# Las Vegas Business Travel Guide URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/business-travel/las-vegas Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Las Vegas business travel guide: Harry Reid airport transfers, which resort to book for LVCC or Venetian Expo, CES week strategy and the hidden costs. **Quick answer:** Las Vegas is about an hour’s flight from LAX to Harry Reid International (LAS), 10–20 minutes from the Strip. For trade shows, book the hotel closest to your venue, because walking between resorts takes far longer than it looks. Lock in rooms months ahead for CES in January and other big conventions, and budget for resort fees and parking. - Main airport(s): Harry Reid International (LAS) - Flight from LAX: About 1 hour 10 minutes nonstop, with many daily flights; about 4–5 hours by car via I-15 - Time vs Los Angeles: Same time zone (Pacific) year-round - Currency: US dollar (USD) - Business districts: The Strip and its convention venues, Downtown, Summerlin, Henderson - Tipping: US norms: 18–22% at restaurants, plus housekeeping, valet and bell staff ## How do you get from Harry Reid airport to the Strip and convention center? Harry Reid International (LAS) is one of the most convenient big-city airports in the country: most Strip resorts are 10–20 minutes away and the Las Vegas Convention Center about 15. Taxis queue at well-marked ranks outside baggage claim, while ride-hailing pickups are in the parking garages, which can mean a long walk. During convention weeks, taxi and ride-hailing lines can stretch long at peak arrival times. For executives and VIPs, a pre-booked car with meet-and-greet saves real time. Teams carrying booth materials often drive from Los Angeles instead; plan for heavy traffic on I-15 on Friday and Sunday afternoons. ## Which hotel should you book for a Las Vegas convention? Book by venue. The Strip is about four miles long, and getting from one resort to the next on foot means casino floors, footbridges and heat, so “across the street” can take 20 minutes. Weekend rates usually run far higher than midweek because of leisure demand, so a Sunday-to-Thursday stay often prices best outside big show weeks. - Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC): resorts at the north end of the Strip and on Paradise Road are closest, and the Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip to an LVCC station. - Venetian Expo: connected to The Venetian and The Palazzo, an easy walk for anyone staying there. - Mandalay Bay Convention Center: at the south end of the Strip, linked by a free tram to Luxor and Excalibur. - Caesars Forum: a conference center behind The LINQ and Harrah’s, reached by a pedestrian bridge. ## How do you get around Las Vegas during a trade show? On the LVCC campus, the underground Vegas Loop shuttles attendees between halls in Tesla vehicles, saving a long walk. The Monorail is usually the fastest link between the LVCC and mid-Strip resorts when show traffic jams the roads. Ride-hailing works well, but each resort has a designated pickup zone, often deep in the parking structure; allow 10 minutes to reach it. For hosting clients off-Strip or visiting offices in Summerlin or Henderson, a car service is simplest. Wear comfortable shoes: attendees routinely walk several miles a day. ## What should you know about meetings and client hosting in Las Vegas? Las Vegas business runs on conventions, hospitality and, increasingly, sports and tech. During major shows, meeting suites, restaurant private rooms and hospitality spaces book out months ahead, so reserve them as soon as your dates are confirmed. Our meetings and events service handles room blocks, suites and venue logistics. Dress follows the event: business casual on the show floor, smarter for client dinners at the resorts’ signature restaurants. Casino-level venues are noisy, so book a quiet room for serious negotiations. If your company has a gifts-and-entertainment policy, confirm what applies to gaming and shows before you host clients. ## When are the big Las Vegas conventions and events? Las Vegas hosts more large trade shows than almost any US city, and they set hotel prices. Plan around these typical dates, and check each show’s official calendar. Summer is hot, often above 105°F, but rates can be lower in July and August outside big shows. - CES — early January, filling the LVCC, the Venetian Expo and much of the city; book rooms as soon as dates are announced. - NAB Show (broadcast and media) — April, at the LVCC. - Black Hat and DEF CON (cybersecurity) — August. - SEMA (automotive aftermarket) — typically early November, at the LVCC. - AWS re:Invent — late November or early December, across several Strip resorts. - Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix — typically November, with Strip road closures that complicate transfers. ## What hidden costs and comfort issues catch Las Vegas visitors out? Vegas is easy to reach and easy to get wrong on cost and logistics. - Resort fees and parking: most Strip resorts add a nightly resort fee, and many charge for parking; include both in budgets and policy caps. - ID: You’ll need a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport to fly from LAX. - Hydration: The desert air is extremely dry; carry water on the show floor and in summer. - Packing: Our business conference packing list covers show-floor essentials. - Smoke: Smoking is still permitted on many casino floors; request non-smoking rooms and floors. ## Las Vegas convention venues and districts - **Las Vegas Convention Center** (Paradise Road · Major trade shows): The city’s largest venue, home to CES, NAB and SEMA, with the Vegas Loop linking its halls. - **Venetian Expo** (Mid-Strip · Conventions): Large exhibit halls attached to The Venetian and The Palazzo; ideal for attendees staying on property. - **Mandalay Bay Convention Center** (South Strip · Conferences): Hosts big conferences such as Black Hat; Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur are linked by tram. - **Caesars Forum** (Center Strip · Meetings): A purpose-built conference center with large ballrooms, linked by bridge to The LINQ and Harrah’s. - **Downtown, Summerlin and Henderson** (Off-Strip · Offices): City government and a smaller convention scene downtown; many local corporate offices in the suburbs. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: How far in advance should I book hotels for CES?** A: As soon as the show announces its dates, ideally six months or more ahead. CES fills the LVCC, the Venetian Expo and many Strip resorts, and room rates during show week can be several times normal. Exhibitors should reserve meeting suites and restaurant private rooms early too. If rooms near the LVCC are gone, a resort on the Monorail line is the next best choice. **Q: Should I fly or drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas?** A: Fly if your time is valuable: the flight is about 1 hour 10 minutes, with many daily nonstops from LAX, Burbank, Long Beach and Orange County. Drive if you’re carrying booth materials or traveling as a group: plan on 4–5 hours via I-15, and much longer heading east on Friday afternoons or returning west on Sunday afternoons. **Q: Which hotels are closest to the Las Vegas Convention Center?** A: Hotels at the north end of the Strip and along Paradise Road are closest, and several have direct or short walking access. Resorts on the Monorail line along the east side of the Strip are a practical second choice. During CES and other large shows, proximity is worth paying for, because traffic and ride-hailing lines grow long at the start and end of each day. **Q: Are resort fees included in Las Vegas hotel rates?** A: They must now appear in the advertised total. A Federal Trade Commission rule in effect since May 2025 requires hotels to include mandatory fees, such as resort fees, in the prices they display. Still, read the total carefully, add parking and taxes to your budget, and have your advisor compare all-in prices for properties near your venue, since fees vary widely between resorts. **Q: Is Las Vegas good for corporate offsites and incentive trips?** A: Yes. The city combines easy air access, enormous hotel inventory, meeting space of every size and evening entertainment. It suits large groups especially well midweek, when rates are lower, and Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam or the Valley of Fire add an outdoor element. Start with our offsite planning checklist. ## Sources - [Harry Reid International Airport](https://www.harryreidairport.com) - [Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority](https://www.lvcva.com) - [Visit Las Vegas](https://www.visitlasvegas.com) - [CES (official show site)](https://www.ces.tech)