You might be interested in this video about Virtuoso Travel Week and all of the preparation that takes place for Bellagio to host 4,000 travel professionals. Travel Week has grown so large that attendees also stay at Aria and Vdara (not to mention the Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, and other Las Vegas resorts).
Travel Week is the biggest event that takes place at Bellagio. All 8,000 Bellagio employees are involved in putting on the event (no one can take a vacation week during Travel Week). Despite the large number of guests, everything flows smoothly, and Bellagio's staff is incredibly hospitable. I even enjoy saying hi to the security personnel who make sure you're wearing your Travel Week credentials. Same people every year … almost like family!
Why travel to Vegas in the middle of August? It's not the balmy weather. It's the opportunity to build relationship with the hundreds of hotel sales reps — the very same people who help Virtuoso travel consultants create the magic to help get you upgraded and take care of your special requests. I have about 300 sales appointments during the week, as well the even more productive information encounters where relationships are enhanced.
Example: here's a true story from last year's Travel Week, republished from my August 15, 2013 post:
I was seated at a banquet table when an email came in from a client who had several specific requests related to a prospective booking at Four Seasons Hong Kong. Could he get a spa menu? Could he arrange for child care? Could he make an reservation at one of the hotel's two three-star Michelin restaurants?
I was seated immediately to the left of the hotel's Director of Sales and Marketing. I handed her my iPhone, she read the request, said "Confirmed!", and I immediately let my client know. When I woke up at 6 a.m. this morning, the restaurant reservation had been made, the spa menu was attached, and information on child care was provided. I forwarded it back to my client.
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