A corporate trip to Las Vegas breaks into five legs. They run from the airport to the hotel, from the hotel to the venue, between halls inside the venue, out to the evening events, and back to the airport. Each one has a different best answer, and the right choice changes with the size of the group.
This guide from AWG Ambassador, a Las Vegas chauffeured transportation company, takes those legs in order.
The airport to the hotel
Harry Reid International Airport has two separate terminal buildings, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, so confirm which one each traveler arrives at. Most major Strip hotels are roughly two to five miles from the airport, and the direct drive usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
One or two travelers can take a taxi, a rideshare, or a prearranged car. A prearranged car suits executives and clients because the chauffeur tracks the flight and meets the passenger at the baggage carousel. Our guide to the best way to get from the airport to the Strip compares the options in more detail.
A group needs a different plan. Arrivals are spread across several flights and both terminals, and luggage takes up seats. Greeters in baggage claim gather the group, and vehicles are assigned by passenger count plus bags.
The hotel to the venue
Start with where the event is held. The Las Vegas Convention Center sits off the Strip near Paradise Road. The Venetian Expo, Caesars Forum, and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center are attached to resorts on the Strip or stand beside them.
On foot
A walk works when the hotel is attached to the venue or directly beside it. Distances on the Strip look shorter than they are, because the resorts are very large and many crossings run over pedestrian bridges. Check the walking time on a map before you rely on it.
The Las Vegas Monorail
The monorail runs 3.9 miles from MGM Grand to SAHARA, with seven stations on the east side of the Strip and a train every four to eight minutes. The full ride takes about 15 minutes. One station is at the Convention Center, and the Harrah’s/The LINQ station is close to Caesars Forum and the Venetian Expo. The monorail does not go to the airport.
Taxis and rideshare
Both work well for one to three people outside peak hours. Taxis queue at resort entrances and at the airport. Demand rises sharply when a large show opens and closes for the day, so travel ahead of those hours or allow extra time.
Shuttle loops and private cars
For a team staying at one or two hotels, a chartered shuttle on a fixed loop keeps arrival times predictable. This kind of group transportation in Las Vegas is scheduled around session start times, with single vehicles for 15 to 37 passengers and several vehicles for larger groups.
Executives and speakers usually keep a schedule of their own. A sedan or SUV reserved for the day lets them leave when a meeting ends, without waiting for the next shuttle.
Inside the convention center
The Convention Center is a campus with four halls. The Vegas Loop carries passengers underground between the West Hall and the North, Central, and South Halls, and rides within the campus are free for attendees. Loop stations also operate at Resorts World, Encore, and Westgate, and a trip to those stations requires a ticket.
Hall assignments and hotel choice are covered in our article on visiting Las Vegas for a convention.
Dinners and receptions after hours
The evening is the easiest leg to leave unplanned. It is also when a group is hardest to keep together. Rideshare pickups at resorts are limited to designated areas, and those areas fill up when a show floor closes. A party of 20 that leaves in six cars reaches the restaurant in six separate arrivals.
A single coach or Sprinter keeps the party together and waits for the return trip. For a client dinner, corporate transportation in Las Vegas with a chauffeur on standby means the host is never left on a curb with a guest.
The ride back to the airport
Departure day concentrates everyone into a few hours. For group departures, we schedule hotel pickup at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. Check the terminal for each airline before the vehicles are assigned, since a wrong terminal costs time on the busiest day of the trip.
Match the vehicle to the group
- Individual executives and pairs: executive sedan
- Small teams with luggage: SUV or Sprinter
- 15 to 37 passengers: Sprinter, mini coach, or executive coach, depending on headcount and bags
- Larger groups: several coaches or a scheduled shuttle loop
Capacity is always counted as passengers plus standard luggage, so a team flying in with display cases needs more room than its headcount suggests. Our chauffeured fleet runs from sedans to executive coaches.
A sample day for a 30-person team
The schedule below is an example of how the legs fit together during a show at the Convention Center:
- Early morning: a coach leaves the hotel so the team is on the floor before the doors open
- Midday: an SUV takes two executives to a client lunch on the Strip
- Late afternoon: the coach returns the team to the hotel
- Evening: the coach takes the group to a private dinner and waits
- After dinner: everyone returns to the hotel in one trip
Two vehicles cover the whole day, and nobody on the team spends the afternoon arranging rides.
Frequently asked questions
1) Does the Las Vegas Monorail go to the airport?
No. The monorail runs between MGM Grand and SAHARA on the east side of the Strip. Travel between the airport and a hotel is by taxi, rideshare, shuttle, or a prearranged car.
2) How long does it take to get from the airport to a Strip hotel?
Most major Strip hotels are roughly two to five miles from Harry Reid International, and the direct drive usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Allow more time during a large convention.
3) What time does the monorail stop running?
At the time of writing, trains start at 7 a.m. daily and run until midnight on Monday, 2 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Hours are shortened on some dates, so check the schedule for your week.
4) Is the Vegas Loop only for the Convention Center?
The Loop began as a link between the Convention Center halls, and rides inside the campus are free for attendees. It also has stations at Resorts World, Encore, and Westgate, which require a ticket.
5) Can a rideshare pick us up in front of the hotel on the Strip?
Usually not at the curb on Las Vegas Boulevard. Resorts direct rideshare vehicles to a designated pickup area, which is often in a garage or at a side entrance. Give your group the exact location in advance.
Conclusion
Plan the trip one leg at a time. The legs with a fixed start time and more than a few people are the ones worth reserving in advance, and the rest can stay flexible.
Send your agenda and headcount to the AWG Ambassador through the contact form, or call or text 702.740.3434.
