 When searching for a meeting venue, do you sometimes wish you could find a “total package?” A venue encompassing meeting space, lodging, entertainment, food and beverage service, and all the other elements of a successful meeting?
Playing the Numbers
Consider the merits of a casino meeting. You don’t have to travel to Vegas to plan one, and many casinos have all the above factors covered and more. Offering state-of-the-art convention space, many serve to provide a seamless, all-in-one meeting location while allowing attendees to enjoy gaming - an amenity at the top of the wish list alongside golfing and spas.
“The draw of gaming as an incentive for attendance is a proven fact,” says Judith Petersen, PR director for Royal River Casino in Flandreau, SD. “Why do you think so many companies and organizations hold their conventions in Las Vegas? The lure of great shows, a possible chance at winning the big jackpot and good food create a desire to attend so they will not miss out on any of the fun after the meetings for the day are over.”
 When Midwest Meetings caught up with Bill Walsh, he was making his way across the state to have dinner with former South Dakota Senator George McGovern in Walsh’s hometown of Mitchell. Walsh is a well-known figure in the casino and gaming circuit, not only in South Dakota, but throughout the US. His commitment and foresight to recognize that casinos are a “draw” for convention goers, garners tax revenue and brings employment opportunity to the community is what help put Deadwood back on the map as a booming meetings and events hot-spot. He foresees that with casinos, such as; The Lodge at Deadwood, The Martin Mason Building, The Historic Silverado Franklin Hotel and the completion of the new Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort and Casino, that in the not so distant future Deadwood will be known as the “Mini-Branson, Missouri”.
Midwest Meetings: In 2007 you were inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame (historical category) for your work that brought legalized gambling back to Deadwood, SD. Your commitment to this cause helped to “jump-start” the economy there. How did you become such an advocate for casino gambling in Deadwood?
 Casinos have been around for several decades. When most people think of a casino, they envision lavish buffets, bright lights, several rows of gambling machines and hotel rooms fit for a king. In a place that in the past has seemed solely for entertainment purposes, casinos have flourished. Businesses now can truly be mixed with pleasure. However to appreciate where casinos are today, it is important to take a look at where they began with the history of casinos. The word "casino" comes from the Italian meaning of "asa" or house. It means a building constructed for pleasure. The buildings were used to host dancing,music and of course gambling. Although casinos originated many years ago, the meaning of the word hasn't changed much. In fact, the true meaning of casino exists now more than ever before. In the US, Casinos in the earlier days were known as saloons. Travelers or local residents would enter a saloon to drink and gamble with people from the area. In the early 20th century it was illegal to gamble. State legislation and social reformers saw no good in what casinos offered and had gambling banned. However, by 1931 gambling was legalized in Nevada, which lead to the first legalized casinos in the US. From there, other major cities began building casinos. The El Rancho Vegas Hotel-Casino opened in 1941 which is where the Las Vegas strip later developed. The idea of a hotel and casino was a genius idea to not only businessmen but to the public as well.
 Your pressing questions… • Casinos and waterpark resorts
offer benefits for meetings
This features commonly asked questions from meeting and event planners.
We hope to answer your question soon!
Q:
What are the benefits to having my event at a casino or waterpark hotel and conference center? Will it be a distraction for my attendees?
A:
Holding your event at a destination resort, with a casino and/or waterpark, can prove to be a plus for you and your attendees.
First, it will save you money. Casino properties tend to offer entertainment, generally at no cost or at a discounted rate for your group. This will save you the time and transportation costs to either bring in entertainment or take your attendees to another attraction. Talk to your sales executive working with you on your event to see what kind of entertainment is available. It’s a good idea to ask if they can arrange to have something during your event. In the worst-case scenario, they may go in with you and pay for a portion of the entertainment you want to book. Waterparks often offer group rates that include wristbands and/or other discounts for their onsite attractions. This can be a plus for your attendees, as they can bring in their families for a mini-vacation, which is particularly attractive during the current economy where vacations are more of a luxury. Try to negotiate special rates pre- and post-conference, so your attendees can extend their trip and spend time with their family.
 The Casino Edge
• Mixing business with pleasure
• Casino resorts offer multiple options to planners
• Meetings business is important to casinos
Meeting planner Sean Schuette, CMP, understands the value of a casino resort. These properties offer top-notch service, state-of-the-art technology, large meeting spaces, great dining and multiple, exciting entertainment (“fun”) options.
