Destinations are often the driving force for meeting planners, and big cities are increasingly stealing the spotlight. The allure of a major metropolitan backdrop goes well beyond the access to cutting-edge venues and top-tier accommodations; it is often the unique attractions that truly captivate attendees. In an era where the lines between business and leisure continue to blur, big cities stand out as the ultimate meeting and event destinations, offering one-of-a-kind experiences and can’t-miss excitement that not only draw participants but also leaves them sharing stories of their thrilling adventures long after the event is over.
Showstopping stage magic
Las Vegas is known for its larger-than-life atmosphere and endless opportunities for excitement. The global destination offers easy access from practically anywhere, with more than 1,100 flights to Las Vegas daily via direct routes from 148 cities. Las Vegas has more than 150,000 hotel rooms and 15 million square feet of convention space—all located conveniently along the iconic Las Vegas Strip and within 15 minutes of the airport.
In addition to offering luxury accommodations and world-class dining, Las Vegas has earned its reputation as a premier destination for hosting meetings and events, thanks to its vibrant nightlife, world-class entertainment, and endless attractions. “Las Vegas is a city characterized by perpetual transformation and reinvention, evident in the frequent rotation of top-tier entertainers and our ongoing investment in the advancement of innovative venues and one-of-a-kind private event spaces,” says Rebecca DeLuca, vice president of destination sales for Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “One of the key factors driving the loyal return of meetings and conventions to Las Vegas is our capacity to continually present fresh and extraordinary experiences.”
One of Las Vegas’ most iconic experiences is Cirque du Soleil, a staple for the last three decades. Currently, Cirque du Soleil features five permanent resident shows, each offering a unique experience for audiences: Mystère at Treasure Island, “O” at Bellagio Resort & Casino, Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Mad Apple at New York-New York Hotel & Casino, and KÀ at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. “All of our productions perform twice nightly, five days a week,” explains John Fisher, vice president of sales for Cirque du Soleil. “This year, the combined count of performances will be approximately 2,580. To date, since the opening of Mystère, our first Las Vegas resident show, more than 30 years ago, we have performed close to 60,000 shows for 80 million guests.”
Meeting planners can seamlessly weave one of Cirque du Soleil’s daily performances into their event agenda, adding a touch of awe-inspiring entertainment to the schedule. For those looking to take it up a notch, options like full theater buyouts for private shows or exclusive VIP experiences can bring even more excitement and exclusivity. “For guests looking to elevate their visit, we offer unique VIP offerings for each of our Las Vegas shows,” Fisher adds. “Whether it is going backstage, getting insider access and information to how our shows come to life, meeting artists face to face, or premium seating, each of these offerings is unique to the show and provides the ultimate Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas experience.”
Criss Angel MINDFREAK at Planet Hollywood is another one of the most sought-after shows in Las Vegas, known for its mesmerizing illusions and electrifying energy. Meeting planners can also take advantage of opportunities to incorporate this experience into the agenda, with options ranging from group bookings to private performances. “For full theater group buyouts, Angel offers some enhancements that can be added to the event, such as a meet-and-greet for a few VIPs within the group,” says Robert Jarrett, director of public relations for Caesars Entertainment, which owns Planet Hollywood. “He can also design an exclusive one-of-a-kind illusion to be performed that night only. Another great enhancement for a buyout group is to provide their invited guests with custom souvenir tickets to help commemorate a special evening at the show.”
Hollywood insider experience
In addition to more than 36,000 hotel rooms across 364 properties, Los Angeles offers a fun and unique opportunity to incorporate the excitement of the movie industry into the agenda. “What sets Los Angeles apart as a premier meetings destination is its ability to cater to diverse interests,” says Adam Burke, president and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LA Tourism). “Planners and attendees can dive into wellness programs, explore our vibrant sports scene, savor a rich culinary landscape, or engage with the entertainment industry, for which LA is famous. In LA, planners become producers, events become award-worthy, and venues offer attendees opportunities for lasting connections.”
Planners can break outside the typical conference setting box and immerse attendees in the city’s movie magic by hosting the meeting or event at some of LA’s most celebrated spots, like the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The attraction features a 300,000-square-foot museum with more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space, two film and performance theaters, indoor/outdoor event space, and the rooftop Dolby Family Terrace, which features incredible views of the Hollywood Hills.
