque du Soleil® production of Viva ELVIS and a wide range of trendy nightclubs, bars and lounges, ARIA features every component of a full Las Vegas experience. The 24-hour Bell Desk also provides a range of guest services with an on-site concierge to help guests arrange tours, luggage storage, car rentals and ways to visit all of the city’s major attractions.

Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas
The Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, is another of CityCenter’s hallmarks of world-class accommodations. The 47-story hotel is a nongaming facility that offers an enticing alternative to the casino resorts of Las Vegas. Making this haven accessible to the nearby excitement, a skybridge connects the Mandarin to Crystals, CityCenter’s world-class retail, dining and entertainment center.

The Mandarin Oriental’s 392 guestrooms and suites starkly contrast the ultramodern havens at ARIA. The sleek living spaces are accented with Asian flourish, creating an aura of exoticism unique to the Strip. Complemented by warm and friendly guest-service personnel, a stay at Mandarin Oriental is a pleasant retreat in a city that never slows down.

Mandarin Oriental also serves as an excellent meeting and event destination. The Oriental Ballroom sits three floors above Las Vegas Boulevard and features floor-to-ceiling windows (with automated blackout shades) as well as an intimate outdoor patio. Adjacent to a grand pre-function foyer overlooking CityCenter, the ballroom is divisible into three sections and features custom-built hardwood panels on the moveable walls to ensure elegant décor for both large and small events. Plus, meeting planners have individual wireless control of ballroom projectors, screens, lighting and temperature. With natural light and sophisticated technology tailored to your meeting’s needs, the Lotus and Jade function spaces can be reserved alone or combined for 56 guests. The Mandarin Boardroom is an impressive executive boardroom that seats up to 20 with large windows that flood the room with natural light. The pool deck is a unique outdoor venue situated on the eighth floor with views over the gleaming heights of CityCenter. Its private cabanas are ideal for varied food or cocktail booths, or the space can be used for a sophisticated scene with live music or sit-down dinners for up to 150 guests. Mandarin Oriental also offers full convention and catering services.

The Mandarin Oriental’s sumptuous dining options begin at the 23rd-floor Sky Lobby. Twist by Pierre Gagnaire showcases inventive fusion cuisine while MOzen Bistro features international diversity from sushi to Indian delicacies to Thai delights. Other spaces include the dynamic Mandarin Bar, the relaxing Tea Lounge and the Pool Café on the eighth-floor pool deck.

One of the hotel’s many treasures is its comprehensive spa facility. With 27,000 square feet on two floors, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental evokes the splendor of 1930s Shanghai. The spa menu showcases holistic treatments designed to uplift the mind, body and soul. Its 17 treatment rooms allow for privacy and individual attention to maximize the relaxing and soothing effects of the therapies.

Vdara Hotel & Spa
The all-suite Vdara Hotel in CityCenter is the pinnacle of modern lodging luxury featuring diverse amenities. The lavish facility features 1,495 suites and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Vdara’s deluxe suites feature posh linens, plush robes and slippers; high-speed Internet access; under-the-counter refrigerator, fully stocked minibar and convection microwave; and a custom wood-and-glass dining table for two. Bathrooms include a spa-style soaking tubs, deluxe hair and body care products and backlit vanity mirrors.

For truly breathtaking accommodations for the executive set and other VIPs, Vdara’s two-story penthouses, with private key elevator access, are the ultimate in CityCenter opulence. Large-scale picture windows frame views of the Strip, and each penthouse is equipped with a gourmet kitchen and a king-size bed with custom-designed pillow-top mattresses by Sealy. Plus, the living space has a media hub for MP3 players, cameras, DVD players and game consoles.

In this sophisticated, cosmopolitan setting, Vdara asserts its position as the premier conference facility for elaborate conventions, traditional meetings and glamorous social affairs, offering convention services from beginning to end to make your event a success. Aesthetics and location play a vital role in setting the tone in the Viñoly Grand Ballroom. With natural materials, such as warm wood, sandstone and pebbles, this contemporarily designed meeting space just inside the main hotel entrance is the only choice for comfort and convenience, sitting a reception of 300 or dividing into two separate spaces. Three additional spaces called Rafaels I, II and II each seat 50 or 85 for a cocktail reception. Only steps away from Vdara’s main entrance is the Executive Boardroom, an ideal atmosphere to conduct business with the latest technology and elegant décor. The Pool & Lounge Vdara is also available for special-event rental with a reception capacity for 800 or private cabana spaces for smaller affairs.

Vdara’s new dining destination is Silk Road, which offers a unique and flexible meeting space with stunning décor and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The 4,000 square feet of space makes Silk Road ideal for meetings, receptions and banquet events for up to 200 guests in a flexible setting with a private dining room available for up to 14.

Other services offered to all Vdara guests include 24-hour in-room dining, a full-service concierge, a business center and complimentary valet. The hotel’s fitness center is outfitted with the latest cardio equipment, exercise machines and free weights, giving guests everything they need to facilitate their at-home training regimen during their stay in Las Vegas.

CRYSTALS AT CITYCENTER
Anchoring the three towering luxurious hotels and various residential spaces at CityCenter is the comparatively low-to-the-ground shopping destination of Crystals at CityCenter, which offers an unparalleled collection of shopping, dining and entertainment under one roof. Designed by renowned architects Daniel Libeskind and David Rockwell, Crystals occupies more than 500,000 square feet space with unique architecture and a crystalline façade that greets visitors long before they step through the doors.

