Ridge Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
This summer, the Ridge Tahoe wrapped up a $2 million project to expand and renovate its event space. The project expanded its Clubhouse by 2,300 square feet, adding two meeting rooms on the first floor, and renovated the 3,700-square-foot Castle Rock conference space only “a staircase away” on the second floor, said Marlena Feitas, vice president of resort sales and marketing for the Ridge Resorts.
The space boasts quintessential rustic Tahoe style with vaulted ceilings, wood beams and large windows that let in plenty of natural light as well as views of Castle Rock, a “signature landmark above Lake Tahoe,” she said.
“You do not feel like you’re in a conference center,” she said, adding, “In addition to really feeling like you’re at Lake Tahoe, it’s really easy for a group to take a break and experience Lake Tahoe.”
Outdoor activities are the name of the game at the 11-acre resort, where guests will find on-site tennis, racquetball and basketball courts; pools; rock climbing; and nearby access to hiking, fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, rafting, ATV tours and more. The Ridge Tahoe has a trailhead on its property that connects to the 72-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, where groups can go on an hourlong guided hike as a team-building activity.
The Ridge Tahoe offers in-house DMO services to planners. Resort staff can make reservations for a Lake Tahoe cruise aboard the 500-passenger MS Dixie II paddle-wheel boat, charter the 90-passenger Tahoe Paradise yacht or arrange tickets for a scenic ride on the Heavenly Mountain Gondola at the neighboring Heavenly ski resort, where groups will also find a mountain coaster, zip lines and a ropes course. Winter activities aren’t limited to skiing and snowboarding at Heavenly; the Ridge can arrange for guided group snowshoeing treks and snowmobile tours.
The Ridge will also partner with the Round Hill Pines Beach Resort to either cater or organize beachfront sunset dinners where guests can play sand volleyball and have a drink at the Tiki bar.
Red Lion Hotel
Elko, Nevada
With 220 guest rooms, the Red Lion Hotel and Casino is “by far the largest hotel” in the mining city of Elko, and it boasts the largest casino in town. But the hotel and casino offers an even bigger selling point: It’s one of three Navegante-owned properties that form a sort of three-hotel “resort” along Idaho Street offering “economy, moderate and deluxe” options for meetings and groups, said executive director of hospitality Kristi Hansen. Because of the umbrella ownership, planners have easy access to all three for lodging, gaming and meeting options, she said.
The Red Lion is the largest and most luxurious of the three hotels and offers 4,000 square feet of indoor event space, including its 2,850-square-foot ballroom that can be divided. Glass doors connect to an adjoining 1,200-square-foot tented outdoor space that’s available from May through September. The Coffee Garden buffet is open 24 hours a day and offers a full menu, and Aspens Bar and Grille is a five-star restaurant that also offers private dining for up to 24 people.
Next to the Red Lion, the High Desert Inn has 171 guest rooms and 5,000 square feet of function space. The largest meeting room has 1,350 square feet of space and can accommodate receptions for up to 170 guests. Across the street from the Red Lion, the Gold Country Inn and Casino has 150 guest rooms and JR’s Restaurant, which offers private dining. All three properties have a variety of bars and lounges.
In addition to being able to stay at one hotel and play at all three properties, meeting attendees can take advantage of free live entertainment every night of the week and use the coupon book for free play and discounts at both the Red Lion and Gold Country.
“There are just so many give-me’s we offer,” Hansen said.
The hotels are about a mile from the new 30,000-square-foot Elko Conference Center, a new building that opened next door to the existing Elko Convention Center, which offers a 913-seat auditorium and five meeting rooms totaling about 12,000 square feet.
Aquarius Casino Resort
Laughlin, Nevada
Ninety miles south of Las Vegas, in the Mojave Desert in the southernmost tip of Nevada, the town of Laughlin is best known for play, both on the casino floor and on the Colorado River. The city sits on the banks of the Colorado, and many of its casinos line the river’s edge, linked by the Laughlin Riverwalk trail.
The Aquarius Casino Resort is Laughlin’s largest with 1,907 guest rooms, a 50,000-square-foot casino and 30,000 square feet of meeting and conference space in six flexible meeting rooms.
The Aquarius Pavilion and Conference Center has a 19,300-square-foot pavilion that can be split into two spaces: one with roughly 13,800 square feet and the other with about 5,500 square feet. Down the hall, two conference rooms can be combined for a total of 2,700 square feet, and two additional meeting rooms offer 2,500 and 1,070 square feet of event space.
Splash lounge on the main casino floor offers a stage, a dance floor, tiered seating and roll-up doors, and is available for group functions and private parties. The Cove Bar and Lounge is also available for private events.
When they’re not doing business, attendees can board the Celebration riverboat for a dinner cruise, a scenic tour or a private charter on the Colorado River, or ride a horse along the Colorado River in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Groups can also get on the river by renting kayaks, tubes, paddleboards and jet skis.