For an even more immersive movie experience, planners can take attendees further behind the scenes of famous film sets and learn how the entertainment industry operates by scheduling a studio tour, such as the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank, Calif. The tour includes a visit to an actual working studio, where guests are led by guides through the Warner Bros. Studio backlot for peeks inside the soundstage or backlot set for many iconic television shows, including Gilmore Girls, The Big Bang Theory, and Friends. “For more than half a century, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood has earned the reputation as a must-see experience for visitors around the world,” says Danny Kahn, vice president and general manager of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. “It is an experience that cannot be replicated because no tours are alike due to the unpredictable nature of production, and you never know what or who you might see at Warner Bros. Studios. Moreover, the time spent with our knowledgeable tour guides and our evolving exhibits featuring props and costumes from classic TV shows and current blockbusters are why our guests find the Studio Tour memorable and highly repeatable. There is a unique thrill to being on the iconic backlot where countless classics were made and experiencing Hollywood magic firsthand.”
Warner Bros. Studio offers four tour options, including one with a stop at The Batcave. The attraction features a never-before-displayed Bat Wing, the Michael Keaton Batmobile from the 1989 Batman movie, and the Batpod from The Dark Knight. Other tours include Action & Magic Made Here, two immersive experiences featuring DC Comics and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.
Unforgettable outdoor escapes
For those seeking the ultimate outdoor adventure, specific destinations offer experiences not found anywhere else. In addition to its sought-after meeting amenities, like 70,000-plus hotel rooms, Phoenix Convention Center, and conveniently located Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix is the ultimate playground for groups seeking unforgettable adventures, says Chris Miller, corporate communications manager for Visit Phoenix. “With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, opportunities are endless. Looking to stargaze under the Southwestern night sky? We’ve got you covered. Curious about soaring high in a hot-air balloon for a bird’s-eye view of the Sonoran Desert? We’ve got that, too.”
Stellar Adventures offers one of Arizona’s top experiences with its Stargazing Tour. The nighttime tour includes a professional astronomer who brings the telescope along and points out galaxies, planets, and stars. “A special kind of stillness and peace overcomes the desert at night,” says JJ Briles, chief adventurer at Steller Adventures. “There is no better way to witness the sublime wonder of the galaxies than by the light of the moon on a warm Arizona evening. Observe massive Jupiter, rotating serenely more than 500 million miles away, in breathtaking detail as she comes alive through your telescope. Her colorful belts and bands, maroon swirls, Great Red Spot, and four Galilean moons can all be seen. The eclipses of Jupiter by its moons can be perceived in real time. Although it’s more than a billion miles distant, Saturn can be readily observed through our high-powered telescopes.”
From March through September, the Stargazing Tour’s Night Vision Adventure takes guests out in the pitch-black darkness of the desert. “The desert is silent and pitch-black at night, far away from the lights and buzz of the cities. In this complete and all-consuming darkness, you cannot even see your hand in front of your face,” Briles adds. “We provide state-of-the-art night vision devices so you can watch the world come alive under the cloak of darkness. Watch your surroundings intently through the green hue of night vision as the landscape becomes as bright as day.”
Stellar Adventures also offers guided ATV/UTV and H1 Hummer tours through the Sonoran Desert. The company offers safety training and various skill levels for attendees. According to the company’s website, “Stellar adventures begin where the pavement ends!”
Photos courtesy Southwest Adventure Tours
Salt Lake City has quickly become a popular destination for meetings and events, offering a perfect blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty. Nestled against the backdrop of the stunning Wasatch Mountains, the city provides access to world-class venues, cutting-edge technology, and a vibrant downtown scene, all just minutes from some of the best outdoor recreation in the country. Southwest Adventure Tours takes groups out to witness the area’s distinctive beauty firsthand, including day tours of Antelope Island State Park. “We hear from guests that their favorite part is seeing the Great Salt Lake because it is such an anomaly,” says Chad Taylor, director of marketing for Southwest Adventure Tours. “People love walking down to its shore and being able to say they have been there and seen it.”
In addition to close-up views of Great Salt Lake, guests on the tour can experience local wildlife, including the 500-head herd of bison living on the island, a historic ranch displaying the pioneer heritage, and even take a hike. “It is a cool hike up to Buffalo Point, where guests can look out and get spectacular views,” Taylor adds. “It is an easy and short hike, but it is enough to get some steps in for the day and enjoy the ambiance of the island.”
