Leading The Recovery - MGM Resorts International

Forward
together.
I
t’s no secret that nearly every sector of the United States economy has faced
significant challenges over the past few years. The meetings and conventions
industry has been no exception. Yet I wanted to share with you how MGM Resorts
InternationalTM has risen to those challenges – and is now moving beyond them.
During a shifting economic landscape, we saw opportunity in uncertainty. By
leveraging the power of the full portfolio of our world-famous properties – 16 of the
most renowned destinations in the world – we’re not only part of the recovery, we’re
also leading it. Throughout the recession, our meetings and conventions professionals
have made new inroads with exciting new business ideas, and we’ve forged important
new relationships in the process. We’ve diversified our client base. Expanded our
notoriety within important industry circles. And created mutually productive new
partnerships.
At the heart of this resilience and progress is our most important asset: our people.
Together, they’re part of a corporate-wide culture that is focused on the customer,
focused on solutions, and focused on the future. From sales leadership to banquet
chefs to group sales to catering sales and convention services managers, these
seasoned, dedicated professionals have rolled up their sleeves for the good of our
clients and the future of our company. Together, we’ve paired hard work with high
standards – and the results take shape as exceeded expectations, time and again.
I am proud to be a part of such a high-caliber team. These are individuals who
approach our company the same way they would a cause: with passion, zeal, and
unflagging enthusiasm.
It’s a unique dynamic – one that has meant the continual re-invention of our resorts.
That means adding new amenities and new attractions. And never wavering from
the commitment to providing our guests with the kind of experiences that can be
found no place else. We dedicate ourselves to honoring this commitment with every
customer, with every event.
As an industry, our challenges are not over. But as the mountains we climb give
way to hills, and as those hills yield to plains, we can look back on where we’ve come
from knowing that together we can scale any heights. And should we find ourselves
confronted with difficult terrain again in the future, we’ll do exactly what we did
before: move forward, boldly.
Clients and team members, we look forward to moving forward with you.
Sincerely,
Richard Harper
Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing
MGM Resorts International
A NEW ERA
Sales leadership comes
together to help build a
brighter future
T
he sun is shining, the casinos are buzzing, the hotel lobbies
are teeming with incoming guests. It’s official: Vegas is back
in business.
As meeting groups start to hit the road again after three
years of an economic downturn, Las Vegas is helping to lead the
recovery. A big part of that story involves the twelve people pictured
here, the sales leadership of MGM Resorts International. They, along
with their teams of hotel and catering salespeople, convention
service managers, banquet chefs and hotel operations staff, pulled
together through the dark times to guarantee the survival of their
properties and their city. Now, they’re ready to start thriving again.
And there has never been a better time.
MGM Resorts has grown dramatically over the past decade, first
merging with Mirage Resorts in 2000, then acquiring Mandalay
Resort Group in 2005. Even the most frequent Las Vegas visitor may
not realize that so many of the most recognizable properties on
The Strip are all part of the same family. “The company has always
believed in promoting the individual brands that are independently
iconic in the industry.”
“We’ve heard from many customers that they didn’t realize the
scope of our company and the benefits that come with booking
one or more of our properties,” says Richard Harper, Executive Vice
President of Sales and Marketing for MGM Resorts.
Some of the most visible benefits for meeting planners include a single
contract to cover multiple properties, along with a single credit application.
If a planner is at Mandalay Bay one year and at Bellagio the next, the
Mandalay Bay team will consult with Bellagio to share their knowledge
about the group, freeing up the planner’s time considerably. Planners also
receive priority preference for venues, services or entertainment events at
any MGM sister properties. And soon, MGM Resorts plans to expand its
M life loyalty program to include meeting planners.
“Often, people think that Las Vegas sells itself,” says Fletch
Brunelle, Senior Vice President, Hotel Sales & Marketing for Bellagio.
“We know that’s not true. We have to work hard every day to stay
aware of what our clients want and to keep our relationships with
them strong. One thing we’ve learned at MGM in the last few years is
that when all of us work together, all of that becomes a lot easier.”
GETTING THE MESSAGE
MGM Resorts sales leadership, L-R,
Bryan Gay, Fletch Brunelle,
Brian Keenan, Stephanie Windham,
Dan Rush, Gail Fitzgerald,
Mike Pistana, Tara Russell,
Richard Harper, Jay Simpson,
Chris Bond, Tim Barnett
POWER
PLAYERS
MGM Resorts’ sales team and
CSMs take care of your business
W
ith 58 Certified Meeting Professionals throughout the MGM
Resorts organization, it’s clear that the properties’ sales force
(left) and Conventions Services Managers (below) know their
business. Their knowledge and experience has been a critical
element in the company’s rapid growth over the past decade.
“I think we’ve got the best in the business,” says Steve Ouimet, CMP, Director
of Convention Services for ARIA. “Last year we maintained an average in
convention sales and services of 98 percent guest satisfaction.” These results
are particularly gratifying, he says, because so much of their group business
in the past year has been booked short term. “You still need to provide
exceptional service but don’t have the luxury of time to make sure you’re
covering all of your bases. It makes for long days and long hours. But everyone
remained positive. How could you not?”
One key to their success is the communication between sales, convention
services and catering not only within each property, but between them. “We
have an extremely close relationship with all of the different hotels in our
portfolio,” says Brian Keenan, CMP, Vice President, Hotel Sales at MGM Grand.
“We’re communicating on a daily basis, and it’s done on very much a team level.”
The other important factor is the familiarity customers have with staff
throughout the company. “I’ve had planners I worked with ten years ago at
The Mirage, and when they come for a site inspection at ARIA, they see
banquet staff they’ve worked with before,” says Ouimet. “It tells them that
MGM is a fantastic company to work for and to do business with.”
TASTE MAKERS
Catering sales
managers and
banquet chefs
bring out their
best
E
very meeting planner and, more important, every meeting-goer knows
one thing: no matter the size of the event, no matter its business purpose,
no matter its budget, the crucial element that makes it or breaks it is the
catering. That’s why MGM Resorts considers its catering sales staff (above)
and group of banquet chefs (right) to be as important as any other part of its team.
“There’s a true mutual respect for each other,” says Martie Sparks, Vice President
of Banquets, Catering & Convention Services at Mandalay Bay. “Your role may be
different in terms of responsibilities but there’s an understanding that your role,
not your title, is equally as important as anyone else’s. That’s the philosophy we
send throughout the entire company.”
That philosophy starts in MGM Resorts’ offices and kitchens, but truly manifests
itself in what meeting attendees find before them when they sit down to enjoy a
meal. “We really focus on providing a world-class restaurant quality product in a
banquet setting,” says Sean Dicicco, Executive Chef at Mandalay Bay. “It’s an everevolving situation. We never do the same thing twice for the same group, and they
recognize that. It’s what we love to do.”
REGIONAL STRENGTH
Your closest allies in
creating brilliant events
Jacqueline Goldy
Vice President of Incentive Sales
Based in Chicago, Jacque is a onestop shop for the Incentive planning
community.
Amy Huff
Director of Regional Sales
Based in Richmond, Va., Amy is a
one-stop shop for the Southeast
planning community.
Dzidra Junior
Director of Regional Sales-Diversity
Based in Las Vegas, Dzidra is a
one-stop shop for the Diversity
planning community.
Michael Shannon
Director of Regional Sales
Based in New Jersey, Michael is a
one-stop shop for the Northeast
planning community
Gary Murakami
Director of Regional Sales
Based in San Francisco, Gary is a
one-stop shop for the West Coast
planning community.
8
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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ARIA
arialasvegas.com
Sleek, contemporary and thoroughly adult, ARIA has dramatically altered not only the Las Vegas skyline, but also
the city’s meetings landscape since its opening in December 2009. An integral part of the CityCenter hotel, residential, retail and entertainment complex, ARIA is the jewel in
MGM Resorts’ luxury crown and the most compelling meetings destination to open in Las Vegas this century.
W
ith its graceful design and
extraordinary collection
of modern art, the striking
ARIA tower houses
4,004 guest rooms with cutting-edge
technology and panoramic views. ARIA’s
300,000-square-foot convention and
meeting facility, bathed in natural light
and among the most environmentally
sustainable meetings facilities in the world,
is an extraordinary venue. And there’s a
reason for that. ARIA attracted some of
MGM Resorts’ most dynamic and longestserving talent to its pre-opening staff,
including Stephanie Windham, CMP, Vice
President of Sales, who was one of the first
people brought on board the CityCenter
project. “My first responsibility was getting
out there to the customers so people would
be aware that it was coming,” she says.
Windham’s first three years at ARIA were
spent selling a property that didn’t yet
exist, relying on renderings and videos to
try and bring the resort to life for their top
prospects. “We took the best managers
from our other hotels and brought them
over here to help create the sales materials.”
