On July 16th, 2018, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the world’s most diversified gaming and entertainment company, broke ground on their newest development: CAESARS FORUM, a brand new 550,000-square-foot conference center, which will open in 2020 in Las Vegas. The $375 million investment will feature the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world, within a short walk from nearly 8,000 hotel rooms. This is an ideal location for anyone looking to host meetings and events in the entertainment capital of the world.
The groundbreaking ceremony for CAESARS FORUM moved forward the meetings industry initiatives for Caesars Entertainment, as well as the city of Las Vegas. Roger Dow, President and CEO of US Travel Association and master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking event mused that the city has evolved from an internationally well-known gambling destination to become the global leader for the $330 billion dollar per year meetings and conventions industry, which is larger than the fashion and automobile industries combined.
With 40 first-class properties nationwide, Caesars Entertainment currently offers more than 2.1 million square feet of meeting and event space. In 2018, more than 17,000 meetings and events were hosted with Caesars Entertainment, welcoming more than 1.9 million participants nationwide. CAESARS FORUM will boost that meeting square footage, as it will feature more than 300,000 square feet of configurable meeting space.
Michael Massari, chief sales officer of meetings and conventions for Caesars Entertainment said that CAESARS FORUM will create 1,000 local construction jobs and more than 450 permanent jobs upon opening in 2020. “There will be a lot of people and families who really rely on the incomes of this facility and we are looking forward to that responsibility,” he added.
“CAESARS FORUM will be a steward in its impact and commitment to the local community and sustainability efforts,” Massari said. Caesars Entertainment will move the boundary further, as CAESARS FORUM will be a certified LEED silver building. This, he added, will be in line with the company’s environmental initiatives, and lead the way for sustainability to be top of mind during design, construction and operation once completed.
In addition to the two 110,000-square-foot pillarless ballrooms, two 40,000-square-foot ballrooms and six 1,250-squarefoot boardrooms, CAESARS FORUM will be able to hold meetings for more than 10,000 attendees with more than 100 breakout rooms, but is flexible enough to still accommodate small meetings. The ballrooms will be perfect for any event including general sessions, breakouts, meals and exhibit space, and will be beautifully appointed with luxurious carpeting and intuitive natural lighting, as well as a classic, chic neutral color pallet. Operationally, CAESARS FORUM will be streamlined, as its single-story layout will feature two loading docks, making set up and tear down easier.
CAESARS FORUM will have direct access to the 5,000 hotel rooms at both Harrah’s and LINQ hotels through the FORUM Sky Bridge. Harrah’s Las Vegas has completed a $140 million transformation, which includes 1,622 modern new guest rooms and suites in its Valley Tower. This latest redesign follows the renovation of 672 guest rooms and suites on the south side of the tower in 2016, resulting in a completely refreshed Valley Tower at the classic Caesars Entertainment hotel celebrating 80 years as a premier brand. Before the grand opening of CAESARS FORUM, the Harrah’s lobby and several other public spaces are slated to undergo a modern, upscale refreshment.
The LINQ Hotel & Casino features cutting-edge technology, modern furnishings with direct access to The LINQ Promenade. In addition to the standard rooms that feature a fresh, modern design with floor to ceiling windows, boasting views of the iconic Las Vegas Strip or the High Roller, it also features five new lavishly appointed suite models. Flamingo Las Vegas will also be accessible through the LINQ Promenade offering another 3,500 renovated hotel rooms, featuring unique, contemporary and retro-chic designs with accents that celebrate Flamingo’s rich history as the centerpiece of the Las Vegas Strip.
In addition, the conference center will be walking distance to eight of Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas properties providing accessibility to more than 20,000 rooms, including Planet Hollywood, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, and The Cromwell. The only boutique hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, the Cromwell offers 188 rooms and suites that mirror modern Parisian loft-style apartments featuring vintage motifs and breathtaking views of the city, with two of the most popular places of Las Vegas when it comes to dining and nightlife: GIADA, the first namesake restaurant of celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis and Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub. If attendees wish to zip around the Las Vegas Strip with ease after their meeting at CAESARS FORUM, the FORUM Sky Bridge will also feature a monorail stop, giving attendees an effortless and original way to get around.
CAESARS FORUM is also leading the way with outdoor meetings, and is excited to debut the FORUM PLAZA, a 100,000-squarefoot, dedicated outdoor event space perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner under the stars. This versatile space will also function as a prime locale for wellness breaks, receptions and corporate social responsibility activities. The FORUM PLAZA will be connected to the LINQ Promenade, a one-of-a-kind shopping and dining corridor located just across CAESARS FORUM. LINQ Promenade offers a wide range of food and beverage options and features flavors from Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips restaurant, In’N’Out burger and Sprinkles Cupcakes to name a few – as these unique outlets aren’t available elsewhere on the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Within a two-minute walk of CAESARS FORUM is the LINQ Promenade, anchored by the skyline-defining High Roller since it made its debut just over four years ago. Each of the 28 High Roller cabins are easily brandable and able to each accommodate 40 attendees, and can also be booked for cocktail receptions and coffee breaks. The High Roller has a 30-minute rotation time and is the perfect way to incorporate breakout sessions in an unconventional meeting venue – which at 550 feet tall is the highest observation wheel in the world.
In November 2018 the LINQ Promenade will get a jolt of adrenaline when Fly LINQ, the only zipline on the Las Vegas Strip, opens. Fly LINQ will feature ten side-by-side zip lines, flying from the Vortex meeting space at the LINQ Hotel & Casino at 1,080 feet, launching riders over the top of the promenade and concluding at a landing pad just beneath the High Roller.
Before the shovels even hit the ground in mid-July, CAESARS FORUM had already been booking business and has secured its first booking with the American School Counselor Association for July 2021, which will include 3,500 attendees from across the U.S. To date, CAESARS FORUM has contracted over $100 million in conference business.
“Las Vegas is one of the most exciting meetings destinations in the world and the Caesars name has long been synonymous with the glamour and energy of Las Vegas,” said Executive Director of the American School Counselor Association Richard Wong. “CAESARS FORUM will have the perfect combination of size, facilities and location to provide our 3,500 conference participants with the best professional development and an outrageously good time.”
For more information on Caesars Entertainment meeting and event opportunities, call (855) 633- 8238; email [email protected]; or visit CaesarsForum.com.
