BUILDING THE FUTURE OF LAS VEGAS MEETINGS
CAESARS FORUM Skybridge entrance
NEW AND INNOVATIVE, CAESARS FORUM WELCOMES ITS FIRST CLIENTS THIS SUMMER
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By George Seli
n the midst of the challenge our industry is facing, let’s not forget the positive developments that will also be part of the new normal. Game-changing new meeting facilities are among them, and CAESARS FORUM is a standout example. Although the venue will not host clients until later this summer, it has already established itself as a unique offering within Las Vegas’ meetings landscape. That’s quite an achievement, considering the breadth and variety of meeting facilities in the city. CAESARS FORUM’s two pillar-less ballrooms — the largest in the world — comprise a highly configurable space with a sophisticated airwall system, boardrooms and even an adjoining, 100,000-sq.-ft. outdoor event plaza. Far from being a “big box” convention center, the interior of the FORUM has a thoughtful design that both evokes nature and brings attendees closer to it via extensive use of natural light and plant life. Supporting the venue are four Caesars Entertainment hotels that are part of the CAESARS FORUM campus: Caesars Palace, Harrah’s Las Vegas, The LINQ Hotel + Experience and the Flamingo Las Vegas. All have recently reopened, and in time will be welcoming groups that have booked CAESARS FORUM. Prior to the travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic, those bookings had been robust, representing over $450 million. Since March, the sales team has been working to reschedule groups that have needed to cancel, when possible. However, all the discussions and negotiations have been smooth and collaborative, observes Lisa Messina, Vice President of Sales. “Everybody has come to the table in a sensitive, cooperative way to say, ‘We were all dealt this 21
terrible card, so how do we get through this together and take care of our respective organizations?’” she relates. Both suppliers and planners have handled the situation “in a way that is productive and positive, instead of creating any more angst,” Messina adds. With Caesars Entertainment’s new health and safety protocols in place (see sidebar, page 23), guests can feel at ease when gathering at CAESARS FORUM and in any of the hotels. “We have had the mindset that as long as we could open safely and securely and the demand from our customers is there, we would
“You can do events on the Forum Plaza with the backdrop of the Strip. It affords you more diversity in terms of what you accomplish with your event.” —Lisa Messina, Vice President of Sales, Caesars Entertainment open the properties sooner rather than later,” says Messina. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised with the number of people who are ready to come back to Las Vegas. We started opening back up in early June and the demand is strong. And for 2021 meetings will be back in a big way so we’re feeling very optimistic.” As a result of the re-openings, Caesars Entertainment is now able to host planners who want a walk-through of the CAESARS FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS 2020 SUPERBOOK