Recognizing the rapid pace of technological
change in the modern world, particularly
when it comes to the tools necessary for
meetings, the goal of the ARIA team was to
create a convention facility that wouldn’t
age quickly. “We wanted to put things in
that people would appreciate for several
years to come,” says Windham. At the same
time, they were determined to create an
environment for meetings that was not only
aesthetically pleasing, but also invigorating,
which was accomplished with a dramatic
glass curtain wall and rooftop gardens.
Another, equally important element of their
mission was to create a facility that was
environmentally sound and sustainable.
As part of CityCenter, ARIA is proud to
help set a new standard for environmentally
responsible growth in Las Vegas. MGM
Resorts International earned six distinct
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED®) Gold certifications for CityCenter from the U.S. Green
year when they beat out a competitor and signed a client to a multiBuilding Council. All woods come from responsibly managed forests;
year deal to bring 2,500 people to ARIA during a historic slow time
water use, both inside the building and outdoors, is highly efficient;
of the year. “The holidays are typically a slow convention period in
and ARIA features an improvement of more than 30 percent in energy
the city when banquet servers and other support staff are usually
efficiency over standard building codes. ARIA has also received the
shifted to part time work,” says Windham. ARIA’s employees won’t
highest level of recognition, “5 Green Keys,” from the Green Key
have to worry about that for a while. “It’s a great feeling to have this
Eco-Rating Program, the largest international program evaluating
business in December and it a huge coup for us.”
sustainable hotel operations.
Because of the myriad venues throughout ARIA, groups
find themselves with a dizzying choice of places for
events large and small, including the Haze Nightclub, the
Stephanie Windham
Graceland-inspired Gold Boutique Nightclub and Lounge,
Vice President of Sales, ARIA and Vdara
and the high-roller Deuce Lounge. Private dining rooms
866.718.2489 | meetings@arialasvegas.com
and buyouts are also available at ARIA’s 16 restaurants,
which include Jean Georges Steakhouse, Sirio Ristorante,
AMERICAN FISH by Michael Mina, Julian Serrano Spanish
“The MGM Resorts’ philosophy is
Fine Dining and Sage by Shawn McClain.
understanding the customer needs
ARIA has recently begun offering Crystals as a venue for
private parties, dine-arounds or shopping experiences for
and wants and between all of us,
groups. In March, Crystals will host a catered function for
having something for those needs.”
1,000 with plans to do larger groups in the future.
The pre-opening team assigned to ARIA were rewarded
tephanie Windham never imagined as a young woman that she would
for their effort soon after the property’s opening, as one
of their first events hosted the toughest critics imaginable:
make her career in Las Vegas. Originally a ballet dancer from Boston who
the meetings and travel professionals of HelmsBriscoe,
recalls performing in up to 56 performances of the Nutcracker every
whose partner conference was in house. “They said it was
year, Windham thought to add to her marketability with a business degree from
flawless,” says Windham. “It was truly remarkable to be
Southern Methodist University in Dallas while continuing to dance. But a trip to
able to pull that off in our first 30 days.” And their success
Vegas changed her destiny. “I thought I would stay a short time and go to graduate
only multiplied from there. ARIA hosted 568 groups in its
school, and then I started working in leisure sales at The Mirage in 1998.” And
first year, and the response was phenomenal. “I couldn’t
she never left. Today Windham is proud of her long tenure with what is now
be more proud of the feedback from our customers,” says
MGM Resorts International. The greatest benefit of that, she says, is the longWindham. “I have pages of testimonials with nearly perfect
term relationships she has maintained with her clients. “I have customers I started
post-con review scores. Many of them say it was their
working with 13 years ago at The Mirage and still have today. We want them to
company’s best meeting. And now there’s a lot of repeat
think of our properties as people, not just a hotel or a company.”
business wanting to come back in 2011 and beyond.”
S
One of ARIA’s most meaningful successes came last
10
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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VDARA
vdara.com
Vdara is the close sister to ARIA, bringing an exclusive,
non-gaming, smoke-free, sustainable alternative to the
CityCenter hotel, residential, retail and entertainment
complex. Perfect for intimate conferences that want to
keep the focus on business, the 57-story tower boasts
1,495 architecturally intriguing suites, with open floor
plans and horizontally oriented windows that offer
expansive views of the city and mountains.
P
erhaps even more importantly,
Vdara has also received a “5 Green
Keys” rating, the highest honor
possible from the Green Key EcoRating Program. Like ARIA, Vdara has
received the U.S. Green Building Council’s
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design Gold Certification.
“Vdara has it’s own particular niche,
particularly with pharmaceutical, financial
and insurance groups because of the nongaming aspect,” says Stephanie Windham,
CMP, Vice President of Sales for both ARIA
and Vdara, which in June 2010 consolidated
their sales teams to enhance synergy
between the two properties. “A 100-person
group that would typically be one of many in
a larger hotel can be the big fish at Vdara.”
Because Vdara is next door to ARIA
and directly connected to Bellagio, it
also provides housing for overflow from
both properties, as well as a slightly less
expensive – but still luxurious – alternative
to either. And for those guests at Vdara
who want to mix a little pleasure with their
business, the casinos and entertainment of
ARIA and Bellagio are mere steps away.
Vdara, appropriately enough, has its own
intelligently designed and ultra-functional
conference facilities. The Viñoly Grand
Ballroom employs natural materials such
as warm wood, sandstone and pebbles in
a contemporary design located just inside
the main hotel entrance. Nearby is a sleek,
442-square-foot executive boardroom.
Overall, Vdara features 10,000 square feet
of meeting space.
As with ARIA, the property’s preopening sales team was closely involved
with the design from the very beginning,
ensuring that every detail was chosen
and planned to serve the needs of its
guests – particularly meeting groups –
perfectly. Tara Russell, now Vice President
of Convention Sales at Bellagio, was recruited to be part of the
CityCenter team from the project’s inception. Assigned to Vdara,
Russell worked closely with the architects and designers to ensure
that Vdara’s mix of luxury and cutting-edge design was always
focused on maximizing the customer experience. “I selected
mattresses and banquet linens, reviewed menus and signage,
worked on egress, and even helped number the rooms,” she says.
One of the most popular venues at Vdara for unique private
events is the Vdara Pool & Lounge. Perched above the porte
cochère, Vdara Pool & Lounge serves up striking views of
CityCenter and the Las Vegas Strip as the backdrop to exclusive
group functions, and with nearly 30,000 square feet of space, can
easily accommodate groups large and small. For smaller, more
personal gatherings planners can book the pool deck’s private
cabanas, which offer spectacular views in an intimate setting.
For dining and relaxing on property, Vdara is home to Market
Café Vdara, which features a gourmet coffee bar, pastries, paninis,
and a menu of freshly prepared breakfast and lunch items. This
is the casual and cozy eatery for meeting-goers to drop by for a
quick bite, sweet treats, gourmet groceries, and healthy options.
On the other end of the spectrum is the refined and energetic vibe
of Bar Vdara, a luxurious yet playful space offering guests unique
experiences as its mood changes throughout the day. Whimsical
touches like outdoor swings, light-enhancing sculptural screens
and a curved reflecting pool enhance the nature of the space.
Adding to the sense of calm that Vdara provides along the
Las Vegas Strip is the Spa, which furthers the hotel’s theme of
natural, organic integration. Offering a thoughtfully orchestrated
collection of massages, body treatments and skincare services,
body treatments focus on holistic health and utilize highgrade, natural ingredients derived from herbs, flowers, fruits,
vegetables, and oils.
866.760.2489 | meetings@vdara.com
12
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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BELLAGIO
bellagio.com
Since its opening in 1998, Bellagio has set the standard for
grandeur, luxury and service in Las Vegas. The magnificent
Fountains of Bellagio at the resort’s entrance, considered one
of the world’s most ambitiously complex water features, is now
one of The Strip’s most recognizable and beloved landmarks.
T
he building itself ushered in a new
era of tasteful elegance in Las
Vegas, with the floral displays
of the Conservatory & Botanical
Gardens, where every season is re-created
with gorgeous plants, flowers and trees.
Yet for all that Bellagio contains – the
stunning architecture, the courtyards
and pools, the world’s largest chocolate
fountain at Jean-Philippe Patisserie , the
top-flight restaurants and world-class art
– what sets Bellagio apart is its people.
“Bellagio is a special place because of the
people who bring this resort to life,” says
Fletch Brunelle, Senior Vice President, Hotel
Sales and Marketing. “Everyone from the
valet, doormen, bellmen, front desk agents,
operations, all of those individuals are
what Bellagio is about. We can build pretty
buildings, but you really have to animate
them with talented, enthusiastic people.”
One of those bringing Bellagio to life
is Brunelle’s colleague Tara Russell, Vice
President, Convention Sales. An eightyear veteran of Marriott in California
and Hawaii, she made her way to Las
Vegas and The Mirage in 1998, and has
been with Bellagio since June. “This is
the best place I’ve ever worked,” she
says. Special kudos, she says, must go to
Randy Morton, the resort’s president and
chief operating officer. “He is the best in
the business because he is involved. He
meets our customers in the front drive,
he shakes everybody’s hand, he is very
involved with the team culture. I’ve never
worked for anybody like this and I’ve been
doing this for 22 years.”
