Business Conference in Las Vegas? Stay at the Renaissance.
In the last year I have gone to 8 different business conferences in Las Vegas. In the last month alone I have spent 12 days in Las Vegas at business conferences (Blogworld and Pubcon 2007). I have a real love/hate relationship for Vegas conferences.
The hate comes from a few things…
1) Too many hotels - I hate that everyone stays all over the city. This makes trying to get a unscheduled meetup together almost impossible. Everyone goes back to their hotels and gets ready and it takes forever to do anything…
2) The time change - Its a 2 hour time difference coming from the Midwest and a 3 hour coming from the east coast. I am always dragging ass the first couple of days and just about the time I am adjusted I have to go home… where I sleep till noon for a week until I am back adjusted.
3) The Smoke - As a smoker in remission (I smoked for 10+ years before quitting 7 years ago) I respect smokers rights. But I hate that every night my eyes burn and my clothes reeeek of cigarette smell.
4) Tipping - in vegas everyone feels they deserve a tip. More then any city anywhere in the world. Yes, even that bell man that ignored you for 5 minutes will expect money when he brings your bags to your room.
5) The Food - At business conferences generally dinners are not plan in advance and that is a real negative for the vegas life style. Most nice places are going to be a 1-2 hour wait if you do not have a reservation. Unless you want to eat crap.
So when staying in Vegas for Business here is my solution. Stay at the Renaissance.
1) Close proximity - its within walking distance to the convention center (like 100 yards from the south hall)
2) Price - Usually its the host hotel for every conference so you will get a huge discount of the normal rate.
3) Classy - its a 4 star hotel
4) Food - If their is better calamari on this planet I have not had it. Just last week for Pubcon 2007 I had at least 4 servings of calamari at the Renaissance. They also have the Envy steakhouse which has very very good steaks (this coming from a Nebraska guy is a big compliment).
5) SMOKE FREE - the Renaissance is the only smoke free hotel in las vegas.
6) Networking - being that its a short walk from the Las Vegas Convention Center (and they serve alcohol) most of the “rock stars” are found in the lounge networking. I have done more networking in this lobby then at all expo/conventions combined. This is where the idea for AuctionAds was conceived… this is where I met so many affiliate managers that cut me amazing increases… this is also where I heard a lot of bullshit =P
While some hotels might seem cheaper after you factor in all the cab rides and the inconvenience of lugging around all your crap all night + just the value of your time your wasting.
Also addressing the tipping issue you should always tip everyone even if its a dollar in Vegas. I know it Does not make much sense but its the Vegas way. By staying at the Renaissance and doing most of your drinking/networking there every time you tip you are gaining points with your door guy and server building value. When I was just there for Pubcon both drink servers recognized me and even remembered what I was drinking at the Renaissance. Also the door guy remembered I was from Nebraska which was surprising.
So I can’t really express how much money + time + headache it will save you by staying at the Renaissance in Las Vegas. Also the value of just being able to go to your room at anytime is pretty money.
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Man I love calamari. I think legal seafoods is pretty darn good.
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As a regular visitor to Vegas I have a few tips to add also, soon as you get to the airport get a coupon book, even if it costs you a few bucks it will be worth it, a lot of these books include free drink coupons and much more, every time I go its the first thing I find. Second, a lot of restaurants have local only specials, ask them for the unadvertised special (one place in particular at the Hard Rock Hotel has an amazing “unadvertised” special everyday, steak dinner for less than 5 bucks baby!).
And shoe, your right, it sucks that a lot of the hotels are smoker friendly, I am an ex-smoker myself and Vegas is hard to deal with, especially drinking all the time and wanting to smoke. I’ll have to check out the Renaissance next time I’m there!
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Correction to #5 - smoke free hotels
We stayed at the MGM Grand Signature (the 3 brand spanking new white buildings behind the MGM), during BlogWorld and it is also a completely smoke free hotel and is super pimp for $170/night (king bed + queen pullout)!!
Beeing an ex-smoker as well I appreciate being able to at least sleep in a non-smoking room while in Vegas!
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what no affiliate link? did you leave that out?
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I hear your pain.
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That’s good advice - I’ll have to remember it when I win the Shoeperstar competition, lol
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Smoke free is definately the way to go.
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Well…theres always a chance you can win…if you’ve entered
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Great post, I love the advice! I love the overall environment of Vegas, but there are some aspects that I could really do without. Staying at the Renaissance eliminates a few of these unwanted details that could otherwise sour my stay.
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It’s a good thing that the hotel is smoke free. They should pass the same law in the U.S. they did in Canada a few years ago - no smoking in public places or where children are present.
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Indoor public places that is.
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Smoke free is good, but it always makes me chuckle whenever I meet people in the states (usually New York), and they complain about the 2-3 hour time difference.
I fly from the UK, it’s 8 hours there, stop complaining
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I haven’t had a chance to stay there overnight yet, but I did have a day long conference session there before and the place was a welcome change to all the same looking casino hotels lately in Vegas.
Jeremy, I knew something else was different, until you just mentioned it was smoking free! Yes that is it, that explains a lot!
The steakhouse was indeed very good, servants were very attentive (though sometimes a bit over dramatized). But I’d definitely dine there again with folks there for business.
Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll definitely try staying there some time when coming for a conference.
