Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas has announced plans to expand its convention center to a total of over 2 million square feet.
Based on demand for additional space, the resort will add new exhibit space, underground parking and increase overall square footage.
Plans include the addition of more than 350,000 square feet of exhibit space to the existing 1.7 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center as well as underground parking and more carpeted ballroom space. Upon completion, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center will have more than 2 million total square feet and 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space, making it No. 5 in North America by total square feet and square feet of exhibit space.
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Construction is scheduled to begin in late fall 2014 with new exhibit space available in August 2015 and anticipated completion of all spaces in January 2016. The project is estimated to cost approximately $66 million. With a 70,000-square-foot ballroom that is divisible by five, the new space will allow for maximum flexibility and more break-out areas for corporate groups. The bandwidth of the Convention Center’s network also will increase to accommodate more attendees and to allow for the most advanced presentations.
“Several long-standing customers approached us with a need for additional space to grow their business; they looked to us to be a solution provider, and we went to work,” said Chuck Bowling, president and COO of Mandalay Bay. “In addition to enabling our current clients to develop larger events, the additional space and new flexibility will allow us to attract new business to Las Vegas. We believe this investment will increase visitation to Las Vegas, driving incremental business to MGM Resorts’ portfolio and the city overall.”
David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Travel, said, “This expansion takes what is already perhaps the best meeting space in Las Vegas to the next level and puts Mandalay Bay in a truly unique position around the globe with its ability to host premier meetings and conventions."
David Loechner, CEO of Emerald Expositions, said, “As a fast growing expositions organizer currently holding 13 annual trade shows in Las Vegas, including four at Mandalay Bay, we are very pleased with the decision to expand and expect to take advantage of the new space as soon as it’s complete.”
The convention Center expansion will be built to LEED Gold standards as part of Mandalay Bay parent company MGM Resorts International's commitment to build all new facilities to that standard or better. Mandalay Bay and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center also hold Five Key ratings from the Green Key Eco-Rating and Meetings Programs. In addition, Mandalay Bay integrates environmentally responsible practices into its operations including the recycling of more than 80 percent of all convention materials, sustainable service ware, organic, sustainable menus and zero waste recycling.
The expanded Convention Center at Mandalay Bay will incorporate an additional rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) array making it the largest convention center array in the world. The anticipated size of the array is approximately 1.9MWdc with an approximate annual production of 3.4M kilowatt hours. The previously announced 6.2MWdc solar PV array on the current Convention Center is slated for completion in August; the combined array will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1,300 homes.
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