Whether it’s an Indigenous-owned and -operated spa with 12,000-year-old hot springs or an exclusive speakeasy serving rare concoctions, the Western U.S.’s offerings will wow your group.
“Our $100 million refresh of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center started last year in the foyer and it’s now completely done,” says Stephanie Glanzer, Chief Sales Officer & Sr. VP, MGM Resorts. “It’s what we’re calling the New Wave here at Mandalay Bay because on top of this enhancement, we’ve also added many new restaurants such as Michael Mina’s Orla and the new Carama restaurant, Wolfgang Puck’s Italian restaurant concept.”
Also opening at Mandalay Bay, “crazy golf” concept Swingers combines four 9-hole miniature golf courses with gourmet street food and cocktails in a 1920s English country estate-themed space. The venue can accommodate up to 1,500 and also offers multiple semi-private spaces.
“Innovation is all about thinking differently,” says Glanzer. “How are we providing new experiences either more efficiently or differently? Conventions and groups are the foundation of who we are, and are always going to be top of mind in our reinvestment.”
New York New York recently underwent a $63-million renovation of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites. The remodeled rooms replicate signature NYC details such as faux-exposed brick walls and accent colors such as Big Apple Red and Taxicab Yellow.
Bellagio is undergoing a $110 million transformation of its 392 suites and has added unique venues such as The Vault. This exclusive 1,700-sf speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar is available for group bookings and can accommodate up to 50. Its cocktail list includes drinks made with rare or extinct bottles sourced from private collectors. Also new at Bellagio is Pinky Ring, a 5,000-sf cocktail lounge and live music venue created in collaboration with singer-songwriter Bruno Mars.
“Sustainability is one of the core values of our company, and we report on a number of pillars and goals that we have set. We launched a food donation program in 2016 at ARIA, which has since grown throughout the company. We basically came up with an innovative way to fast freeze unused food at our catered functions, transport it to our partner Three Square, and then they get it to those in need in our community.”
“We have the most up-to-date technology with regards to our built-in equipment,” says Sasha Lee, Director of Sales, Circa Resort & Casino. “But what separates us from all other Vegas hotels is that our WiFi and AV is controlled in-house. We do not outsource for AV. The clients are dealing with a Circa employee every step of the way and do not have the customer service and cost challenges they face with other Vegas hotels that outsource this to a third party vendor.”
Circa is set to add 106 luxury rooms and suites, increasing its room inventory by 20 percent, in response to high demand from its convention guests. Venues at the property include Stadium Swim, which offers six pools on three different levels in view of a 40-ft-tall high-definition screen and accommodating up to 4,000. Legacy Club, situated on Circa’s 60th floor, is a cocktail bar inspired by Las Vegas’ founding fathers. The 9,330-sf space includes a large rooftop bar and outdoor terrace, and can accommodate up to 200 seated or 400 standing.
“Our attendees want to be blown away by experiential takeaways,” says Lee. “The requests for unconventional space keep coming and our hotel has answered the call for these kinds of events, and without the customer having to deal with an outside third party. We own and operate all our venues onsite, which is unique for Vegas. Our clients deal with a Circa sales employee for all our venues rather than a nightlife company.”
“Specific to the association market, Spokane has been leaning in on the importance of partnership in advance marketing of the program to boost attendance,” says Ruth Fitzgerald, VP of Sales, Visit Spokane. “We recently launched our new Meeting Planner Toolbox with a robust amount of accessible content that would be utilized pre-convention. Depending on the size of the group, Visit Spokane will attend the groups’ convention the year prior, setting up an engagement table that introduces the destination to attendees to generate a desire to attend the conference in Spokane the following year.”
Spokane Convention Center offers 390,000 sf total event space, which includes 120,000 sf of exhibit space. New attractions just steps away from the convention center include a zipline experience over the Spokane River, and a new lift ride offering an elevated tour experience of Riverfront Park.
“Eight miles from Spokane International Airport, getting to downtown and around town couldn’t be easier in Spokane,” says Fitzgerald. “Three-thousand hotel rooms, 120 restaurants, wine tasting rooms, coffee shops, microbreweries, a vibrant shopping mall, a performing arts center, a world-class sports complex, and a concert and event arena are all within a 5-10 minute walk from our convention center.”
New hotel openings in Spokane include the Cambria Hotel, which opened in October 2024. The property offers 91 rooms and just over 1,000 sf of meeting space. The four-star and four-diamond rated The Historic Davenport, Autograph Collection has announced that it will transition back to its original name, The Davenport Hotel. The 284-room hotel offers 33,000 sf of meeting and event space. The neighboring Davenport Lusso closed for renovation in October 2024 and is set to reopen in 2025 as The Louie.