The result of this focus on staff, Russell
says, is that Bellagio never feels huge,
cold or impersonal. “Bellagio is opulent,
but it is warm and inviting, and that’s why
guests come back time after time.”
It may seem a contradiction to call a
AAA Five Diamond Award-winning resort
like Bellagio, which is home to more than
3,900 guest rooms and suites “intimate,”
but in truth, that’s exactly what Bellagio
is. With such an enormous staff – more
than 8,200 employees, including 900
chefs – and a wealth of beautiful spaces
and venues, it’s possible to make groups
Fletch Brunelle
Senior Vice President, Hotel Sales
& Marketing
702.693.7388
fbrunelle@bellagioresort.com
“We want to be the company of choice for
individuals to hold successful programs.
We’re very customer-centric.”
F
of any size feel at home. Consider, for example, that among
the many indoor and outdoor meeting and event facilities at
Bellagio, which include four ballrooms and 200,000 square
feet of space, perhaps the most popular is the Tuscany Kitchen.
Designed expressly for meeting and convention groups, the first
exhibition kitchen of its kind in Las Vegas showcases Bellagio’s
culinary arts with top-of-the-line Viking Range equipment
and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology. Here, groups
can witness Bellagio’s distinguished culinary artisans, awardwinning chefs and master sommeliers at work to prepare a oneof-a-kind dining experience exclusively for their group.
Bellagio is especially proud to be home to three master
sommeliers, a remarkable number considering that is the same
number of master sommeliers in New York City; Los Angeles,
as a point of comparison, has none, according to Brunelle.
Similarly, Bellagio also has two AAA Five Diamond Awardwinning restaurants in Picasso and Le Cirque, a distinction no
other resort can boast.
Among the extraordinary meeting and event spaces at
Bellagio are the 3,000-square-foot Bellagio Gallery of Fine
Art, which can accommodate 250 in its gallery, atrium and
reception area; the 8,200-square-foot Richard MacDonald Fine
Art Gallery, home to highly collected figurative sculpture, and
able to accommodate 300; and the exquisitely-appointed The
Bank nightclub, which can host events for up to 1,000. The
many restaurants, including Michael Mina, Le Cirque, Picasso,
Sensi® and Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge, either offer
private dining rooms or are available for group buyouts.
Despite these world-class facilities and services, perhaps the
most surprising aspect of Bellagio’s appeal to meeting groups
is its value, which is one important reason why the resort has
continued to succeed even through the economic difficulties of
the past few years and anticipates thriving in the next several
years as the recovery gathers steam. “We will continue to show
we are a great value,” says Brunelle.
letch Brunelle has been in hospitality his entire life, working
as a busboy, in kitchens, in banquet setup – even as a bouncer
for the Sha Na Na show at the Sands. An accounting major
at UNLV, his professional career started in finance at the Dunes,
followed by a four-and-a-half year stint at the Las Vegas Convention
& Visitors Authority as research director. Fletch joined MGM Resorts
in finance at the Golden Nugget while attending UNLV once again
and received his MBA knowing all along where the action was. “I
could tell that the most fun was in sales and marketing.” When Beau
Rivage was being developed in Biloxi, Miss., Brunelle found himself
helping to get air service to nearby Gulfport. After the successful
launch of this program, he was tabbed to develop a corporate leisure
sales department for the newly merged MGM MIRAGE. Now, in his
fifth year at Bellagio, he is excited to help the younger generation
at MGM Resorts see how far they can grow within the company.
“When you look at the longevity of the individuals here you find the
focus is on growth internally,” he says.
“Watching the development of staff
and being able to help them toward
their goals is the most satisfying part
of what I do.”
Tara Russell
Vice President of Convention Sales
702.693.8288
trussell@bellagioresorts.com
“It’s an amazing experience to go from
my car every day to my office in Bellagio.
Some days I hear six different
languages spoken during that walk.”
H
‘‘
ospitality is in my blood,” says Tara Russell. “I knew that
I wanted to be in the business. I traveled with my family
when I was younger, and I thought it was a glamorous way
of life. I wanted to be either in the hotel industry or be a flight
attendant. I was too short to be a flight attendant!” A Connecticut
native, Russell studied hotel management at Schiller International
University in Engelberg, Switzerland. For her honeymoon, she
took her husband on a mission to Bali to meet the medicine man
from “Eat Pray Love.” “I had read and loved the book and I wanted
to meet him,” she says. “So we traveled 18,000 miles to the jungle.
When I put my mind to something, I’m pretty determined.” A
key part of the pre-opening team for ARIA and Vdara, Russell
was very pregnant with her baby boy when the two properties
celebrated their grand openings. “I swaddled around and went
to two major grand openings. Then I had my baby six days later!”
14
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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MGM GRAND
mgmgrand.com
When MGM Grand opened in 1993 it totally redefined what
a resort could be. The largest hotel in the world at the time,
nothing like it had ever been seen in Las Vegas or, for that
matter, anywhere. Much has changed on the Strip in the nearly
two decades since MGM Grand’s topping off ceremony, and
the property has more than kept pace, thoroughly refurbishing
and redefining itself as the heart of Las Vegas lifestyle.
W
ith more than 5,000 guest
rooms and 602,000 square
feet of meeting space,
it is one of the premier
business destinations in town; with its many
high-end restaurants, entertainment and
Grand Spa, it offers some of the area’s most
compelling dining and recreation options;
and with the opening of the three all-suite
towers of The Signature at MGM Grand,
guests may now enjoy all the amenities of
the resort along with unparalleled luxury
and personal service, all within a nongaming and non-smoking environment.
“We’re five properties in one when you
look at all the different aspects of what
we have,” says Brian Keenan, CMP, vice
president, hotel sales. No one would know
better than he, having started at MGM Grand
as one of the property’s first interns upon
opening, and working his way up through
convention services and into sales. In fact,
Keenan built MGM Grand’s convention
services department to service the property’s
conference center at the time of its
construction, and was a recipient of PCMA’s
Distinguished Convention Services Manager
of the year Award in 2004. “We have
something for everyone here. We can be
luxury, yet we also represent a good choice
from an economic perspective,” he adds.
Despite the size of MGM Grand’s meeting
facilities, “we’re not just a big group house,”
says Keenan. “We handle groups of 10 to
4,000, and in fact, the majority of our
groups are on the smaller side. That said,
our sweet spot is in the 2,300-to 3,000
room range.”
The property’s 602,000 square feet of
flexible meeting space can easily adapt for
events of all sizes and types, and includes
the 380,000-square-foot Grand Conference
Center, as well as its newest addition, the
92,000-square-foot Marquee Ballroom.
Even more important than the sheer size
and number of the resort’s facilities is the
experience and dedication of its staff, which includes 13 Certified
partnered with Mandalay Bay, and it was a great model of
Meeting Professionals — among the most of any resort. These
showing how we can use multiple properties for large groups,”
managers specialize in groups of particular sizes, with Executive
says Keenan. “We can even do one contract for multiple
Meetings managers handling groups of 15 to 300 while their
properties to save planners the trouble.”
National managers work with groups requiring room
blocks of 301 to 4,000-plus rooms.
Also in-house is MGM Grand Productions, a
full-service production company that combines
Brian Keenan
years of experience with the most current and
CMP, Vice President, Hotel Sales
innovative technical and visionary concepts to deliver
800.929.1112 | hotelsalesleads@lv.mgmgrand.com
extraordinary group events. MGM Grand Productions’
technicians know how to optimize the physical
“The people side of the job is what
properties of the space at MGM Grand to produce the
best results for events and meetings.
excites me. The most exciting part
So much knowledge and experience is put to
is the relationships I’ve built over
use every day at MGM Grand — as is the staff’s
eagerness to do whatever is necessary to service
the years with our customers.”
their group clients. One of the largest events the
Pittsburgh Steeler fan for life, Brian Keenan was naturally disappointed when
property ever hosted was a sit-down dinner for the
his team lost Super Bowl XLV in February, especially when he was forced
16,500-person sales force of Arbonne, a cosmetics
to endure the crowing of his colleague (and Packers fan) Fletch Brunelle
company. “It was almost a military operation,”
of Bellagio. But with so much activity going on every day in Las Vegas, it was easy
says Keenan. “There was no room for error. We
for Keenan to put the big game behind and get caught up once more in the big
pulled everybody in from the management team to
show that is life at MGM Grand. Keenan grew up in Switzerland and Hong Kong
help, whether to plate up the food or to help with
before moving to the somewhat less exotic environs of Illinois. All along, he worked
the service operation.” Keenan took up a position
in restaurants, where he fell in love with the business of hospitality. “Going into
putting polenta on plates, a task he found far more
hotels was just the right move,” he says. He attended Eastern Illinois University,
challenging than he had anticipated. “You really
where a visit to a job fair lured him to his internship at the brand-new MGM Grand.
had to be precise with the amount of polenta you
Keenan never looked back. He started in general reservations and then moved to
scooped, because for that many people, if you give
group reservations, where he quickly learned the rewards of working with meeting
everyone a little too much, you’ll run out with a
planners. “You were able to work with a customer for the entire planning phase
thousand people left to be served.”
of the convention, so by the time they arrived at the hotel they would walk in and
Another large meeting, a general session for
because I had been working with them for eight months, we had created a bond.