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there is still smoking in the casino area… all places have smoke free rooms =P
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I don’t know how many people come to these conferences all together but if the meeting planners do it right, looking at your pictures and the videos any single resort/hotel should be able to accommodate the group on a timely notice. I am an employee at the Westin Kierland Resort Spa & Villas in Scottsdale, Arizona, we have 732 on-market rooms. and one of our largest meeting spaces is 33k sq feet. Altogether we have over 175k sq feet of meeting space. We have held very large business conferences, private charity parties for 5k people, large corporate companies. If you are ever want to start your own conference or know someone that is looking for the space and place, let me know would be glad to help.
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Funny you mention that hotel, as I’m the SEO Manager for Marriott International, Inc, it’s great to see that people actually have positive notes concerning the hotel. On the other hand Pubcon was a blast!! oh one more thing, if anyone needs discounts on hotel rooms send me an email.
Cheers!
Ben
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being an ex-smoker makes it rough. going into a room where someone had been chain smoking with the windows closed the night before is rough.
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Write a post on how you quit smoking!
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So if the conference isn’t at the Renaissance, would you stay there over the conf hotel? (you’ve advocated staying at the conf hotel in the past)
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Calamari is awesome!
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When did he smoke!?
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Yep, indoor public places. They still have smoker rooms though
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I dont eat meat..
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I agree with the Renaissance choice. I stayed there again as I have for several years now. Convenient. I thought the choice of the Wynn was terrible. Not on the monorail and a mile walk from Convention Center. Yeah, they have a shuttle (that only runs 8-8). I had to laugh at the long lines for cabs and late arrivals waiting for shuttles. When you could stay at MGM for $72, and many other monorail hotels, or the Renaissance for less, it made no sense other than hyping an expensive hotel. I stayed at the Ren for $160 with a buy 3 get a night free deal on their own website. Beat the Wynn deal and I paid no money for cabs. Another comment was that people had a hard time getting cabs at the Renaissance. Well I saw a long line at the convention center for cabs most of the time while a few people walked over to the Ren and got cabs right away there. There were more of them there than at the Convention Center in the evening.
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Is this where you’ll be staying if you attend the Summit or would you prefer to stay at the Rio?
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I just can’t seem to give up the Bellagio. Maybe its the fountains, maybe it’s the chocolate crepes, or maybe it’s the service. = )
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I agree. Stayed there last month for Blog world. Don’t stay there if you like to gamble, no casino. But the walk to the convention center and the tram thing is super close if that’s important to you.
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They don’t have a casino do they?
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We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard, which is basically just across the front parking lot in front of the South wing of the Convention center (just as close as Renaissance). A 2 minute walk and you’re there. Plus, no smoking (Marriott hotels nationwide do that, very cool!) and a delicious hot breakfast (seriously, the bacon is great).
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yeah, the Courtyard and the Residence Inn are across the street. Both are smoke free now. I stayed at Residence Inn for Blog World since the Ren was already sold out. The Residence Inn was nice as I could buy my own snacks and drinks and have a kitchen, and a good free breakfast.
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Number threee in this post.
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Yes, the Renaissance is truly an oasis in the desert.
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as said many times not going to affiliate summit
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Good to know - thanks for the tip Shoe. We stayed at the Wynn for PubCon and while it’s a nice hotel… I certainly regretted it (food, cabs, etc). Hell, the room didn’t even have free internet.
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I live in Vegas, and the whole smoking thing is a nightmare for me, since I hate it, and it’s everywhere you want/need to go! Glad there’s at least one hotel here that’s non-smoking.
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I have a tough time with the whole smoking thing as well. It’s a pretty big deterent for me because it’s in all the casinos. But I don’t hear of any of the casinos complaining about declining revenues.
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Yup. I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard too. Right across the street from the Convention center. It was definitely nice being that close to the conference. Walking across the street was a bit of a pain, but usually not too bad.
My only complaint about the Marriott Courtyard was the lack of a restaurant. They did have a breakfast buffet, but it was pretty weak, and over priced (Almost $20 after tip). They don’t serve any dinner, only offer some really lame delivery service. I did that once, and got a cold burger with soggy fries.
I went to several of the big hotels on the strip, and couldn’t stand being in there with all the smoke either.
As for tipping, I just tipped the cleaning ladies on the day I left.
Anyway, Renaissance definitely sounds like the way to go. I’ll try it next time for sure.
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I write for lasvegaslogue.com and the Renaissance is a fave for convention goers.
Next time you stay there, pop over to http://www.restaurant.com to get a gift certificate to eat at Envy and save some money.
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I’m so used to no smoking in bars etc now, I guess they could never ban them from Vegas though.
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Renaissance is gorgeous. Belagio in Vegas is even better ;).
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hope not.
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I’ve love to see a list of the conferences. Always looking for an excuse to go to Vegas.
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Couldn’t agree more. The Renaissance was a great relief at the 2005(?) pubcon. What you didn’t point out: it seems to be the only gambling-free hotel in the whole of Las Vegas! In every other hotel you’re greeted by the stupid slot-machine-noise whenever you’re leaving your room and I can’t stand that…
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Yes Renaissannce is best place i can also recommend to stay in LA.
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Sounds good - but do you have to mention Calamari and Steak at 6am when I’m so hungry.
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las vegas is amazing.
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I also stayed there at BlogWorld and will again. Very nice hotel.. Have found Renaissance hotels to be consistent. Was bummed when they sold the Park 55 in San Fran as it was my all time fave, but now private.
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