Las Vegas's survival has always depended on attracting visitors during the slow periods. The solution—conventions and entertainment—transformed the city from a gambling town into a diversified destination economy.

The Convention Solution

The Las Vegas Convention Center opened in 1959 to solve a specific problem: empty hotel rooms mid-week. By attracting business travelers who filled rooms Sunday through Thursday, conventions smoothed the occupancy curve. The strategy worked spectacularly.

The Adelson Revolution

Sheldon Adelson transformed the model when he attached the Sands Expo to The Venetian in 1999. By integrating convention space with luxury hospitality, Adelson created a new category: the convention megaresort. COMDEX and later CES became defining events.

The MICE Sector Today

The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector now generates over $11 billion annually for Las Vegas. The convention center has expanded multiple times, adding the Vegas Loop connection and millions of square feet of exhibition space.

Entertainment Integration

Entertainment diversification followed similar logic. From Liberace to Cirque du Soleil to pop star residencies, Vegas became a content destination. The $2 billion Sphere represents the latest evolution—purpose-built entertainment infrastructure unprecedented in scale.