At right, MGM Grand breaks ground on approximately $130 million expansion of its award-winning Conference Center. L-R: LVCVA VP of Global Business Sales Chris Meyer; MGM Grand VP of Sales Ernest Stovall; Pegasystems Global Vice President, Customer Experience & Events, Michael Brenner; Dr. Deepak Chopra; MGM Grand President & COO Scott Sibella; MGM Resorts SVP & Chief Sales Officer Michael Dominguez; MGM Resorts Design President Bill Ham; and MGM Resorts Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dan D’Arrigo.
The iconic MGM Grand, one of Las Vegas’ premier meeting destinations, officially broke ground recently on an approximately $130 million expansion of its award-winning Conference Center, reflecting MGM Resorts International’s commitment to growing group business throughout the city.
In response to customer demand, the MGM Grand Conference Center is adding 250,000 square feet for a total of more than 850,000 square feet. As part of the expansion, Stay Well Meetings – the industry’s first-ever wellness meetings experience which launched at the hotel in 2014 – also will expand its footprint by 22,000 square feet and encompass the Conference Center’s entire second floor. Demonstrating the demand for a new way to conduct business, Stay Well Meetings feature amenities and programs that stimulate healthy, productive and creative work environments that many clients are actively seeking.
“The expansion of Stay Well Meetings, along with our 340 Stay Well accommodations, allows MGM Grand to offer a completely unique destination for groups that carries through the entire resort experience – from the board room to the guest room,” said Ernest Stovall, vice president of sales for MGM Grand. “The Conference Center expansion allows us to grow with the needs of our clients and drive new and expanded business to Las Vegas.”
The new 250,000-square-foot space at MGM Grand will seamlessly connect to the existing Conference Center on all three levels and include a new 5,500-square-foot outdoor courtyard available for private events, a 49,000-square-foot ballroom, a 32,000-square-foot ballroom, three junior ballrooms and 11 breakout rooms. The resort’s unique meeting spaces include the stand-alone, 92,000-square-foot Marquee Ballroom and the 16,800-seat Grand Garden Arena.
The project is scheduled for completion the end of 2018.
MGM Grand’s new space comes on the heels of expansions at sister properties – Mandalay Bay and ARIA. Mandalay Bay recently completed a 350,000-square-foot expansion totaling over two million square feet while ARIA is currently adding 200,000 square feet to create more than 500,000 square feet at the resort (opening February 2018). Upon completion of these projects, MGM Resorts International will offer a total of 4 million square feet of leading meeting and convention space within a two-mile stretch on the Las Vegas Strip.
The widespread development of new meeting space in Las Vegas is a solid indicator of the city’s position as the number one trade show destination in the United States for 23 consecutive years, as determined by Trade Show News Network.
Michael Dominguez, senior vice president and chief sales officer for MGM Resorts, said, “The interest in Las Vegas and specifically MGM Resorts destinations has been tremendous. Because we deliver extraordinary events that achieve client goals, we have been able to continue cultivating loyal relationships with companies that want to grow with us. The increased demand for space compelled us to develop more robust and creative meeting options throughout our portfolio.”
For more information and renderings of the MGM Grand Conference Center expansion, visit the MGM Resorts Newsroom.
