Masonry Magazine September 1977 Page. 7
HILTO IN VEGAS
The Las Vegas Hilton, headquarters hotel for MCAA's 28th International Masonry Conference and Educational Trade Show, ranks as one of the world's truly great convention complexes. The Hilton has combined virtually every feature and innovation that modern convention sciences could generate in creating superb banquet, meeting and exhibition facilities.
One of the Las Vegas Hilton's most recent improvements is the spacious Hilton Pavilion, where the entire MCAA Conference-including the Trade Show, meeting rooms, and the International Masonry Showcase-will be housed entirely under one roof! The $7.5 million Pavilion offers more than 44,000 square feet of clear-span exhibit space with ceiling heights capable of accommodating the tallest masonry construction equipment.
The MCAA exhibit area also will be laid out with wide, roomy aisles, providing easy access to all displays including the huge Showcase area and meeting rooms where Conference business and Show functions will originate.
MCAA Trade Show Is Largest in Industry
The MCAA Educational Trade Show, the largest event of its type in the masonry industry, has traditionally been a sell-out from the standpoint of exhibit space. More than 3,000 visitors are expected to attend the '78 Show.
Aside from adding the new Pavilion, the Las Vegas Hilton has undergone impressive expansion since MCAA last met there in 1974. Already the nation's largest resort hotel, the Hilton recently added a second 30-story, 644-room tower with a massive, high-fashion shopping center attached. The total cost for these additions was $20 million, and brought the hotel's total room count to a whopping 2,783.
Every care, too, has been taken to afford the most pleasurable surroundings for hotel guests. The warm, inviting desert sun shines nearly every day in Las Vegas, and the Hilton's fantastic rooftop recreation deck is designed to make full use of it. A totally new concept of design and construction, the entire sun-drenched second floor roof is situated directly over all meeting, entertainment, dining, gaming and other public areas.
Despite its lofty location, the area is resplendent with palm trees, shrubbery and acres of lovely lawns. Look closely and you'll notice the grass is really "astro turf," the same artificial grass used in major sports stadiums around the country.
Attractive, Relaxing Recreation Areas
But there's nothing artificial about the rest of the Las Vegas Hilton. The temperature controlled swimming pool, with over 350,000 gallons of crystal-clear water, is the largest single body of water in Southern Nevada-Excluding Lake Mead, of course. Huge glass wind screens and an enormous heating facility permit swimming and sunbathing the year around.
The gigantic recreation area includes almost every conceivable outdoor resort facility, including four championship tennis courts, putting greens, ping pong tables, shuffleboard, badminton courts, and plenty of open area to just sit and soak up the sun. For golf buffs, there are 11 full-length golf courses just a short drive from the hotel.