17,000 in the Grand Garden Arena for a technology
That’s a great feeling.”
company, was an example of how well MGM
Resorts properties can work together. “We
A
16
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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M A N D A L AY B AY
mandalaybay.com
The moment the Mandalay Bay Convention Center was
expanded to 1.7 million square feet in 2003, notice was
served to the rest of the Strip: meetings are now the biggest
business in town. At the time the fifth largest convention
facility in the United States, today Mandalay Bay remains
a resort with some staggering statistics: More than 3,200
guest rooms; 24 restaurants and lounges; and the 11-acre
Mandalay Beach.
A
lso part of the resort is THEhotel
at Mandalay Bay, with 1,120
suites, each at least 750 square
feet.
Yet for all this, what defines Mandalay
Bay is its relaxed atmosphere. “It’s probably
the only high-end property that everybody
can feel comfortable in,” says Bryan Gay,
vice president of sales. “You can walk into
certain hotels that are 4- or 5-diamond
and you feel that there are restaurants or
attractions that you can’t afford, but here
there is such a selection and a variety that
there is something for everyone, in a setting
so laid back everyone feels at home.”
The ability to cater to a wide range
of guests is reflected in Mandalay Bay’s
popularity with diverse groups in a wide
range of sizes. “We can handle groups from
ten to 30,000 but a unique fact is that 70
percent are 200 rooms or less,” says Gay.
“We handle every type of meeting that you
can imagine.”
What all these groups find upon arrival
at Mandalay Bay is an extraordinary array
and variety of meeting facilities. The
convention center features nearly one
million square feet of flexible exhibit space
on two levels; three levels of elegantly
decorated, multi-purpose meeting and
function space; four pillarless, high-ceiling
ballrooms ranging from 31,000 to 100,000
square feet, including the largest pillarless
hotel ballroom in the nation; a 100,000
square-foot “mega-ballroom,” and breakout
space to accommodate more than 75
simultaneous meetings.
Overseeing all the meetings action
at Mandalay Bay is Martie Sparks,
Vice President of banquets, catering &
convention services. “It’s a pretty fast pace
here,” she says. “It’s like eating an elephant
properties to accommodate groups with special needs. “We have
one bite at a time. You just have to make sure what the planners
some big programs that have a show here at the convention center
want to do works well in our building, and the key is partnering so
but also use rooms at Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand and other
that the experiences are exactly what their expectations are. We
sister properties, and they do events at those hotels as well,” says
have a great team and a very seasoned group of managers that
Gay. “If there’s a group at MGM and they want to come here and
have worked this building for a number of years and have seen
buy out the beach for an event, we can do that as well.”
everything from small incentives to major corporate groups to
large tradeshows.”
Servicing groups are two teams of convention
managers, with the Executive Meetings team
specializing in groups of 10-250, and the convention
Bryan Gay
team working with groups that require 251-plus rooms
Vice President of Sales
along with any association program requiring 150,000
877.632.7900 | bryang@mandalaybay.com
net square feet or more in exhibit space needs. As is
common among the staff throughout MGM Resorts,
many of these staff members are certified meeting
“It’s amazing what certain
professionals (CMP). This wealth of knowledge and
groups
can do here and what
experience enables groups to accomplish anything
we’ve accomplished in
they can imagine at the property.
“We do meetings back to back to back all the time,
making that happen.”
and the biggest thing that stands out is how well we
all pull together when there’s a tight run for a meeting
ife is too short to waste on a cheap bottle of wine!” is Bryan Gay’s motto. A
room to be transformed into a banquet room, or vice
native of the Northeast, Gay has come a long way from the gray skies and cold
versa,” says Gay. “The VPs, managers, line employees
winters of the small town near Scranton, Pa. where he spent his childhood. Gay
all work together to make it happen.”
attended college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he helped to support
The number of entertainment and recreation
himself with a job at the spa in The Mirage when that property opened in 1989. Gay
options at Mandalay Bay are too long to list, but
graduated with a marketing degree, and admits he had no intention of continuing
one feature that stands out for groups are the 24
in the hotel industry. But recruitment efforts by The Mirage management associate
restaurants and cafés at the resort. The brightest stars
program proved to be too persuasive for him to resist, and after an intensive sixin the culinary world have kitchens here, including
month training period in all phases of the hotel’s operation, was transferred to
Michael Mina, Alain Ducasse, Rick Moonen, Charlie
the opening sales team at Treasure Island. Later, he helped open the Mandalay
Palmer, Hubert Keller, Wolfgang Puck, Mary Sue
Bay Convention Center and THEhotel. Having experienced so much Vegas history
Milliken and Susan Feniger. Special group dining
during his tenure here, he knows how important hospitality is to everyone in the
options are available at the restaurants.
city. “Our philosophy is that this is our future and we take pride in being the best.“
Yet with all Mandalay Bay has to offer groups, it
still often finds itself happily partnering with its sister
‘‘L
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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MIRAGE
mirage.com
This is where the second generation of Las Vegas began,
and the turning point in the fortunes of Las Vegas from a
gambling town in decline to the glittering entertainment and
convention capital of the world. Opened in 1989 as the costliest casino hotel in history, The Mirage transformed what Las
Vegas was, what it could offer and where it was going.
F
rom the nightly eruption of The
Mirage volcano, to the drama and
glitz of the Siegfried & Roy show, to
the early Cirque de Soleil production
“Nouvelle Experience,” The Mirage
essentially invented the concepts, luxuries
and attractions of the modern Las Vegas
resort. And it continues to do so today.
Over the past three years The Mirage has
invested $300 million in 3,033 brand new
guest rooms and suites, along with bold new
nightclubs and restaurants. All this work,
along with the return home of Cirque du
Soleil with their show The Beatles LOVE,
make this feel like a brand-new property,
one with a new sense of purpose in the Las
Vegas of the 21st century.
“The Mirage was the original “megaresort”, but our footprint is now boutique
compared to the newer Las Vegas Strip
hotels,” says Daniel Rush, CMP, vice
president of sales. “It’s reinvented itself, but
it’s still a classic.”
One of the venues that makes The Mirage
stand out is Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden
and Dolphin Habitat, home to white lions,
white tigers, panthers, leopards and a family
of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. Groups can
hold unique receptions there for up to 1,800
that cannot be replicated anywhere in Las
Vegas or, for that matter, in the world. Even
more special are small, high-end receptions
in one of the underwater private viewing
areas.
Meeting facilities at The Mirage
encompass 170,000 square feet, and include
the 90,000-square-foot Mirage Events
Center which can be divided into numerous
configurations, a 50,000-square-foot Grand
Ballroom, and 26 meeting rooms. “The
average size group we do is about 550, but
we can handle anything up to 2,000,” says
Rush. “The ideal group is about 1,300, which
can use all of the function space and 40
percent of our rooms and can brand it all as
their own.”
Among the more enticing recent
developments throughout the resort
is The Beatles REVOLUTION lounge, created by Cirque du
says. “We all started as sales managers and now we’re all at the VP
Soleil. Revolutionary in design and atmosphere, this ultralevel. And knowing everybody and being able to refer things back
lounge features cutting edge, interactive experiences to create
and forth works very well, and makes us much better at serving
a psychedelic sensory environment and a contemporary
our customers.”
interpretation of The Beatles era. Another
special venue is the Japonais lounge, a vibrant
3,000-square-foot modern tropical haven that
overlooks The Mirage casino floor and is home
Daniel Rush
to cascading palm trees, water elements and a
CMP, Vice President of Sales
110-foot-long glowing “fire” wall made out of glass.
702.791.7392 | drush@mirage.com
Groups of up to 150 can enjoy seated dinners, while
Japonais accommodates cocktail receptions for up
to 200. Among the new restaurants making their
“The culture at MGM is unbelievable.
home at The Mirage are BLT Burger, acclaimed chef
The approach that we have
Laurent Tourondel’s interpretation of the American
burger joint.
makes the job fun and it’s just a
Other fine dining venues at The Mirage include
great environment to be a part of.”
