Facilities & Destinations: CAESARS FORUM

CAESARS FORUM

The 100,000-sq.-ft. FORUM Plaza will be able to host outdoor events with the High Roller as a backdrop

LAS VEGAS’ FORMIDABLE NEW MEETINGS VENUE PROVES ITS PRE-OPENING POPULARITY

The old saying, “if you build it, they will come,” has certainly been borne out by CAESARS FORUM, Caesars Entertainment’s latest offering to the meetings market. In fact, Caesars hasn’t even finished building the facility, and a great many groups have already committed to coming. The first booking was the American School Counselor Association for an event in July 2021 that will bring in 3,500 attendees from across the United States. Overall, more than $150 million in conference business has been booked for 2020 (the opening year) and beyond, with over 70 contracts signed. In addition, over half a million room nights at Caesars Entertainment properties have been booked for groups that will be utilizing the FORUM.

“We’re thrilled that interest from planners in CAESARS FORUM continues to remain high, and also anticipate bookings to remain strong throughout the rest of the year and leading up to the official opening in 2020,” says Lisa Messina, Vice President of Sales for Caesars Entertainment. Current bookings represent diverse industries including fashion, technology, telecom, sports, entertainment, wine and spirits, and wellness, with attendance ranging from 500 to 10,000 attendees, Messina adds.

“ We are proud to offer one contact, one contract and one food and beverage minimum to simplify the meeting planning process. ” —Lisa Messina, Vice President of Sales, Caesars Entertainment

But a massive capacity is not the FORUM’s only distinguishing feature. The venue has been thoughtfully designed to provide both logistical convenience and an invigorating atmosphere for meeting attendees. “When clients organize an event, convenience of setup usually plays a significant role. With CAESARS FORUM being built on one floor, clients can load in their equipment and overall setup with ease through nine easily accessible load-in docks,” Messina explains. “We have also received positive feedback and appreciation from our clients since CAESARS FORUM will incorporate natural elements and light throughout the facility, as well as light tones and a neutral palette that focuses on bringing the outside in. FORUM Plaza is a prime example of this, as it allows clients the unique opportunity of bringing the inside outside for evening receptions under the stars.”

The first 100,000-sq.-ft. outdoor function space in Las Vegas, the FORUM Plaza will be ideal for wellness breaks, opening cocktail receptions, meals and entertainment. And speaking of entertainment, attendees will have many options close at hand. A pedestrian bridge connects the FORUM to LINQ Promenade, an outdoor retail, dining and entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip. Here, attendees can experience attractions such as the High Roller, the tallest observation wheel in the world at 550 ft., as well as Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas and FLY LINQ, the first and only zipline on the Strip. Not only will CAESARS FORUM offer a logistically convenient facility and location, but the planning process will be convenient as well, thanks to the structure of Caesars’ convention services. “We are proud to offer one contact, one contract and one food and beverage minimum to simplify the meeting planning process,” says Messina. “Throughout the planning process, clients will receive individual support from a single contact who is a veteran of the hospitality and meetings industry and will help to execute memorable events.”

Rendering of the FORUM’s naturally lit prefunction space

The company is also ensuring its event sales and service professionals have the latest education in order to support client planners. This spring, Caesars Entertainment entered into a three-year partnership with Switzerland-based Event Design Collective GmbH to launch the Event Design Certificate, with the goal of certifying 1,000 meetings industry professionals by 2022. Many Caesars sales and convention services team members will be among the new Certified Event Designers. “Customer expectations are growing in all segments of industry, not just the meetings industry,” says Messina. “Event owners and organizers want to work with consultative partners that can understand and help them achieve their organizational goals through meetings. It cannot be a one-way street, however. Customers and their partners need to be speaking the same language to deliver on the mission, so we have elected to certify our sales and service teams along with our customers.”

Next year, Certified Event Designers will have the ideal canvas for their art at CAESARS FORUM.

FACILITY FEATURES • Accommodates more than 10,000 participants within 300,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including two 110,000-sq.-ft. pillarless ballrooms, two 40,000-sq.-ft. ballrooms and six state-of-the-art boardrooms • More than 100 breakout rooms • Divisible into limitless configurations, utilizing over two miles of airwalls • Built on one floor for convenient move-in, along with nine easily accessible loading docks • FORUM Plaza, a 100,000-sq.-ft. outdoor event space • LEED Silver rating • Direct access via skybridge to Harrah’s Las Vegas and The LINQ Hotel and Casino • Connected by pedestrian bridge to LINQ Promenade and Flamingo Las Vegas • Conveniently located within walking distance to eight Caesars Entertainment properties