Las Vegas: Where Creativity Is King

In a city that probably has more hotel ballrooms than exist in many states, plus a major convention center, there is seldom a shortage of meeting space in Las Vegas. However, sometimes groups want a little something different -- and not surprisingly, Las Vegas is ready to roll out quirky, unexpected, off-the-beaten-Strip locations for gatherings. Amy Riley, senior director of convention sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), loves to point out the unexpected places that might not be on planners' radar screens. The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic, brings dramatic Frank Gehry architecture to Las Vegas' Symphony Park downtown, and its auditorium can be rented. The Oquendo Center, a veterinary and medical center, houses more than 1.5 acres of meeting space. It hosts groups in its 190-seat auditorium, and in its 66,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.