STACK, a new American Bistro menu in a cuttingedge environment that feels at once intimate and
lthough Daniel Rush has worked with many of his peers at MGM Resorts for a
expansive; Fin, serving contemporary Chinese dishes
long time, he’s a little bit different. For him, the hospitality industry was never
tempered with an eclectic blend of international
a long-standing dream. Rush was born in Chicago but grew up in Los Angeles,
cuisines; Kokomo’s, which simulates a tropical
and
found
himself playing a little too hard and working a little too little while studying
rainforest, surrounded by waterfalls and a sparkling
communications
at Cal State Northridge; he quickly realized that something would
interior lagoon, and Onda, voted “Best Italian
have to change. He transferred to UNLV and thought to give the hotel management
Restaurant” by the Las Vegas Concierge Association
program a try. “I ended up loving it,” he says. “I thought I’d get the degree and go
and offering classic-rustic Italian cuisine with
back to LA. But I got lucky when I graduated and got a job in Vegas.” After stints
American innovations.
at The Riviera and Excalibur, he spent eight years at MGM Grand and nearly five
Like many of the top sales executives throughout
years at Mandalay Bay before moving over to The Mirage. Rush is proud to count
MGM Resorts, Daniel Rush has been with the
himself among singer Jimmy Buffet’s legion of Parrothead fans, root for all three of his
company for the bulk of his career, and he says that
hometown teams (the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Lakers) as well
his longstanding relationships with peers like Brian
as the UNLV Rebels, and have a great wife and two young kids (6-year old Rena and
Keenan, Richard Harper, Stephanie Windham and
4-year old Benny). His permanent address will remain at MGM Resorts. “I’ve been
Bryan Gay is one of the factors that make MGM
recruited by other companies, but the culture here is hard to walk away from,” he says.
Resorts a special place to work and a great place to
A
do business. “We’ve all kind of grown up together,” he
20
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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MONTE C ARLO
montecarlo.com
Monte Carlo has always been at the center of all the action
on The Strip, but now, as the gateway to the new CityCenter
hotel, residential, retail and entertainment complex, the AAA
Four Diamond-Award winning Monte Carlo is more than ever
before the true essence of affordable luxury in Las Vegas.
W
ith an interior walkway to
ARIA, and its proximity to
the high-end Crystals retail
center, groups can enjoy all the world-class
entertainment, dining and shopping on
Monte Carlo’s premises and in CityCenter
for a very value-conscious price.
It’s also one of the easiest Las Vegas
properties in which to feel at home.
“It’s our whole brand message here that
we’re unpretentiously luxurious,” says
Mike Pistana, vice president of sales and
marketing. “We have a very intimate-feeling
property. The footprint is small, and it has
a completely different floor plan that’s easy
to get around. We’re more of a resort that
has a casino than a casino resort.”
For meeting groups, the navigability of
Monte Carlo is especially welcome. Guest
room elevators, meeting space and the spa
can be accessed without having to pass
through the casino. And the property’s
27,000 square feet of flexible meeting space
encompasses a selection of conference
rooms, all with various dimensions,
capacities and floor plans, so small to
medium-sized groups will find they fit
perfectly. “The ideal group for us is a 250400 room program, and you own the place
at that size,” says Pistana. “We specialize in
small corporate meetings. We get a lot of
repeat business and we pride ourselves on
that, because we make the small groups feel
big and feel important.”
Pistana is especially proud of the many
alternative venues for group functions at his
resort. The 1,200-seat Monte Carlo Theater,
home of Jabbawockees, can be used for
general sessions and presentations. The
covered, 3,000-square-foot terrace in front
of Monte Carlo facing Las Vegas Boulevard
hosts receptions with views of all the action
on The Strip, as does the veranda deck at
Diablo’s Cantina, Monte Carlo’s hot Mexican
restaurant/nightclub fusion. The pool and
sand beach volleyball court are also popular
for group luaus and beach parties. And
one hidden gem that Pistana relishes is the
Cigar and Cognac Lounge upstairs at the
newly renovated, Michelin-starred Andre’s
Restaurant, boasting one of the widest
selections of cognacs, armagnacs and afterdinner drinks in North America. The lounge
can accommodate 50 for tastings and a rare
opportunity to enjoy a smoke inside a restaurant in Las Vegas. And
that are employees who make it their life’s work to ensure great
upstairs at The Pub, where there are 200 beers on tap and all the
experiences for MGM’s customers. “If you’re treated well then you
sports you can dream of watching, a private dining room seats 150
want to stay,” he says. “As we keep growing I think people see their
and adjoins the second floor meeting rooms.
career paths. And we have the best assets in town. It’s tough to
As part of Monte Carlo’s extensive makeover in the past
work at Bellagio or ARIA and go somewhere else.”
few years, new and renovated restaurants are the
norm at the property. At Dragon Noodle Co. &
Sushi bar, traditional Chinese food, sushi and a
touch of contemporary Japanese culture combine
Mike Pistana
for a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Dragon
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Noodle Co. transports you into another world,
800.311.5999 | conventionsales@montecarlo.com
one replete with floating baby heads, dancing bok
choy, leaping koi fish and other quirky interior
“You’re going to see that the
touches. d.Vino Italian Food & Wine Bar is casual
yet sophisticated, where executive chef Jose M.
ones reinvesting in Las Vegas
Navarro turns seasonal, traditional ingredients —
like our group does are going
meat, fish, vegetables, pasta, bread and olive oil
— into culinary masterpieces. Meat-lovers flock to
to rise to the top.”
BRAND Steakhouse, one of the best in Las Vegas,
rowing up in Daytona Beach when it was the spring break capital of the
set in a stunning, 5,000- square-foot space in the
world, Mike Pistana had no trouble adapting to Las Vegas after majoring in
heart of the Monte Carlo’s casino floor, with a warm,
hotel management — and playing college basketball — at the University of
contemporary décor and an open design which
North Texas in Dallas. “I did an internship at the Golden Nugget, spent a summer
combines fine dining with elegant nightlife. All are
working in Vegas in my junior year, and decided this is the town,” he says. From the
available for private meal functions.
Golden Nugget he covered a lot of ground, moving to The Mirage and working in
Another recent addition to Monte Carlo is
operations at the front desk and then as a hotel manager before moving into sales,
HOTEL32, a special top floor “hotel within a hotel”
eventually joining the pre-opening sales team at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss.
similar to SKYLOFT at MGM Grand, that offers an
“That’s where I learned to sell, because you really had to work to convince people
all-suite, celebrity VIP experience. “It’s a beautiful
to come to a new hotel in Biloxi for a conference,” he says. “It was a great learning
product,” says Pistana. “We decided to do something
experience.” Pistana also spent five years at Bellagio, “which in my opinion is the
different up there with a separate club level feeling
greatest hotel in the world,” he says. Now, Pistana, who has been married 12 years
with five star luxury, but make it comfortable and
and has two children, notes that he has been wed to MGM an even longer time. “I’ve
not pretentious. It’s a great place for corporate
just never been pulled away from this place,” he says, and is convinced Las Vegas and
groups to stay.”
MGM Resorts are only going to get better. He’s very encouraged by the rebound in
Through his career at MGM, Pistana has been
business this year, and looks forward to even brighter days ahead for his company.
most impressed with the company’s attitude toward
its employees, and is convinced the end product of
G
22
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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N E W YO R K - N E W YO R K
newyorknewyork.com
There’s only one place on Earth where you can accept an offer
to buy the Brooklyn Bridge and actually get what you pay for:
New York-New York. Here, in this breathtaking re-creation of
Manhattan in Las Vegas, groups can enjoy experiences not to
be found anywhere else along The Strip, beginning with the
famous bridge itself.
T
“
here’s no other venue like it
in town or in the world,” says
Christopher Bond, executive
director of sales. “You’re out on
a replica of the bridge on The Strip with
the facade of New York-New York and the
Statue of Liberty, then you look around and
see the lights of all the other properties, and
everyone walking and driving by on Las Vegas
Boulevard is looking up at you and wondering
who you are. It’s so cool.” With 10,000
square feet of space, the Brooklyn Bridge can
accommodate groups of up to 1,000 and is
often booked by groups from New York-New
York’s much larger sister properties.
And the Brooklyn Bridge is just the
beginning of what’s on tap at the 2,000room New York-New York. The property
completed significant renovations in
2008, thoroughly refreshing guest rooms,
amenities, meeting spaces, and the casino
floor to transform the property into an
up-to-date environment perfectly suited
for small groups. New York-New York
specializes in 40-50 room corporate groups;
any group over 100 automatically becomes
the big man on campus. The property is
particularly popular with financial and
health care groups looking for a discreet,
private meeting experience. The main
convention floor offers 21,000 square
feet of space, with a 6,000-square-foot
ballroom and 13 meeting rooms.
One element of New York-New York of
special value to groups is the Greenwich
Village section, where shops and eateries line
re-creations of streets in New York City’s
famed Bohemian neighborhood. Groups can
take over the town for a private function,
saving on decorations, since the winding
streets and charming facades provide the
perfect built-in backdrop to an authentic
New York event. Another great venue is ROK
Vegas, a nightclub adorned with rock-inspired
imagery and delivering the feel of a real
downtown Manhattan nightspot. And then
there’s the Bar at Times Square, another high-energy space with
of every booking channel that they come across and make sure
dueling pianos and space for up to 150 for private events.
you’re taking care of the commitment you made with that group. If
Restaurants at New York-New York echo their inspirations in
we do that, they’ll do the same and support you from their side.”
