Ok here is my plan & questions....

Currently this October I am running a group trip (cruise from baltimore to Bahamas on Carnival cruise lines) of 22 people. I hope to make this a annual trip, but not to the same place and not always a cruise. Next year, it's been suggested I run a Vegas trip, I have quite a few couples already linned up. I want to present the idea to my group on the cruise in October. The group of people is made up of my boater friends, while we come from all differnt backrounds, we all get along and function as a group pretty well. (4th of July picnic we fed 150 people, all you could eat, crab, steak, shrimp for 8hrs.) It's a pretty cool group of friends.
Anyway, while cost isn't a problem for most of us, I want to make this trip affordable for as many as possible. as a good many have never been to Vegas.
I'd like your thoughts on Hotel property. Should I offer a few choices or keep them all togeather @ one hotel? Then I'd also like some comments on what one hotel would suit the needs of the greatest amount of people?
I'm going to contact my group travel agent, but I'd like to come to the table with some ideas to make this an enjoyable and memorble trip for everyone!

are u talkin 150 people?

heck no! But I expect the number will be higher then the 22 I'm taking on a cruise

Lee -

Since you and Sharon are in pretty good with the Harrah's family of casinos, I would suggest you call someone you know there and tell them what you want to do. This might be a place to start.

I brought a group to Vegas when I turned 50 and my casino host at NYNY got everyone rooms at a discounted rate. It was nice to have everyone staying at the same hotel.

Mike

started going to vegas years ago for family reunions,usualy 15 to 20 members attending,over thanksgiving week.most would stay at the rio or ti.to say it was a pain in the ass is putting it mildly.would most of the guests be first timers?

DAG,
I'd say it would be a 50/50 split with first timers. However none of these friends travel to Vegas like sharon & I do. I would say only a few gamble up to sharon and my level. There may be one that gambles higher.

Mike, I don't know if I wanted to get my host involved. Not wanting to use up MY favors. If you know what I mean. I can not vouch for how much of a gambler any in our group are. I am leaning to let the travel agent set everything up. Hotel, transfers, airline. We all leave from Baltimore, so there is no logistics with arrival times, we will all be on the same plane.

I know MSS would work with me, however I think the strip is where this group belongs. Too many first timers, I will suggest a night downtown to see the sights. Group size will limit what I can and can't do with them.

Lee, based on my numerous experiences, I strongly suggest one, and only one, hotel for the whole group.

If you want a downtown location, I suggest the Golden Nuggat.

And your pick of a Strip Hotel depends on the price your group is willing to pay ...
but I have heard that even the Wynn rooms can be found for less than $150 per night and there is no place finer than that.

Aria ... $139 about but dining prices are on the high side.

I've stayed at every hotel on the Strip and those two are among the finest for group gatherings.

Spread them out and you're in for trouble and major inconveniences.

Will, I agree, keep them all in one house! Right now I'm leaning toward PH. While your two places are top notch, I'm aiming a little lower! LOL My goal is to make this affordable for as many as possible, without going too dumpy.

I talked with a travel agent yesterday, while she can't get anything in stone (airlines work less then a year out) she is going to work up guesstamate so I have something to approach my group with.

I hope to get my friends interested in talkvegas. This place is a great resource for first timers. So I hope you all go easy on them! LOL

Lee - I always thought the Flamingo was a great "starter" hotel -good for people who have never been to Vegas. The location is great, the rooms are nice, the casino is okay, the pool is REALLY nice, and I think the room rates are reasonable. That was the first hotel I ever stayed at in Vegas - I still have fond memories of it.

I wonder if you went to the Harrah's website and checked to see if they offer group rates?

JM2C

Mike

PH? It's nice now but I tend to agree with Mike and would recommend the Flamingo just a little bit more due to its slightly better location and its far superior pool.

You can almost actually 'fall out' of the Flamingo and 'fall into' the adjoining hotel/casinos and simply hop across the street to Caesars.

And all this 'falling and hopping" will be most convenient during your short stay ----

which leads to falling and hopping into one of the finest pools along the Strip.

I've attempted small groups in the past and found it next to impossible to keep everyone together. Even harder to keep more than half of them happy. I admire will's organizational skills that he uses for groups all the time.

The PH idea doesn't really sound that good to me either. Walk out the southwest door and you have two options. City Center or a dirt field followed by the Harley cafe and lots of cheap shops. That's depressing to me. Walk out the northwest and there is Paris or Bellagio.

Flamingo does seem like the ideal starter casino.

Just for giggles, you might want to see what Mirage can offer. It has the advantages of the Flamingo with an upscale touch that can easily be appreciated. It's a place that everyone can identify with as they have seen it before.

And if Phil is offering deals at TI, it's location has some appeal.

I don't really like Harrah's. If I stayed there, I'd wake up every morning wanting to get out and do something off of the property. OTOH, it has generic newbie appeal.

These are your peeps and you know them better than us. When do you plan to do the formal presentation to them?

I have put the idea out there already to about 20 people. All showed intrest to some degree, some where ready to sign up!
I will have time to chat with everyone between now and our return from the cruise. I was suprised at the turn out for the cruise, as I just did it, so to stop hearing everyone say "we should do this sometime". Vegas is another topic that keeps coming up in conversations. They all know our love of vegas and are asked about it a lot.
I got a travel gal working on some information packets, and I probably have some information in my e-mail box now.

Flamingo has been talked about, however I liked the PH location for getting on a bus to go downtown. By Flamingo, the busses are pretty full, and small groups may get seperated. Also, PH looks like a much newer casino, and more upscale, without being too pricey.
TI, there is one I hadn't thought about and might work too. I must admit it's been years since I've been inside.

We are also looking at a saturday arrival, something some properties frown on.

All this Flamingo talk is making me teary eyed. It's the first hotel I stayed at as an adult in Vegas. It is a good first timer hotel, My concern is, for my friends that like nice rooms, I don't think the Flamingo is anything special. The Go rooms are fine for me. The pool, I got to give you that one. In October, not sure if that is going to figure in????

Sounds like a lot of work but could be a lot of fun as well.

Just remember to give each person a couple of your players cards and tell them to be sure to use them when playing the slots so you can find them if need be.... wink wink.