Twenty years ago today, the Venetian opened on the Las Vegas Strip – a controversial project at the time.
You see, back in those days, Vegas wasn’t promoting itself as a convention city, and the idea of attaching a convention center to a hotel was especially risky. But it turned out to be the model for other hotels, including the MGM Conference Center and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
When I attended my first EXHIBITOR Show there in February of 2000, I had no idea the property was only a few months old. I remember thinking it was a beautiful and well-planned venue, but didn’t know it was blazing any trails. Of course at most convention centers you can’t simply head upstairs after the show to wander around the Grand Canal and Piazza (one of my favorite places in Vegas) or hop in a gondola! (Although somehow in all my visits, I’ve never managed to find the time to take a ride …)
One other notable fact about the Venetian: there are 650 people who have worked there since Day 1! Now while it wouldn’t be surprising to hear there are some who’ve been there for 20 years … 650? That’s really amazing in these times when it seems many people change jobs once or twice a year (and it’s especially remarkable considering the hospitality business).
If you’d like to learn more about the history of the Venetian, as well as discover some fun facts and get a peek at what’s ahead, check out this article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