“Attendees are looking for unique and authentic experiences. Spokane is seeing larger groups contract with us to host their conventions. Fatigued from larger destinations, planners can’t deny the appeal of taking over the city, receiving high-touch and customized options all at an affordable price.”
“Santa Ana has emerged as a true innovation in this market, having only recently gained DMO representation,” says AnaLaura Becerra, Director of Sales, Travel Santa Ana. “As one of Orange County’s oldest cities, it offers a wealth of hidden gems that make it an ideal choice for MICE events. We recently recommended Mission Control Arcade to a group where networking was essential. It was a perfect fit with its specialty cocktails, craft beers and nostalgic 80s arcade games.”
Hotel Zessa, a DoubleTree by Hilton has recently completed a full renovation and offers the largest meeting space in the area. The nearby DoubleTree Santa Ana is also undergoing a full renovation, set to be completed in 2025.
Recently announced, the Related Bristol project will be a massive $3 billion development that will transform a 1970s shopping center into a 41-acre urban village. The development will include a 250-room hotel, 350,000 sf of commercial space and 13.1 acres of open space. It is anticipated to break ground in 2026 and be completed in phases over the next 10 years.
“Santa Ana is an exciting new alternative in a familiar region,” says Becerra. “Our hotels are the perfect fit for small groups, offering mid-scale, branded properties with top-notch service and affordable rates. Located right in the heart of Orange County, Santa Ana provides easy access to all the well-known attractions that make Southern California such a sought-after destination.”
“The Thompson Palm Springs, by Hyatt just opened, which we’ve been talking about for a long time,” says Colleen Pace, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Greater Palm Springs. “We’re super excited to bring that luxury product to the destination. The Hall Winery are the owners—who are a very unique winery from Northern California—so they have a wine tasting experience. They have a rooftop pool, which is only the second rooftop pool in Greater Palm Springs, and you can see panoramic 360 views of the mountains.”
The Thompson Palm Springs offers 168 guest rooms including 18 suites. It will open in phases with the first phase having opened in October 2024. Set to debut later in 2024, Upper Stories will be an exclusive adults-only tower featuring a separate collection of 42 guest rooms with five suites, a private pool and lounge. The property offers more than 20,000 sf of event space.
Palm Springs Surf Club opened in 2024 offering a unique surfing in the desert experience. The state-of-the-art pool churns out waves ranging from two to seven ft and can be enjoyed by surfers of all ability levels. Its central 10,000-sf River Island location can accommodate up to 100 for a reception. The venue also includes a 17,210-sf amphitheater that can accommodate more than 2,000 attendees.
The Spa at Séc-he has opened at the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, owned and operated by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The 73,000-sf spa features hot mineral spring water that has been bubbling at this site for 12,000 years. The spa offers 22 private suites with tubs that fill directly from the spring with 150 gallons of pure mineral water. The Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza also includes a 48,000-sf Indigenous cultural museum telling the story of the Agua Caliente people.
“It’s a very unique experience,” says Pace. “Bringing the indigenous culture to people when they visit Greater Palm Springs, because not everyone thinks about that. But what we found is that groups and planners want to really be involved in the culture of a destination and those types of experiences allow them to do that.”
“One of the ways we innovate is by trying to really create a customized program that brings in influential voices,” says Adam Burke, President and CEO, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. “It’s really about what are you trying to create experientially for your customer. We can do everything from takeovers of our theme parks to back lot takeovers of film studios where you can see live filmings.”
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is undergoing a $43 million investment to improve how travelers navigate the airport ahead of the 2028 Olympics. LAX’s long-awaited People Mover transit system is also in the works following a $2 billion investment, and is expected to be operational by 2026.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opened its new NHM Commons wing in November 2024 as part of a $75 million expansion project. The new 75,000-sf space explores the intersection of science, nature and culture, and includes a landscaped plaza and 400-seat theater.
Destination Crenshaw is an under-construction 1.3-mile-long open-air museum along Crenshaw Boulevard, dedicated to preserving the history and culture of African Americans. The $100 million infrastructure project will create a thriving commercial corridor linked by community spaces and pocket parks, hundreds of newly planted trees and over 100 commissioned works of art.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will open in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park in 2026. Founded by filmmaker George Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, the museum will include all forms of visual storytelling, including painting, photography, sculpture, illustration, comic art, performance and video. The 300,000-sf building will be situated on an 11-acre campus and will include dedicated event space.
Laurel Herman contributed to this article.
mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com/en/meetings-groups/meetings-and-conventions.html; circalasvegas.com/meetings-conventions; visitspokane.com/meetings; travelsantaana.com/meetings; visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/meetings; discoverlosangeles.com/meetla