Manhattan, and include Nine Fine Irishmen, a pub of
epic proportions starring a grand Victorian-style bar,
ornate cottage areas, shop-style snugs, and two levels of
outdoor patio dining with a spectacular Las Vegas Strip
Christopher Bond
view; Gallagher’s Steakhouse, a New York City original
Executive Director of Sales
since 1927, serves up plenty of sizzle with the finest
702.740.6803 | cbond@nyforme.com
dry-aged beef and fresh seafood; while Il Fornaio delivers
award-winning New York-style Northern Italian cuisine,
“As part of MGM Resorts, I’ve had the
featuring homemade and imported pasta, wood-fired
pizza, rotisserie chicken and duck, and hearty steaks and
opportunity to enhance my Convention
chops.
and Leisure Sales experience at the
Of course, it would be impossible to claim to
replicate New York City without an homage to Coney
best properties in the world.”
Island’s beloved Cyclone roller coaster, and The Roller
hris Bond’s road to Las Vegas is not your typical story. While studying
Coaster that soars around New York-New York doesn’t
finance at Texas Christian University, his father returned from a
disappoint, lifting riders up 203 feet before dropping
conference in Vegas enthused by a conversation he had with a manager
them down 144 feet at speeds up to 67 mph. It’s an
at the Flamingo about the career oppor tunities in the hotel business there.
amazing thrill ride, with 180-degree barrel rolls and
Soon, Chris found himself transferring to UNLV and working at the Dunes
the famous “heartline” twist and dive.
international buffet. “If I made enough tip money to get breakfast the next
With business bouncing back strongly this year,
morning at McDonald’s, it was a good night.” After graduation, he went to the
Chris Bond anticipates a bright future for MGM
Golden Nugget and offered to work for free so he could get his foot in the door
Resorts as well as his property. “With all of us
at MGM. Bond was hired (for a salary, no less) as a front desk clerk at the Nugget
working together and trying to build our business
in 1991. Since then, he has seen many of the original Vegas hotels torn down and
in a sustainable way, as the economy continues to
the landscape transformed by mega-resor ts, at the same time building his career
improve, we’ll only get stronger,” he says. A key focus
in these new Vegas proper ties like The Mirage and New York-New York. For
for him, he adds, is to keep an eye on the evolution of
the past five years, he has overseen convention sales for New York-New York,
the conference industry and to be ready to adapt as
and has found it to be a very rewarding field. “To see something that star ted
it happens. “Things are changing with the way that
from an inquiry go all the way through and see all the events that you were par t
people shop for rooms, and it’s more of a challenge
of planning, that’s quite a feeling,” he says.
to funnel your convention customers through the
traditional block,” he says. “You have to be very aware
C
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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LUXOR
luxor.com
Luxor is one Las Vegas resort that, since its opening in
1993, has been impossible to overlook. The onyx pyramid
rising 350 feet, its giant obelisk and Sphinx, all topped by
the world’s brightest beacon of light, have made Luxor not
only one of the most recognizable structures in Las Vegas
but also in the world.
T
ogether with its two towers, Luxor
today offers 4,400 guest rooms
in an exciting environment with
its own distinctive character,
highlighted by the Liquidity Ultrabar, a
modern, sleek design centered around a
projection system that uses cutting-edge
technology to create an ever-changing
canvas of water patterns.
Meeting facilities at Luxor include the
15,680-square-foot Egyptian ballroom and
the 4,253-square-foot Nile Chambers, all
located close to guest rooms. But one of
the most compelling features for groups at
Luxor is the cuisine. “We have an amazing
banquet and catering team,” says Jay Simpson,
Executive Director of Sales at Luxor and the
adjacent Excalibur. “They never fail to impress
our customers with their F&B presentation.”
The most famous face in the Luxor’s kitchen is
that of pastry chef Derek Franceschini, of TLC’s
“Fabulous Cakes.” “Derek provides a unique
opportunity to place an exclamation on any
event,” says Simpson. On the season premier
of “Fabulous Cakes” last year, Franceschini and
his team created a gigantic cake for astronaut
Buzz Aldrin that paid homage to his historic
moon landing with a 600-pound moon replica
and lunar landing module.
The focus at Luxor are groups of between 25
and 450, who can fit comfortably in the resort’s
meeting spaces. Also, because of its proximity
to Mandalay Bay, Luxor often hosts overflow
from that property. Groups at Luxor take
advantage of the opportunity to hold private
events at some of the hottest restaurants and
nightclubs in Las Vegas. Chief among them
is TENDER Steak & Seafood, one of Vegas’
top-rated steakhouses featuring six different
types of beef and fresh seafood flown in daily
from Hawaii, California, New York and Alaska.
TENDER also features an intimate dining room
and an extensive wine list, which won the
restaurant the 2009 “Wine Spectator Award
of Excellence.” Also popular is T&T, embodying
traditional and modern elements of Mexican
style intermixed with a rock‘n’roll flair; and LAX
nightclub, the hottest in Las Vegas and one
of the most talked about clubs in the country
— with two stories and 26,000 square feet of
space, it’s the destination of choice for A-list
celebrities and the social jet-set.
E XC A L I B U R
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M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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25
excalibur.com
There’s been a lot of action at Excalibur of
late, with extensive remodeling bringing
guest rooms, meeting facilities and public areas into the 21st century with verve and style.
Y
et Excalibur still hews to its traditional
mission of bringing together the best of
Las Vegas —variety, value and exciting
attractions.
The guest rooms, dubbed “Widescreen Rooms,”
have been thoroughly overhauled from floor to
ceiling, and now include 42-inch flatscreen TVs,
high-speed Internet access, pillow top mattresses,
and updated bathrooms with granite countertops
— all wrapped in a bright, contemporary design
that offers a modern take on the property’s classic
castle theme. Excalibur’s full-service spa overlooks a
sparkling swimming pool area that’s been expanded
to twice its original size to now include sun decks,
cabanas, outdoor dining and a separate, secluded
relaxation pool for adults.
Excalibur’s elegant meeting space is designed to
bring flair, flexibility and value to meetings of 25 to
300. The Great Hall boasts 12,000 square feet of
space, divisible in a wide variety of configurations,
and is supported by nine meeting rooms. In the pool
area, the restaurant DRENCHED is an especially
appealing venue for private group functions.
Luxor and Excalibur are represented by one sales
team. “The combination was truly designed to create
efficiencies that would not impact customer service in
any way,” says Jay Simpson. “We still have dedicated
property specialists and we are able to service groups
that have room blocks at both properties very
effectively. The combined properties provide a greater variety of dining
and entertainment options while attending a meeting.”
“We look at the meetings and conventions market as a top priority
of what we do,” he adds. “It is a foundation of our company and
without the support of the meeting planners and the groups that
come here on an annual basis, Las Vegas and MGM resorts would not
be what we are today.”
Jay Simpson
Executive Director of Sales
800.777.2771 | meetings@luxor.com
800.444.3430 | meetings@excalibur.com
“At MGM Resorts, we have so
many properties, with so many
options, that we can accommodate
any group’s needs.”
A
native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jay Simpson had seven buffalo as pets while
growing up. He studied journalism and public relations at Oklahoma
University, moving to Las Vegas and taking a position in corporate
development and community relations at Mirage Resorts. But he soon found his
interest piqued by the hotels themselves. “After a year or two I started asking how
they make these properties run, how they go about filling them, and in 1993 I went
to work in sales at The Mirage,” he says. He quickly discovered why the salespeople
loved their jobs so much. “I enjoyed the relationships and engaging the customer,”
he says. “I found it far more entertaining and, like a game of chess, it incorporated
strategy.” After an eight-year stint at Caesars Palace he returned to The Mirage in
2005, moving over to Luxor in 2009 and eventually consolidating their sales team
with that of Excalibur last year. Now, with so much of his focus on meeting sales, he’s
come to love working with groups. “The long-term relationships that you build with
the planners are very satisfying,” he says.
26
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CIRCUS CIRCUS
circuscircus.com
This is the place that never lets visitors forget the fundamental purpose of a trip to Las Vegas: to have fun. The 3,767-room
Circus Circus, with 15,600 square feet of meeting space, is not
just a hotel, not just a casino: it’s also a carnival, a circus and
a theme park, home to the famed Midway, the world’s largest permanent big top, and Adventuredome, Las Vegas’ only
indoor amusement park starring the world’s largest indoor
double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster.
C
ircus Circus has something for
everybody of all ages,” says Tim
Barnett, Vice President of Hotel
Operations. “From the gaming to
the restaurants to the Midway, the circus
acts and our meeting rooms, we can offer a
tremendous array of services but we’re not
a big box.”
