To promote America's home of R-rated entertainment options, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority employed the look of Europe's "sin city" (a.k.a. Paris) for its annual Chicago party aimed at meeting and travel professionals. Event planning agency D3 Events evoked a Moulin Rouge-meets-French-circus decor scheme for the event, which took place Wednesday night at Lincoln Park nightclub Crobar. "Our goal is to reflect what Las Vegas is all about," said LVCVA senior manager of regional sales Mike Tarr, who collaborated with D3 Events on the party. "We want people to know that they're going to cut loose and have fun when they go there."
Some 600 meeting and travel industry reps attended the event, which was held during the Motivation Show at McCormick Place. Several Las Vegas hotels, restaurants, and attractions exhibited at the show, allowing for a natural fit between them and the party. "The point of our party is to be a broker between our members and potential customers," said Tarr.
Las Vegas branding appeared outside the massive club, with red curtains swathing the exterior walls of the building, while an ornate gold frame held a video screen playing an "Only Vegas" promotional ad above the entrance. Inside, hordes of women in "Lady Marmalade" get-ups roamed the room and flanked an ice luge bar bearing the "Only Vegas" logo, made by Nadeau's Ice Sculptures. Black-clad servers made their way around with trays filled with what looked like sushi rolls, mini burgers, and French fries—the treats were actually desserts created by the Entertaining Company. The evening's entertainment included several pop-up performances, including a gospel choir belting out "Viva Las Vegas" from a catwalk-style stage above the crowd and a 30-person marching band that paraded through the space.
