While Las Vegas has a wide range of spaces for groups of all sizes, Caesars Entertainment’s brand-new Linq offers some unique perks, including buy-outs of the world’s highest observation wheel—High Roller, which opened at the end of February right on the Strip.
The Linq Las Vegas (as it is formally called) is taking a phased approach to opening. Once completed, it will cover more than 300,000 square feet and have more than 30 shops, restaurants, bars and venues. “We’re already seeing bookings for weddings and receptions,” Jon Gray, vice president and general manager of the Linq said. Small groups can buy out cabins on the wheel for half-hour-long rides: Each cabin can hold up to 40 people, or 25 if they want a bar set up. Each cabin has eight video monitors, making presentations easy. Larger groups can book multiple cabins, or can even book out the entire High Roller itself for 1,120 people at any one time.
For those who would rather keep their feet on the ground, the High Roller’s base building (the “wheelhouse”) also has a meeting room (with a dedicated kitchen) that can accommodate up to 500 people. And the surrounding lot can accommodate much larger groups—as many as 75,000. Gray noted that his team is currently planning an event for 20,000 that will use only a fraction of the space for a private concert and food stations from local celebrity chefs. The outdoor space’s central fountain can be covered and turned into a stage (a good sponsorship opportunity, Gray noted).
The Linq’s 80,000-square-foot Brooklyn Bowl has 32 bowling lanes and a large music venue for concerts (or presentations). The second floor is a popular pick for buy-outs, Gray said: It has 16 lanes (good for team-building functions) and a private balcony.
Combining the High Roller and the surrounding spaces is also a popular option, Gray said: At sunset, a group can get an exclusive ride on the wheel, come down for a seated dinner, and then get back onboard for a desert ride and views over the nighttime Strip. “There’s nothing else on the Strip that’s a real outdoor experience,” Gray said. “The energy and the aesthetic just feels different.”
For bookings of 10 or more, or private cabin buy-outs, contact the Group Sales department at 866-574-3851 or email [email protected]. For special event group sales, contact Maggie Cupp at 866-733-5827.
Where to Stay
Over Memorial Day Weekend, Caesars will open the Cromwell, the first boutique hotel on the Strip with 188 rooms. “This will be good for unique functions,” Gray said, adding that full buy-outs will be easy and—given the size—customizable. Guests at the hotel will also get extra perks, he added, including early access to the High Roller and the Brooklyn Bowl.
And CEOs will want to have rooms booked through the Anthology program—a collection of close to 2,000 suites and villas across the Caesars properties that used to be available only to high-spending casino guests. Notable among these will be the top suites at the new Nobu Hotel, the Laurel Collection Penthouses and the top villas at the Octavius Tower. (We're rather intrigued by the Palazzo Suites at Rio, which can run as large as six bedrooms and 13,950 square feet.)
Guests of the Anthology Suites get additional perks, including VIP check-in and Total Rewards Diamond queuing at locations throughout all of Caesars’ resorts in the area. Some suites will also include complimentary limo transportation from the airport and 24-hour butler service.
The development of the Linq and the Cromwell, as well as the launch of the Anthology Suites, are in response to changing demand from visitors and changing trends in where they spend their money, Gray noted. “Total spend is back,” he said “but it’s not all in gaming.” As Generation X and Y increasingly dominate the market, the appeal of Las Vegas has shifted from the casino floor to the overall experience. “They’re spending on nightlife, spas, room amenities, retail and dining,” he said.