The western edge of Great Salt Lake offers another one-of-a-kind experience: the Bonneville Salt Flats Adventure. Southwest Adventure Tours offers a half-day experience, allowing guests to explore the 30,000-acre natural phenomenon, walk across the salt crust, and take photos to remember the experience for years to come. “It is about two hours west of Salt Lake, but it is well worth the time,” Taylor says. “We stop at a marina and allow them to experience Great Salt Lake, then head to Bonneville Salt Flats. Everyone is always enamored with it and loves walking out on the wide-open space.”
Up, up & away
Hot-air ballooning is a bucket-list item for many, and it can easily be added to the meeting agenda in Albuquerque, N.M., the “Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World.” Each October, more than 500 colorful balloons paint the Albuquerque skies as they lift off from Balloon Fiesta Park for Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta—the world’s largest hot-air balloon festival. In addition to the international balloon festival in October, Albuquerque offers superb year-round ballooning conditions. VisitAlbuquerque.org includes contact information for several hot-air balloon ride companies for meeting planners who want to treat attendees to the “experience of a lifetime.”
Championship-worthy excitement
Denver’s unique blend of outdoor adventure and urban sophistication makes it an attractive destination for hosting meetings and events. While planners are easily drawn to the “Mile High City” for its top-tier convention centers and luxury accommodations, sports enthusiasts will also find plenty to love. Denver is home to several professional teams, and incorporating a sports experience into the event can elevate it to the next level.
The NFL’s Denver Broncos play at Empower Field at Mile High. Groups with sports lovers can also rent the facility to host an event there. “During the off-season, groups can host teambuilding activities on the actual field or even utilize the event field for a special event. In other months, we can utilize the field track to allow people to host some activities there, and people really enjoy it,” says Anna Marie Martinez, director of special events for Empower Field. “We have even had some groups hire a game-day camera crew and capture guests walking out onto the field track, similar to how players do it, and it is also captured on the big scoreboard. For many, seeing their face featured on the scoreboard is an experience of a lifetime.”
Groups can also schedule behind-the-scenes tours of Empower Field, including the visitor locker room. “Some groups have branded the lockers with their guests’ names, creating the ultimate VIP experience,” Martinez adds. “We can even set up a meet-and-greet with the cheerleaders or bring in former Broncos players. There are many options for planners.”
Coors Field is another prime Denver location for hosting events. Home to MLB’s Colorado Rockies, the iconic ballpark includes versatile spaces for meetings, receptions, and private gatherings and offers exclusive access to the stadium. Private tours of Coors Field include the dugout, visitor’s clubhouse, and the tunnel below the ballpark. “We host many events here during the off-season or even during the season when the team is not here,” notes Matt Haddad, senior director of groups for the Colorado Rockies. “Groups can host unique events here, such as a reception or cocktail hour on the field, behind home plate, or in the visitor’s clubhouse.”
Immersive cultural encounters
Today, more than ever, meeting attendees want unique, immersive cultural experiences; selecting a destination offering such opportunities can be a game changer. Albuquerque—an accessible destination with more than 17,000 hotel rooms—offers many bucket-list adventures and cultural opportunities not found anywhere else, says Brenna Moore, director of communications and public relations for Visit Albuquerque. “I think a lot of people are not aware of all the city has to offer and how unique of a destination it is,” she says. “Visiting Albuquerque is almost like traveling to an international destination without needing a passport because we are a very old and diverse city. We make it very easy for groups to access our many cultural opportunities, which help paint the picture of the city and help attendees immerse themselves in our culture and history.”
Visitors can submerge themselves in Native American history at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the gateway to New Mexico’s 19 Native American Pueblos. The center holds traditional Native American dances year-round, along with cultural exhibits, artist markets, festivals, and more. Guests can even sample Native American cuisine at the Indian Pueblo Kitchen. “Even aside from visiting the center, we work really close with the center on immersive cultural experiences for groups,” Moore says. “Typically, we will arrange traditional Native American dances as an opening or closing event. We worked with the center to bring a dance group to the convention center and perform traditional dances as part of an event’s opening ceremony.”
As the “Flamenco Capital of North America,” Albuquerque is the perfect place for groups to dive into the vibrant art form. Attendees can witness an authentic flamenco performance or participate in interactive activities, allowing them to learn the intricate steps and rhythms of the dance. This hands-on experience provides a deeper connection to the city’s rich cultural heritage, making it a truly memorable activity and adding flair and excitement to any event itinerary. “The partners we work with are really interested in showcasing their culture and ways of life,” Moore says. “We try to facilitate the introductions and coordinate where we can so attendees here get a good picture of Albuquerque culture and history.”
