I got inspired to make July the month of V’s, so enjoy Vegas, Valued, Vending, Vision and Vitamix.
In late April, the Pan-American Concierge Congress was held in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Concierge were amazing hosts and made sure we saw as many of the treasures that Las Vegas has to offer in a short period of time.
In the span of three days, we participated in events at The MGM, The Bellagio Villas, The Venetian Pallazzo, The Aria, The Cosmopolitan, The Wynn and Caesars Palace. The downtown Las Vegas Freemont Experience was customized with our Les Clefs d’Or concierge association photos. Entertaining and educating concierge from four countries is an enormous undertaking, and the organizing committee did a fabulous job.
Getting such a first class induction into wild, wacky, wonderful, whimsical and sometimes wooly Las Vegas created a whirlwind of experiences and observations. While I have been to Las Vegas on numerous occasions to speak and conduct trainings, I had never been to so many venues in so short a time period. Just as I was becoming annoyed at the fact that a person can walk two miles and still be in the same hotel with exits so elusive that even the employees don’t know how to direct you, I would be ‘fab smacked’ (that is smacked silly with the fabulous) and melt with amazement. It felt like the desert sun at high noon melting gratitude right through me. Standing in the gardens at The Wynn and The Bellagio or watching those dancing fountain evaporated any speck of annoyance. While watching Le Rev-The Dream at The Wynn, I was struck with the deep understanding that what I was having was a totally indigenous experience. It is true that what happens in Vegas does indeed stay in Vegas. There isn’t another place on the planet that has theaters of this magnitude that can manage a show 11 times a week that supports 91 cast members and 120 technicians. It was thrilling to experience.
One morning we went to The Wicked Spoon, a crazy-huge sumptuous buffet at The Cosmopolitan that felt like the size of Rhode Island. At that point, I had lost any semblance of control and had fried chicken, a rib and a BLT salad for breakfast. Like I said, crazy but good crazy and a lot of fun. We had a party by a private pool and another in a villa, providing us access to a side of Las Vegas usually reserved for the high rollers. I imagine you have to lose a lot of money in order to stay there for free though. We also tasted treasures from great chefs all over town, which provided all the concierges with a delicious overview of the local culinary scene.
Then there is downtown Las Vegas, with drive-through wedding chapels, a giant golden nugget, and the world’s biggest screen projecting non-stop rock and roll and Viva Vision shows. Or just for kicks, you can visit the Neon Sign graveyard. Because I wrote the book, “Neon Signs of Service,” the Neon Graveyard is high on my to-do list for my next visit. So, between the neon signs and the fact that I use Elvis as a metaphor for teaching folks how to see through the eyes of “thank you, thank you very much,” I felt right at home.
Interested in learning more about the Neon Signs of Service customer training program?
Email Holly or view videos of Holly in action.