
by Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP
If you want to get a strong reaction from your boss during your next brainstorming session for future meetings, ask if you can take it to a casino. You will either be hailed as a creative genius, as in “why have we never thought of that before?”, or asked what beverage is in your morning coffee cup. This is because those who have never attended a meeting at a casino are often unfamiliar with all they have to offer.

Many planners who include gaming elements in their site selection are taking their business to casinos that can be found closer to home, and the Midwest is bursting with excellent casino options. This helps the organization overcome the perception of unnecessary, costly travel to what is often perceived as a very glamorous location with the added boost of lessening their carbon footprint on the environment, both important considerations in the current climate of meetings.
In the end, as with the placement of all meetings, the final site selection usually comes down to the type of meeting space that the facility is offering along with rates, dates and location. Today’s savvy planners know to include more than just the standard questions in their site selection process and they also understand that casinos can check off a lot of boxes on their overall wish list.