To him, these venues are “all under one roof” properties that make the business of meetings a top priority in a comfortable, exciting location.
“I am someone who looks at the overall experience at a venue,” said Schuette.
Schuette has had several good experiences at casino venues. If these properties continue to bundle a creative package of opportunities, then, he and other colleagues in the meeting planning business are likely to continue to find the properties attractive and good venue locations.
With all its amenities and entertainment options, casino resorts are energetic places that can really encourage attendee participation, according to casino officials.
 • Q&A with casino resort officials
• Meetings work in casinos
• Bundling offers inviting possibilities
Casino resorts are growing and expanding venues that offer meeting planners a wealth of possibilities. More and more planners are finding these venues to their liking. It is not only the meeting space but also the options available at these casino resorts. In addition, many casino resorts feature golf courses, spas, headline entertainment, and all the amenities that enable an event to be successful, as well as memorable. Here, Bill Renk, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island, IL, and Andrew Fersch, Director of Sales at Belterra Casino Resort & Spa in Switzerland County, IN, comment on the value of meetings to their properties. They reflect on why casino resorts are attractive to meeting planners as well as the commitment they are making to draw meetings to their venues.
 The game: Blackjack
The basics: Also known as 21, this game combines elements of chance with player skill. Players play against the dealer and the highest hand wins, as long as it equals less than 21. If a hand exceeds 21, it is “bust” - a losing hand. Players request cards, or hits, from the dealer in an attempt to reach 21, until they feel they are in risk of busting, at which point they “stand” and await the revealing of the dealer’s hand.
The game: Craps
The basics: This game is played with dice rather than cards, and it is played in rounds. The first roll of a round is called the “come-out roll.” Players bet against the house, or the casino, on the results of rolls of the dice. Players take turns rolling two dice, with resulting valuations determining the outcome of a roll. A variety of bets can be made based on chance. The type of bet and position of the dice at the end of a roll or a round determine payouts.
 Ramp up the excitement by integrating the casino theme into your meeting or event. Most casino properties have in-house décor that reflects the gambling ambience. Check with them first to see what is on hand, or get creative and come up with your own special touches. Following are a few ideas.
• See what the hotel has to offer for props. Registration and break tables can pop with some inexpensive casino-themed items, such as playing cards, fake chips, gold foil coins, etc.
• For banquet tables, obtain some green felt - or just green linens - to create the “poker table” look. Use double-sided adhesive and playing cards to affix a winning hand at each setting.
• Hand out die-shaped stress relievers.
• Shop online for gambling-themed movie posters: Honeymoon in Vegas, National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation, Maverick, etc. These can be placed at entrances to meeting rooms, plastered on the walls during functions or given away as mementos.
• Tie in an ice-breaker by handing each attendee a playing card upon arrival, and reward the first group to come up with a straight flush or four-of-a-kind.
 For those who are new to the casino scene, some of the lingo involved can be confusing at best. Most people have heard many of the common gaming catch phrases, some of which have become a part of everyday conversation, but not everyone really knows what it all means.
If you have beginners in your group, consider passing on these common terms and their definitions to help your attendees catch on in the casino environment.
Action: the amount of money bet or wagered.
All-in (Going all-in): to bet all your remaining chips; not having any funds available for the rest of the hand.
Ante: the initial bet made at poker tables; normally a fixed amount.
Bankroll: the total amount of money a player is willing to risk over a period of time.
Bluff: playing a losing hand as though it were a winning hand; pretending it is a winning hand.
Break-even point: the point at which your wins and losses equal each other after a period of play.
 Bright colors, flashing lights, jangling bells and whistles… As soon as one enters the gaming floor, one is surrounded by energy and inundated with sensation. Everything in the atmosphere speaks of the excitement, the opportunity, the gamble.Harness that force by holding your meeting or event at a Midwest casino property.
A National Pastime
No one can argue the popularity of gaming as a pastime, as Americans’ pocketbooks are doing the voting. According to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) most recent data, total gross gambling revenue hit $84.65 billion for all gaming industries combined in one year. In addition, about 82% of Americans support gambling as an activity, which means, for planners, it can be a good bet for group entertainment.
|
RSS Feed