For evidence of that look no further than
the Adventuredome, featuring 25 thrilling
rides and attractions including miniature golf,
mini bowling, Lazer Blast (a laser tag arena),
Disk’O (where passengers sit on a spinning disk
which rides along a half pipe track), Inverter
(on which riders are spun upside down), Chaos
(a ride that spins while allowing each car to
flip on its own axis while tilted to a 70 degree
angle), Rim Runner (which gently takes riders
up a sparkling stream before plunging them
down a 60-foot waterfall), Slingshot (where
passengers are shot up a tower with 4 g’s of
acceleration), Sand Pirates (an out-of-control
swinging pirate ship) and the 4-D Special
FX Theatre. There’s even rock climbing and
bungee jumping in the Xtreme Zone.
The opportunity to get together on the
rides and play the games helps make Circus
Circus an especially popular destination
for groups looking to bond and enjoy
some team building. “We can close off The
Adventuredome for groups of up to 5,000,”
says Barnett. “They can do everything from
Lazer Blast to the Canyon Cars bumper cars,
or go between different group functions
throughout the facility with teams going
against each other. It brings the youth out
of adults.”
In terms of dedicated meeting facilities,
Circus Circus offers a 8,576-square-foot
ballroom and eight meeting rooms. Groups
can hold private events in the resort’s
many restaurants. Chief among them is
The Steak House, which just won the 2011 Zagat award for the
sister in the MGM Resorts family, the rest of the clan never
top steakhouse in Las Vegas, and which serves up mesquiteoverlooks her. “I interact with the other properties on a daily
grilled steaks aged 21 days and cooked to perfection, prime rib,
basis,” says Barnett. “It’s a great resource for us. I’ve never seen
lobster, lamb chops, crab legs and other seafood. At the sprawling,
anything better than the cooperation and the fellowship that
14,000-square-foot Rock & Rita’s, the world’s top flair bartenders
everybody shares, and the best practices that all share with
and All-American signature dishes, such as hot dog sliders, overeverybody.”
the-top Ulcerator Burger, meatloaf sandwich and
Mac’s Mac & Cheese, take center stage. Rock & Rita’s
can handle up to 300 people for a private event.
The Midway boasts a huge selection of
Tim Barnett
entertaining games, all of which surround a circus
Vice President of Hotel Operations
stage featuring world-famous acts including
800.765.4449 | cclvconventions@circuscircus.com
acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, contortionists, dancers
and magicians. At the Arcade, 200 of the most
popular arcade games from the past several decades
“I’m definitely a people person.
help get meeting-goers’ adrenaline going. There’s
I love interaction, and what
also a 40,000-square-foot shopping Promenade and,
better way than to host
of course, 100,000 square feet of gaming in the Main
Casino, West Casino, Skyrise Casino and Slots A Fun.
thousands of people a day?”
Circus Circus plays a big role for citywide
conventions because of its proximity to the Las Vegas
o one knows Las Vegas better than Tim Barnett, who came here in the
Convention Center. On its own, the property caters
mid-70s to play running back for the UNLV Rebels. “After getting out here
primarily to small and medium-sized groups, according
I decided just to go to school instead,” he says. “I saw the size of some
to Barnett. “The ideal size group for meetings is
of the guys on the team and realized that I didn’t want to kill myself. I talked to the
usually 150 to 250” he says. “We get a lot of groups of
coach and he said, “kid, I hope you know what you’re doing.” ” The city that Barnett
100 to 150. For team-building in The Adventuredome
decided to make his home was a very different place from the mammoth fantasia it
we can accommodate anything from hundreds to
thousands.”
is today. “Las Vegas was incredible then, with the old Sands, the Dunes, the Sahara,
Barnett also notes that there’s something about all
the Flamingo,” he remembers.”It was so easy to get around, you could be across
the fun that people have at Circus Circus that inspires
town in 15 minutes.” While at school he worked at many of these classic hotels,
boundless loyalty in the groups that patronize it.
and after graduating from UNLV’s hotel program in 1979, Barnett got a job at the
“People have been coming here for a long time,” he
Sands as an assistant manager. He eventually came to Circus Circus in 1999, which
says. “They come back time and again for the value
he considers to be a stroke of destiny as “I love to clown around.”
and the product they receive.”
N
Although Circus Circus is the giggly, light-hearted
28
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MGM GRAND DETROIT
mgmgranddetroit.com
Detroit is on the rise, with the American auto industry coming
back leaner, meaner and healthier, and a massive development project underway on the Detroit International Riverfront
that is expected to serve as a linchpin in Detroit’s bid for the
2020 Summer Olympics.
O
ne of the most visible symbols
of Detroit’s renaissance is
MGM Grand Detroit, the first
luxury casino resort in a major
metropolis outside of Las Vegas and the first
in downtown Detroit.
“It was a huge thing that MGM invested
money in the city,” says Lisa Williams,
director of sales. “By investing $800 million
to build the first hotel here from the ground
up in years, they showed that they believed
in the momentum and the direction the city
was going.”
And the property that they opened in
2007 is befitting a city that is transforming
itself. The 400-room MGM Grand Detroit
is already at the heart of the city’s nightlife,
with its hot bars, trendy restaurants,
indulgent spa and of course, the casino.
“The property is a resort in the middle of
the city,” says Williams. “You can come in
and actually enjoy four-star dining, four-star
spa services, and also be within walking
distance of baseball, football, hockey and
the cultural center. There’s nowhere else in
the country that I know of where you can
get such a great value.”
For groups, MGM Grand Detroit boasts
30,000 square feet of event space for
private parties, conferences and events
for up to 800 people. The Grand Ballroom
opens to 14,000 square feet or divides
into four Ballroom Salons. There are
three meeting rooms, Amber, Garnet and
Sapphire, offering 1,600 square feet each.
The Onyx and Quartz executive boardrooms
accommodate up to 18 people each.
With facilities of that size, the MGM
Grand Detroit specializes in groups of
200 or less, which often take the form of
medium-sized executive programs. Because
of the casino, the fine dining and the great
entertainment options, the property is
also popular with incentive planners. “We
do wonderful incentives because we make
luxury affordable and accessible,” says
Williams. “For our clients, in economic
times like now, that’s a huge plus.”
Among the resort’s most compelling attractions are five
Vegas; not only does it benefit MGM Resorts, but also her local
nightlife venues and three signature restaurants, which groups can
clients. “It’s wonderful for a Detroit-based corporation to have a
buy out. The Wolfgang Puck Grille, featuring the culinary legend’s
direct link to Vegas,” she says. “We can make a direct connection
innovative cuisine, is a contemporary version of the classic barfor them and they don’t have to start their search from scratch.”
and-grill employing fresh, seasonal, all-natural and
organic ingredients. At Bourbon Steak, Michael Mina
has created a contemporary American steakhouse
with a focus on the finest meats and freshest seafood
Lisa Williams
available worldwide. Mina is also the mastermind
Director of Sales
behind Saltwater, featuring seafood favorites like
877.646.3868 | sales@det.mgmgrand.com
Michigan Fish & Chips, Beer-battered Prawns, San
Francisco Cioppino and more.
Nightspots include Agua Rum & Tequila bar, Ignite
“People travel for many reasons,
Sushi Bar & Lounge, Int Ice, U Me Drink and the pulsing
and
knowing that I could make their
V Nightclub, considered one of the best in town.
Since opening, MGM Grand Detroit has been the
experience comfortable while being
stage for a number of high profile events. Williams
away from home is what made
was especially excited by the Gallery Event hosted
me go into hospitality.”
during the North American International Auto Show,
which welcomes the world’s rich and powerful as they
hen Detroit native (and former All-City cheerleader) Lisa Williams
browse unique cars unavailable anywhere else.
took her first full-time hospitality job as a catering service manager at a
Even though Detroit is a long way from Las Vegas,
Marriott in suburban Detroit, she wasn’t sure what she was getting into.
Williams does not feel like MGM Grand Detroit is an
She had worked when younger as a server for her grandfather’s catering company,
isolated outpost. There has been considerable back
and assumed this was the same thing. “When I went for the interview the HR director
and forth between Detroit and Vegas. “We have an
explained that the job was setting up the meeting rooms and the tables and chairs,”
automotive company that was at Bellagio one year,
she says. “I figured I could do that, so I talked him into giving me the opportunity.” She
but with the decline of the market a lot of those
quickly found that her biggest obstacle was not the heavy lifting, but the attitudes of
meetings stopped traveling,” says Williams. “So we
her co-workers. “It was all men, and I was leading them even though I was a woman,”
had the opportunity to host that meeting. Once the
she says. “On the first meeting they resented me, but after our first setup it went away
economy comes back and everything gets stronger,
because they found I could carry tables and pull a stack of chairs as well as anyone
that customer will go back to an MGM Resorts
else.” Williams has come a long way since then, and after many years at Marriott is
property in Vegas.”
thrilled now to be part of MGM Resorts and its contribution to Detroit’s renaissance.
