Las Vegas Ranks Second for North American Conventions, Orlando Takes Top Spot

Las Vegas has been recognized as the second-best city for conventions in North America for 2025, according to a recent report by Cvent, a company specializing in meetings and conventions technology. While Orlando secured the top spot, Las Vegas demonstrated significant strength with three of its major resorts landing on the continent's top 10 convention host hotels list.

The Cvent rankings are based on an extensive analysis of over $20 billion in global sourcing and request-for-proposal activity conducted through its platforms in 2025. This data was primarily drawn from the Cvent Supplier Network, which is noted as one of the world's largest marketplaces for group hotel and venue sourcing. A Cvent representative indicated that the record level of sourcing activity in 2025 signals more than just growth driven by demand.

Convention Infrastructure and Capacity

Las Vegas boasts an extensive infrastructure designed to accommodate large-scale events. The city features 291 qualified hotel venues and 300 special event venues. In total, there are approximately 4.6 million square feet dedicated to meeting and convention space. The city also offers a vast number of guest rooms, exceeding 150,000, with the MGM Grand being highlighted as the largest hotel property, offering 7,093 rooms.

Key metrics highlighted in the report include an average daily room rate of $193 and an occupancy rate of 83.6%. For dining and catering, Las Vegas has around 3,800 restaurants, with an average daily food cost of $81. The city's tax rate for these services is 12%. These figures underscore the robust capacity and established hospitality ecosystem that supports Las Vegas as a premier convention destination.

Top Convention Hotels and Orlando's Edge

Despite Orlando taking the overall lead as the best convention city, none of its hotels made it into Cvent's top 10 list of convention hosts. In contrast, Las Vegas had three prominent resorts recognized: The Venetian, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, and Wynn and Encore Las Vegas. This indicates a strong performance from individual properties within the Las Vegas hospitality sector in attracting major convention business.

Cvent attributes Orlando's top ranking to the proactive efforts of Visit Orlando, the region's convention and visitors bureau for Orange County. Casandra Matej, President and CEO of Visit Orlando, stated in a Wednesday release that the organization collaborates closely with its partners. This is facilitated through Cvent’s technology platform, which connects meeting planners with appropriate resources and destinations. Matej added that the city continues to evolve and accommodate events of all sizes, further strengthening Orlando’s standing as a top-ranked meetings destination.

Broader Industry Trends

The Cvent report also identified two broader trends influencing convention destination choices for 2025. There is a resurgence in major gateway cities, such as New York City, and a continued rise of rapidly growing meeting destinations like Nashville and Austin. This suggests a growing preference among planners for destinations that offer a blend of robust event capabilities and unique local experiences, a combination that likely contributed to Orlando's leading position.

Impact on Gaming and Hospitality

While this report focuses on convention rankings, the performance of Las Vegas in hosting large gatherings is intrinsically linked to its identity as a global entertainment and gaming hub. Major conventions often bring a significant influx of business travelers who also engage with the city's casino resorts, entertainment venues, and dining establishments. The strong showing of Las Vegas hotels in the top convention host list underscores the city's established infrastructure and appeal for large-scale corporate and industry events. This sustained ability to attract and host significant convention business supports the broader economic ecosystem of the city, benefiting the hospitality and gaming sectors. The city is also anticipating a strong Memorial Day weekend visitor turnout, further highlighting its popularity as a destination for various forms of tourism.

Key Convention Metrics

• North American Convention City Ranking: 2nd | Overall strong performance, second only to Orlando
• Top 10 Convention Hotels in North America: 3 resorts | Individual properties excel in hosting events
• Total Meeting/Convention Space: 6 million sq ft | Extensive facilities for large events
• Total Guest Rooms: Over 150,000 | Ample accommodation capacity
• Average Daily Room Rate: $193 | Indicator of market pricing and demand

Source: GamblingNews – https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/las-vegas-ranks-as-the-second-best-city-for-conventions-in-north-america/