Shopping and Services
Crystals at CityCenter showcases an unprecedented array of elite high-end and luxury brands from all over the world. Of special note, the Concierge Desk at Crystals sets a new benchmark in the retail industry for delivering personalized services from arranging personal shoppers and fashion consultants to securing dinner and show reservations. Centrally located, the Concierge Desk can be found at the “trunk” of the iconic Tree House or contacted directly at (702) 590-9230.

Dining Delights
Hollywood actress Eva Longoria dazzles the Las Vegas Strip with her celebrated restaurant at Crystals, Beso Steakhouse. Spanish for “kiss,” Beso combines Longoria’s Latin heritage and her passion for cooking with the culinary talents of celebrated chef Todd English. The result is delicious and memorable dishes, from flavorful and tender aged beef to an assortment of Longoria’s signature selections. The 6,000-square-foot interior boasts an exhibition kitchen in its design and holds up to 200 seated guests. Add to that an intimate patio with outdoor dining for up to 120 guests and the chic Beso Lounge with an occupancy of 170, Beso is perfect for banquets and private event rentals. Upstairs from Beso is an additional ultra-lounge space called Eve Nightclub with 7,800 square feet of space available for around 700 guests.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina features Puck’s famed wood-oven baked pizzas as well as pastas and specialty dishes that pay tribute to Italy. The restaurant’s warm and inviting atmosphere offers diners a bird’s-eye view of Crystals. The bar and lounge feature a dynamic beverage list that complements the menu’s exquisite flavors and includes a comprehensive selection of wines, many imported from Italy. Using the freshest and finest ingredients to create the menu, it showcases rustic Italian favorites and enticing entrées featuring delectable meats and fish. Perfect for your private affairs, the restaurant offers its Rustic and Warm private dining room that seats 60 or 125 for a cocktail reception, a banquet room seating 108 and the bar area for 22 and lounge area for 26.

Mastro`s Ocean Club at Crystals offers a combination of an elegant and energetic atmosphere, world-class service, live entertainment and exquisite cuisine, such as a signature three-tiered iced Seafood Tower, bone-in filet, lobster mashed potatoes and a warm butter cake. Mastro`s Ocean Club lets guests dine inside of Crystals’ featured architectural element—70-foot-tall sculptural Tree House—or for a livelier atmosphere, Mastro`s offers live music and dining at its grand bar and piano every day. For large groups or private events, Mastro`s Ocean Club Las Vegas can accommodate parties from 12 to 80. Three elegant private dining rooms with audiovisual capabilities for meetings overlook the Tree House and seat from 12 to 30 guests. Combined, the rooms create a large private dining area for up to 80. Mastro`s Ocean Club is also available for exclusive buyout, seating up to 300 guests.

Social House at Crystals is an innovative Sushi restaurant with delectable cuisine and unrivaled décor. The Social House menu is a masterpiece of Pan-Asian cuisine and sushi prepared with the finest ingredients and keen presentation. Complementing the menu, the dining space provides a warmth and intimacy suitable for creating an unforgettable evening. For private events are welcome at Social House. For a buyout, the minimum guarantee requires 100 guests, but the restaurant can accommodate up to 220 for sit down up to 300 reception style.

Todd English P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar) at Crystals provides everything great about a traditional East Coast hangout transplanted and translated into Vegas style. Each end of the warm-wood curved bar features a stunning carvery with an assortment of prime meats as well as a full raw bar offering the best of the sea. Todd English P.U.B. offers 30 premium beers on tap at the bar, and the cuisine includes traditional American comfort foods and creative delicacies. The restaurant features an expansive patio dining area, a dramatic bar for big groups and comfy intimate booths. Open daily, the space’s private areas are always available for rental, such as the Game Room, which holds around 40, and the Patio, which holds between 20 and 30. Todd English P.U.B. also houses two draft tables that can be reserved for parties of 4 or more, and the entire venue is available for buyout at certain times.

Art Galleries
In addition to the CityCenter Fine Art Collection, which features work by 15 internationally respected artists, Crystals’ aptly named Gallery Row features three world-class art venues open to visitors and art collectors alike. Artist Dale Chihuly is exhibiting at The GALLERY. This 4,350-square-foot space features a diverse representation of Chihuly’s dynamic glass sculptures, drawings and prints. Chihuly is recognized internationally for his use of color, fluid glass forms and large-scale architectural installations.

Crystals Place also features The Wilderness Collection Gallery that showcases the award-winning photography of Rodney Lough, Jr. His stunning visual images transport visitors far and wide with breathtaking scenes of natural wonders from across the United States and abroad.

Whether planning a corporate meeting or celebration, the Art of Richard MacDonald presents a beautiful and contemporary setting for any gathering among MacDonald’s more than 50 bronze sculptures and 10 heroic-size works. Located in Crystals Place at CityCenter, MacDonald’s gallery features a spectacular 40-foot waterwall, split-face stone walls and dynamic steel-curved niches. At 3,600 square feet, the gallery is one of the world’s premier sculpture spaces that also is an intriguing event space for a maximum of 100 guests. Services to arrange catering and a full bar are available.

CityCenter is without question the future of Las Vegas accommodations, dining and events. One of the city’s newer entities, it gives planners more value for their money in a new setting. With so many top guest amenities along with nearby access to great retail, dining and entertainment opportunities, CityCenter is the epitome of what makes Las Vegas a great event destination multiplied many times over.