The Venetian | The Palazzo | Sands Expo, Las Vegas

Five star, more than 3,000 rooms, 209,032m2 of meeting space
Tel: 1 (888) 283 6384       Email: Nicholas.MCCoy@venetian.com    Website: www.venetianpalazzomeetings.com


I don’t like big hotels and I don’t like theme hotels. And here I am in a hotel that is both.

First surprise: virtually no queue at reception. A friendly staff asks for my surname, leads me to an available receptionist and I’m barely there when the receptionist welcomes me with my full name. Second surprise: it is not tacky at all. I marvel how extremely detailed and loving the work is in recreating a Venice in Las Vegas. Third surprise, a staff delivers a basket full of Japanese crackers and other Asian snacks, a plate of fruits and chocolates, and a little kettle along with a selection of teas, just as I have finished unpacking and settling into my suite. Talk about good timing and a warm welcome with a touch of Asia.

Meeting facilities

At 209,032m² Sands Expo and Convention Center is not the largest exhibition and meeting space in Las Vegas – it is the largest privately-owned MICE space in the US. I asked for a site inspection of the facility and put on my jogging shoes, expecting this to be my full work-out for the day. Yet another surprise: hardly a sweat. The layout is delegate-friendly as the venue is equidistant from The Venetian and The Palazzo, the two hotels within the whole complex. Spread over a few floors, it is a logical and compact layout that is easy to navigate and it seems made for MICE of all sizes, be it for a meeting of just 50 pax, or 12,000 pax. The convention sales manager who is showing me around, Nicholas McCoy, says hardware aside, it is their well-trained people who make meetings at the property successful. Going by the service and friendliness I’m getting so far, I’m inclined to believe.

Rooms

So how do you choose between The Venetian and The Palazzo if there is no difference in product standard and rate? I think it comes down to personal preference. If your delegates would prefer Renaissance art and architecture, go for The Venetian. I’m at The Palazzo as I prefer a more contemporary design. Both hotels offer only suites of average 65m², a size they claim is roughly twice that of a typical Las Vegas room. Indeed, I have enough space to throw a small party in my sunken living room, which has a fantastic view of the city, especially as it starts to turn dark and the strip starts twinkling with lights. At US$189 a night, it is good value.

F&B

There are more than 30 restaurants, from casual to expensive, to choose from. My best find is Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro – classic service and flavourful French cooking. My worst is AquaKnox, where the service is offensively impersonal, and the fish is either old or frozen for a long time (and not even a lemon slice going with it).

For a fun and casual place, head straight to Tintoretto Restaurant, where you could watch the world go by while tucking into pasta. Here, the owner herself takes care that everything is going well – I feel like I’m in the bosom of mama.

Other facilities

Entertainment with a capital E! At the time of visit, in July, it’s Carnevale, and each year this stretches till September. More than 300 events are rolled out during the festival which mimics celebrations of summer in Europe and the famed Carnevale in Venice. Events range from a cook-and-dine with Wolfgang Puck to free fashion shows at the Palazzo Waterfall.

There are also resident shows to watch, including Human Nature – The Motown Show  and Rock of Ages, and Headliner Shows featuring stars like Tim Allen (check the calendar each month). There are three nightclubs and many more pubs/lounges. The shopping is great.

And of course there’s the casino.

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