Booking for Large Groups

[Chuck]

I see a lot of people going to Vegas with big groups. Here's something to consider....try using Convention Services for your booking. Here's an example for Bellagio for a group of 12 for 3 nights Wed-Sat:

Included
(1) Executive Hospitality Suite 2500sf Party Central
(1) Bellagio Suite
(10) Deluxe Rooms
$2400 in catering
Includes taxes, resort fees, and gratuities

This totals out to be $6810.32 ($567.53/person = $189/night all in)
You can have food and drinks catered in to the Hospitality Suite for everyone
They clean the Exec Suite twice a day. Great way to ball-out on a budget.

You do have to sign a contract so you have to make sure and get everyone's money up front.
But seriously...$189 all inclusive at Bellagio is pretty badass IMO. Obviously you can do it for less
by make the second suite a Deluxe Room...that's just the way I got my quote.

[Ballin]

You're getting the hospitality suite exclusively for the entire duration of your stay? That sounds very inexpensive...almost to the point where something isn't adding up right lol.

Forgetting the taxes and tips and such (to keep it simple)...$6800, back out the $2400 in food = $4400. Divide by the 10 rooms is $440 a room (which is probably not too far off from the rack rate), you could then view it as buy 10 rooms, get a hospitality suite and a bellagio suite free!

Thats how my whacky brain views it, haha.

[Chuck]

The math is correct...that I can assure you. Since it's through Conventions they require catering minimums....I guess I've never asked to NOT do any catering, but they seem to be required. But if you could care less about going to restaurants, and want food and/or booze delivered to your room and to be treated like a high roller....this is the way to go if you have a large group.

[pantlessbellman]

You're sure that its not a $2400 catering minimum? It does seem like almost too good of a deal. Of course you could always also figure that there would be more than one person per room which would lower the costs even more!

[Chuck]

The minimum was $2000 for catering...the $2400 is my actual budget for a 2 hour open bar for 12 people on one night (a bartender is included), and breakfast and lunch for the other two days (so four meals total). The rates are for double occupancy, so yeah, two people per room cuts the price in half.

By the way...I've got similar proposals from Aria and Mirage...this kind of thing can be done at any of the resorts that have convention facilities. I did it at Aria last year.

You're sure that its not a $2400 catering minimum? It does seem like almost too good of a deal. Of course you could always also figure that there would be more than one person per room which would lower the costs even more!

[timbuck2]

Is 12 the minimum?
Is a "Hospitality Suite" only for eating/drinking in or is this a room to sleep /shower /etc in?

[Chuck]

Is 12 the minimum?
Is a "Hospitality Suite" only for eating/drinking in or is this a room to sleep /shower /etc in?

Ive never done less than 12 so im not sure if there is a minimum. The Hospitality suite has a bar, living area, seperate conference room, powder room, and seperate bedroom and master bath.

[gamepube]

Chuck- do you have a contact for convention sales at any of these properties?
I notice they are all MGM, were you quoted by the same person?

[Chuck]

Each property has a different contact. Here are the emails of ones I've been getting quotes from:

Mirage: Cobos, Lorraine - [email protected]
Aria: Andres, Monica - [email protected]
Bellagio: Gastelum, Marina - [email protected]

I would suggest you at least sound like you're having a meeting or something. I don't know if they care or not, but better safe than sorry. They WILL negotiate also depending upon your group size. Bellagio first quoted me $229/night for standard rooms. I told them they were significantly more than ARIA (which they were), and they came down to $129/night. Believe it or not, for a group of 12, Bellagio is the cheapest option right now of the three. Not to say I can't squeeze the others a bit lower

Oh, they may hand you off to someone else b/c they have "territories" or whatever...so don't be surprised if they do.

[Chuck]

You giving this a go for your next trip?

Chuck- do you have a contact for convention sales at any of these properties?
I notice they are all MGM, were you quoted by the same person?

[gamepube]

I'm gonna reach out to the contacts you listed above for my upcoming trip.
I have about 20 people and it may make sense.
I'll keep you posted.

[Chuck]

I'm gonna reach out to the contacts you listed above for my upcoming trip.
I have about 20 people and it may make sense.
I'll keep you posted.

Aria ended up being the best deal for me. I asked the casino tonight about comping me a suite and giving me mlife points for the spending associated with the group. You might try throwing Mandalay in the mix as well.

[gamepube]

What's the deal you got at Aria?
I would like to have a negotiation reference.

I'm gonna reach out to the contacts you listed above for my upcoming trip.
I have about 20 people and it may make sense.
I'll keep you posted.

Aria ended up being the best deal for me. I asked the casino tonight about comping me a suite and giving me mlife points for the spending associated with the group. You might try throwing Mandalay in the mix as well.

[Chuck]

$399/night on the Executive Hosp Suite
$139/night on the standard rooms

Aria only quoted a minimum catering spend if I booked a separate meeting space. I'm finding out if there's a required spend if we only use the suite for our meetings. Will let you know what I find out.

What's the deal you got at Aria?
I would like to have a negotiation reference.

I'm gonna reach out to the contacts you listed above for my upcoming trip.
I have about 20 people and it may make sense.
I'll keep you posted.

Aria ended up being the best deal for me. I asked the casino tonight about comping me a suite and giving me mlife points for the spending associated with the group. You might try throwing Mandalay in the mix as well.

[Chuck]

Guess this in an option for a large group....your own 11 bedroom mansion

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationR...as_Nevada.html