A conversation with Kelly Gleeson Smith of Caesars Entertainment
Kelly Gleeson Smith has been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. Since joining Caesars Entertainment as director of sales in 2017, she has been honored twice with the Caesars Corporate Excellence in Leadership Award, Director of Sales of the Year, in 2019 and 2020. In her current position as senior vice president of sales, Smith oversees more than 150 salespeople nationwide in leading Caesars’ global sales strategy for meetings and events at more than 50 properties throughout the country, including eight in the South. Here, Smith shares how Caesars Entertainment adds value to meetings and events as a provider of full-service meeting, dining, and entertainment destinations.
What do you enjoy most about events and hospitality?
I have been in the industry most of my life and love helping clients bring their vision to life and hosting successful conferences.
At each juncture of my career, my mentors and allies have supported me and given me great insight. I am also actively involved in PCMA, IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum, MPI, and ASAE. I enjoy mentoring the new generation coming up in the industry.
How does Caesars’ expansive reach offer value and accessibility for planners?
We have an incredible reach with more than 50 properties nationwide, including eight Caesars properties in the South, in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Virginia. Plus, we offer our clients a depth of knowledge that they can tap into; from operations to F&B to client services, we have a deep bench. Also, as a national and iconic brand, we can attract the very best partners locally and nationally.
We pride ourselves on having an in-market sales team of sales professionals in the markets they serve. So, our clients have Caesars’ contacts in their cities. Caesars provides a one-stop shop—our salespeople know all our properties and can check availability, quote rates, and negotiate agreements, making it easier and faster for clients. We also require only one F&B minimum for a destination.
What advantages does Caesars offer over other venues?
In addition to requiring only one F&B minimum, we also offer a large array of entertainment and celebrity-chef restaurants across the nation, which are available for private-event buyouts.
We work hard to think outside the box, offer solutions to help our clients be successful, and include creative touches to delight their attendees and stakeholders. We do that by offering great accommodations, first-class food and beverage options, world-class entertainment, vast meeting facilities, and a great experience with family-style service.
What can you share about property enhancements, new activations, and other exciting offerings coming soon to Caesars meetings and events?
We are continuously introducing new products and experiences across the enterprise.
We recently added Caesars New Orleans. Here we offer a magnificent meeting through our AAA Four Diamond hotel in the heart of the historic and festive city. With more than 20,000 square feet of dynamic space, 790 guest rooms, more than 12 restaurants and venues, and an experienced events team, we are ready to pull off a seamless affair infused with the historic charm only New Orleans can deliver.
We are very proud of Caesars Virgina, our newest property in the South. We are excited to bring the all-new destination resort to the heart of southern Virginia. Caesars Virginia provides a luxurious experience, more than 50,000 square feet of meeting space, a full-service spa, a pool, world-class dining, upscale bars, lounges, and great entertainment.
