Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1476179
B M & T ••• July/August 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 20 C hoosing the right venue for your meeting or conference is a crucial step in the planning process. Select a destination or facility that doesn't resonate with your target audience and you very well may put a damper on attendance, no matter how spectacular your scheduled program may be. Planners are challenged to pick a venue that has the amenities that will boost attendance, while at the same time taking care that these same features that attract delegates will not also detract from the business at hand. Gaming resorts, claim many planners, can offer the perfect balance for a successful meeting event. Destinations like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, Baltimore and Detroit, for example, offer an array of possibilities for planners searching for a unique meeting experi- ence. Here are a few venues for your consideration. BALLY'S LAS VEGAS Bally's Las Vegas, which is undergoing a transformation into the legendary casino brand Horseshoe Las Vegas by the end of 2022, is located at the center of the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip, across from Caesars Palace and next to Paris Las Vegas. The 44-acre resort consists of two 26-story hotel towers with more than 2,800 guestrooms, including the renovated resort rooms and 244 suites. Bally's 175,000 square feet of meeting space provides unmatched flexibility, with four ballrooms, breakout rooms and pre-function space, from the intimate Directors Room with conference seating for 20 to the 40,000- square-foot Bally's Event Center that easily accommodates 4,000 attendees. And with direct access to an additional 140,000 square feet of space at the adjacent Paris Las Vegas, Bally's has what it takes to satisfy even the most demanding event require- ments. For entertainment, Bally's Las Vegas offers "EXTRAVAGANZA – The Vegas Spectacular" on the iconic Jubilee Theater stage and "Potted Potter- Harry Potter Parody". Dining options include Horseshoe's signature fine dining experience, Jack Binion's Steak, as well as Burger Brasserie, Bally's Food Court, Nosh Deli, LavAzza, and more. Joining the roster of din- ing establishments is Chef Martin Yan's first Las Vegas restaurant, M.Y. Asia. The resort also offers a fitness center, a tenni- R O U N D U P GREAT GAMING COMPILED BY SOLMON J. HERBERT