Each year, the hospitality design community descends upon the Las Vegas Strip for Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo), the preeminent tradeshow for the industry. This year’s show, held May 14th–16th at Mandalay Bay, will offer attendees the opportunity to discover, learn, and grow their businesses through a series of networking events found on and off the show floor.
For an insider look into three of Sin City’s most sought-after hospitality projects, HD and NEWH will present site visits on May 14th at Wynn (8:15 a.m.), SLS Las Vegas (10 a.m.), and Downtown Las Vegas (1:30 p.m.). Roger Thomas, senior vice president of Wynn Design and Development, will introduce attendees to Wynn Las Vegas’ two reimagined restaurants: Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare and Wing Lei. Those participating in the SLS Las Vegas hard-hat tour will get a firsthand glimpse into the new sbe project, opening Labor Day Weekend in the former Sahara Hotel & Casino. Rounding out the tours will be a look at the reimagined Downtown Las Vegas and its three distinct new venues: the Downtown Grand, Inspire Theater, and Container Park. Fifth Street Gaming CEO Seth Schorr will lead the tour of the budgeted $100-million revitalization of the Downtown Grand, while the principals of local firm Bunnyfish will walk attendees through Inspire Theater, and Container Park’s director of operations Doug McPhail will give a guided tour of the multispaced facility.
The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay
Kicking off Expo in true upbeat fashion is the Opening Night Party Wednesday, May 14th at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.). Guests are encouraged to don their ’70s finest as they enjoy the sounds of the band that pays homage to the same decade, Boogie Nights. Then on Thursday, May 15th, HD Expo’s most popular event, Party by the Pool, will move to Mandalay Bay’s Daylight Beach Club on Thursday, May 15th (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.).
Boogie Knights
NEWH will host its annual Expo Breakfast: The New Entrepreneurs on Wednesday, May 14th from 9 to 10 a.m., where Alessandro Munge, principal at Munge Leung; Amy Hulbert, managing director of design, Best Western International; Andy Masi, partner, Light Group; and Julie Frank, global director of design, Le Meridien Hotels, will discuss industry trends, lessons learned, secrets of success, challenges, and upcoming projects.
Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay
In partnership with the Morgans Hotel Group, HD Expo will transform its Social Hub into a sneak peek of the company’s upcoming property, the Delano Las Vegas. Located at the center of the show floor, the Social Hub will be home to a series of intimate chats on sustainability, various new projects, and one-on-one with owners and brand executives from the show’s popular Owners’ Roundtable.
For more information on networking opportunities at HD Expo or to register for site visits, please visit http://www.hdexpo.com/show/networking-events.shtml.
