What Happens in Reno

Bert Johnson likes to tell a story about Reno, Nev.

It takes place in Atlanta. A group of Renoans walking through the Southern city strike up a conversation with an Atlanta resident.

“Isn’t Reno like Las Vegas, only a lot smaller?” the Atlantan asks.

The Reno group begs to differ. Of course Reno has world-class nightclubs and gaming facilities, they assure him, but it couldn’t be more different from Sin City, where billboards loudly proclaim that whatever happens there can stay there. Reno is all about hiking, whitewater rafting and skiing until May, they say. Not to mention taking in scenic Lake Tahoe vistas, teeing off on championship golf courses, exploring historic mining town Virginia City, or taking in the thriving community of local artists and internationally renowned artists during Artown, a 31-day arts festival the city hosts annually.

After they explain to him why Reno bills itself as “America’s Adventure Place,” he thinks for a moment.

“Ah, I see the difference,” he says. “What happens in Reno, you want to tell your friends about.”

For Johnson, regional sales manager for the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno — and a growing number of visitors — he hit the nail right on the head.

Flair on a Budget

Reno “has Vegas-like attractions without the crowds, beautiful surroundings … [is] easy to get in and out of, and [is] affordable,” says Kurt Schultz of Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed LLC. Schultz planned the company’s Retail Solutions Expo, a training conference and buying show for feed dealers, which was held at the Atlantis.

Renoans take pride in the city’s affordability As you may hear more than once, a gallon of coffee in San Francisco is about $90. In Reno, it’s $30.

“I think that Reno is an undiscovered destination and I believe that once more folks hear [and] learn more about Reno that it will become a more popular destination,” says Kimberley Kapica, event manager/contracting officer for the Long Beach Employee Education Resource Center.

Kapica planned the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Leadership Development Institute Conference, Week II, in the city, also at the Atlantis. Kapica’s client selected Reno for its accessibility from Southern California and Nevada, where many of the attendees resided.

“Everyone [and] everything were wonderful!” she says. “I would not hesitate to book future events in Reno.”

The Atlantis also met her needs. With its rose-colored windows, the resort rises over the city just across the street from the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. A skywalk connecting the two is planned in the $50 million expansion that is set for early 2007, along with 116,000 square feet of new casino and convention space.

A special treat for attendees would be a private dinner in the Atlantis’ Wine Room, which, with its 4,000 bottles of wine, chandelier in the shape of grape clusters and incandescent blue-sky ceiling, feels a world apart from the bustle of the casino. It can hold up to 10 people.

“The entire staff at the Atlantis [was] excellent,” says Kapica. It was “good value for the money spent.”

Just 10 minutes up the street in downtown Reno, another hotel, Harrah’s, combines history — it was built almost 70 years ago — with modern style. Its newly renovated standard rooms are decorated with a touch of whimsy, with dark woods, green velvet pillows and lampshades that can only be described as furry. And somehow, furry white lampshades have never looked so chic.

For event groups, Harrah’s offers a 28,000-square-foot convention center; its theater space Sammy’s Showroom, which can seat up to 400; and a rooftop pool that is open for events through October.

Another hotel to look into is the Peppermill, which is in the midst of a $300 million expansion that will add a 600-room, all-suite hotel tower, a spa and salon, and a 65,000-square-foot convention and entertainment center by 2007.

Big things, Small Packages

When Lorraine Rodman, conference and events manager, civil aerospace, for Rolls-Royce North America Inc., wanted a casino for her group without so much, well, casino, she chose the Siena. Overlooking the Truckee River, the Siena doesn’t greet guests with a sea of flashing lights and dinging machines, but with a half-million-dollar Manuel Neri sculpture. In fact, there is something interesting wherever you look, whether it’s an impeccably selected piece of art, Italian contrada flags, or lighting fixtures so varied and tasteful that it’s worth a visit just for the home decorating inspiration.

This should come as no surprise — the owner, Barney Ng, is an art collector, and the architect who designed it was not an expert in hotels, but in art galleries.

As one of Reno’s few boutique hotels, the Siena best accommodates either small groups of 15 to 25 or larger groups of 80 to 120, according to Director of Sales and Catering Jim Gerhard. Events can be staged in Lexie’s Rotunda Lounge, which overlooks the river, or the restaurant Lexie’s on the River, which has a private room that can accommodate up to 32. The wine cellar, which can stock up to 10,000 bottles, works well for small, intimate gatherings. At 7,000 square feet, the tastefully neutral Siena Ballroom offers views of the river through large, semicircular windows.
“Casino bells and whistles are not in your face when you walk in,” says Rodman, who held a weekend customer event there. “The staff is excellent and took very good care of us. There wasn’t a request they couldn’t fill.”

Elbow Room Aplenty

Although the Reno-Sparks Convention Center offers more than a half million square feet of meeting space, over 50 meeting rooms and 381,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, you might just walk away remembering something different: the chandelier. Located in the ballroom, the intricate nest of fiber-optic lights can change colors to fit your décor or pulsate in disco mode. The pillar-free ballroom is 30,000 square feet in total and divisible into seven sections.

The Reno Events Center, another larger venue, is part of a two-phase project to develop a venue for special events in the downtown area. With 118,000 square feet of space, the facility can accommodate concerts, sporting events, large dinners and small conventions and trade shows.

Beyond Reno

If you’re looking to get out of town, Lake Tahoe is only 40 minutes away, and in the winter months, that’s about the time it takes to reach the ski slopes. One lakeside venue has been making an impression since 1940 — partially because the owner, an eccentric, misanthropic millionaire, let his pet lion roam free on the property to discourage unwanted guests.

Today, of course, the Thunderbird Lodge is much more welcoming. Built in a rustic style, it can accommodate a wide variety of events, says Julie Nobis of Reno-based DMC Red Carpet Events, and is perfect for groups of 15 people to about 120.

“We suggest the Thunderbird Lodge to our clients that are looking for a truly remarkable experience for their attendees, one that showcases the Lake Tahoe area and its history, in addition to breathtaking views and incredible architecture,” she says. Docent-led tours giving visitors insight into its former owner’s colorful past makes it more than just a site, she adds. “Red Carpet’s clients are always blown away by the events at the Thunderbird; ‘We will never be able to top this’ is usually the feedback we receive from our clients.”

Although the price can be a bit steep for some groups — it’s listed at $750 an hour plus $25 per person — Nobis believes the value is there. “For the client that is looking for an unforgettable evening for their attendees, it is worth every penny,” she says.

Events can also be paired with cruises on the lake.

A slightly more active outdoors experience is also an effective team building activity, thanks to the swift pace of the Truckee River’s waters. Whitewater rafting, available through companies such as Tahoe Whitewater Tours, has your group working together to navigate falls with names like “pinball” and “jaws” — and perhaps pitching in to haul a capsized crew out of the water.

“Reno can offer meeting planners and attendees the ‘breath of fresh air’ as a destination convention location,” says Jo Anne Hill, principal of Event Masters of America. “Where else can someone get up at 4 a.m. to go fishing, be back by 7 a.m. for a meeting, take a noon jog along the beautiful Truckee River, have dinner in one of the outstanding restaurants in the area, and top it off with a little ‘spin of the wheel’ before retiring for the evening?”

And if you do decide to take advantage of all Reno has to offer, just make sure you save enough energy to tell your friends all about it.