Williams is always happy to facilitate contact
W
betwen Detroit-based companies and her peers in Las
30
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BEAU RIVAGE
beaurivage.com
Southern elegance. Southern hospitality. All
served up with Las Vegas flair. This is Beau
Rivage, the jewel of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
and the leader in gaming, entertainment and
meetings in the revived resort area of Biloxi.
M
ike Davis should know. As director of hotel
sales and marketing, he opened Beau
Rivage twice: first, in 1999, and again in
2006 after the devastation of Hurricane
Katrina. In the wake of that terrible event, Davis was
able to witness firsthand the dedication of MGM
Resorts not only to the resort’s staff, but also to the
community in which they do business. “Our parent
company was on the ground within days and made a
commitment to the employees and the people of the
Gulf Coast that Beau Rivage would be back,” he says.
“We set an aggressive timeline to be open one year
to the day of the storm. And we met that deadline.”
In that time, MGM Resorts not only paid employees
for 90 days, the company also guaranteed they
would be rehired once Beau Rivage was reopened — a
significant promise, considering that the property
employs 2,600 people. “One of the greatest things is
that when we did reopen, 75 percent of our original
employees came back to us,” says Davis.
In that rebuilding year, the Beau Rivage was
completely remodeled. Today, it boasts 1,740 guest
rooms and 50,000 square feet of meeting space,
including three ballrooms: the 17,000-square-foot
Magnolia Ballroom, 7,200-square-foot Camellia
Ballroom and 4,400-square-foot Azalea Ballroom.
But just as popular with groups are the property’s
fine restaurants and outdoor spaces. “We have a
large area that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico that
we use for parties and receptions,” says Davis. “We are able to
walk outside and utilize the whole Gulf Coast and its 26 miles of
beach.” Beau Rivage is also near the heart of Biloxi, which is packed
with historical sites, shops and museums in which the Beau Rivage
event staff can organize functions.
“I grew up here,” says Davis. “I’ve seen how tourism impacts the
lives down here, and now I’ve seen how what we have to offer can
affect the people who come here. Everybody wins.”
Mike Davis
Director of Hotel Sales and Marketing
228.386.7171 | mdavis@beaurivage.com
“I’ve seen the impact that tourism
can have on people’s lives, and
it’s great to be a part of such an
important business.”
A
native of Ocean Springs, Miss., Mike Davis always knew the Gulf Coast
was a great tourist destination. “We just didn’t have a lot of tourists,”
he says. He’s helped change that. Entranced with the hospitality industry
from a young age, he decided to learn more about it in the City College of San
Francisco’s hotel and restaurant program. “I had just returned from a camp job
as a counselor in the Bay Area and fell in love with it.” There, he met his wife and
brought her back to the Gulf Coast when the casino industry began to take off
there in 1993. “I fell in love with the lifestyle of entertaining and working with
groups and meetings,” he says. “My clients are my friends and we really have an
opportunity to create something special for them while they’re here.” As a past
King of the Mardi Gras and founder of the Krewe of Barry, his local Mardi Gras
organization, Davis know how important it is to have fun. “I can guarantee you a
good time here in Biloxi.”
GOLD STRIKE
n
M G M R E S O R T S I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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31
goldstrikemississippi.com
“This is a very glamorous hotel,” says Kimberly
Jordan-Sides, senior sales manager. “Our
lobby is just absolutely gorgeous. And we
really focus on friendly service here.”
L
ocated in Tunica, Miss., just outside
of Memphis, Tenn., Gold Strike boasts
1,133 newly-renovated rooms and a
30,000-square-foot convention center,
featuring the 9,000-square-foot Live Oak room,
and the Magnolia and Dogwood rooms, each 1,140
square feet. The Millenium Theatre seats 766. Ideal
group size here is 100-150, and their market is
primarily corporate meetings.
In her five years at the hotel, what has most
impressed Jordan-Sides is Gold Strike’s banquet
team. “You won’t find better service in banquets
anywhere,” she says. “I’ve been at many different
properties, so I know. Our banquet staff here
has been together 10 years, and their service is
impeccable.”
At Gold Strike, the attitude toward groups is
simple: whatever they want to do, the Gold Strike
staff will find a way to do it. For example, two years
ago there was a FedEx meeting in-house, and the
president of the division had an unusual request: “He
wanted to ride in on a John Deere tractor onto our
stage,” says Jordan-Sides. “When people want to
do these things, so often they’ll be told they can’t.
I always find a way to do it. I was able to make that
happen for him, and it was wonderful.”
Dining options at Gold Strike include the Wine
Spectator Award-winning Chicago Steakhouse, a
traditional steak house with a contemporary twist
that serves up the finest restaurant experience the Mid-South has
to offer. Liquid Assets is the property’s hot ultra lounge, bringing
a touch of LA nightlife to the Tunica scene. Meeting attendees
can take in some action at the 50,000-square-foot casino, home
to the World Poker Open, or relax at the Golden Reflections Spa,
featuring a heated pool, gym, massage therapy and a full range of
spa treatments.
Kimberly Jordan-Sides
Senior Sales Manager
866.607.3444 | kjordan@goldstrike.com
“I love the dynamics of being able
to work with planners and helping
to make their meetings successful.”
K
imberly Jordan-Sides was studying to be a teacher at the University of
Mississippi when she started working in hotels part-time. Soon, her plans
for the future changed. “I absolutely fell in love with hotels,” she says, and
soon switched majors to hotel management. After graduation she took a job as a
restaurant manager at Radisson, bringing into play her experience at the restaurants
her family had owned while she was growing up. Then she moved into sales at
Promise Hotels, eventually becoming part of Hilton Hotels and helping to open
new brands like Homewood Suites. She came to Gold Strike in 2006. “When I
first interviewed here I met three or four top managers, and I’ve never been that
impressed as with those people,” she says. “I asked every manager if they would
go somewhere else if they had an offer, and everyone of them said they would
never leave.” Jordan-Sides is very gratified to have helped Gold Strike weather the
economic storm of the past several years, and is happy to see that business is on
the rise. “It’s just picked up tremendously from what it was last year,” she says.
“Corporations are opening up the money flow.”
MAkING
THE
SCENES
MGM Resorts Events
Brings it all to life
L
as Vegas is a town where dreams become
reality and that is guaranteed to happen each
and every day at MGM Resorts Events. The
event production company, wholly-owned by
MGM Resorts International, is responsible for creating
the most exciting, beautiful, and engaging corporate
events under the bright Nevada sun. “One can’t ask
for a better job than this,” says King Dahl, executive
director of event design. “We create memorable
experiences executed with our precise blend of
creative collaboration, fastidious preparation, and the
complete fulfillment of the desires of our clients and
their guests attending our productions.”
The Las Vegas studio is a true fantasyland, staffed
with dozens of artisans and designers that keep the
shelves packed with more high-quality event products
than any meeting planner could ever wish for. “It’s
an inspiring atmosphere,” say Lenny Talarico CSEP,
director of events. “We have a vast inventory of
props, furniture, and linens. And we have the tools
and talent to design anything — from a large format
printing and graphics department, to a full woodshop
and paint facility, a floral design studio, and a staff
of seamstresses. Our logistics personnel support an
event management staff available to serve you at any
property owned by MGM Resorts International.”
“And our entertainment productions are second to
none,” adds Dahl.
MGM Resorts Events operates like an Impressionist
painter, applying color to canvas in seemingly
unrelated dashes of paint, bringing it all together in a
way that, once one sees the whole picture, reveals a
complete masterwork.
Just as important is their focus on saving the
customer’s resources, while creating sustainable
event environments. MGM Resorts
Events designs their entire inventory
collection to be repurposed, resold, and
retrofitted for a variety of applications.
And their assets are efficiently stored
and transported resulting in significant
cost savings for customers. They work
in complete synergy with MGM Resorts
sales and convention staffs to serve
every client regardless of group size or
budget. “We’re in the business of saying
yes,” says Dahl, “and we fully respect
that our clients expect, demand, and
deserve an exceptional experience at
each and every event.”
Sahara Ave.
CIRCUS
CIRCUS
Desert Inn Rd.
Spring Mountain Rd.
Fashion Show
Mall
Sands Ave.
Paradise Rd.
La
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Bl
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.
Las Vegas
Convention
Center
THE MIRAGE
BELLAGIO
VDARA
Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas Blvd.
Flamingo Rd.
Harmon Ave.
MONTE
CARLO
THE SIGNATURE
MGM GRAND
Tropicana Ave.
EXCALIBUR
LUXOR
15
MANDALAY BAY
Russell Rd.
215
Las Vegas Blvd.
THEhotel
McCarran
International
Airport
Sunset Rd.
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NEW YORKNEW YORK
Tropicana Ave.
Paradis
ARIA