LAS VEGAS — It’s been six years since the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning — the Clean Show — has taken place here.
Clean ’17 takes over the “City of Lights” June 5-8 (Monday-Thursday) for its 40th anniversary.
Once again, the Las Vegas Convention Center will house the show, but this being Vegas, attendees will want to make the most of their time off the trade show floor.
American Coin-Op reached out to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and to Clean Show management company Riddle & Associates to put together a Las Vegas “travel guide” for attendees.
SEE & DO
If Clean Show attendees want to be a bit more active in the evening, or if they have some free time during the day, Vegas boasts fun activities and interesting museums.
Downtown’s famous casino-lined Fremont Street has been converted into a 175,700-square-foot pedestrian area covered by the Viva Vision canopy, the world’s largest graphic display system, says the LVCVA. Called the Fremont Street Experience, this canopy showcases spectacular light and sound shows every hour on the hour during the evenings.
Clean Show attendees looking for thrills of a different nature can ride “SlotZilla,” the world’s most unique zip-line attraction, according to the LVCVA, featuring the 850-foot zip line and the 1,750-foot Zoomline, as people launch from a 12-story slot-machine-themed takeoff platform to fly under the Viva Vision canopy.
For more rides, the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower has four of the world’s highest rides located 100 stories above the ground, according to the LVCVA. SkyJump is a “controlled free-fall” in which participants plummet 855 feet at a speed of up to 40 miles per hour. X-Scream teeters riders over the edge of the tower 900 feet above the ground, 30 feet over the edge of the building, at 33 miles per hour. Big Shot is a thrill ride that shoots adrenaline-seekers 160 feet into the air at 4Gs before letting them free-fall back to the launching pad. Insanity is an appropriately named, dizzying, spinning ride that dangles passengers over the edge of the tower before whirling them around at speeds approaching 40 miles per hour.
For a less heart-pounding ride, the LVCVA recommends the High Roller, the tallest observation wheel in the world at an impressive 550 feet, at The LINQ Promenade. It towers above outdoor dining, entertainment and retail district by Caesars Entertainment and provides spectacular views of the Las Vegas Strip and Valley.
An alternative entertainment option to shows and concerts, rides and, of course, gaming, are the many museums available throughout the city, Riddle notes. Madame Tussauds Celebrity Wax Museum is located at the Venetian, where attendees can take photos, interact with favorite celebrities and enjoy a 4D short film experience.
Other museums the LVCVA notes include The Neon Museum and The Mob Museum. The Neon Museum exhibits iconic Las Vegas signs and is available through an hour-long guided tour. Tours are available seven days a week.
The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, better known as The Mob Museum, is dedicated to telling the thrilling story of the downfall of organized crime led by law enforcement. True stories of the mob’s history are brought to life via engaging exhibits, high-tech theater presentations and more than 600 artifacts.
For no-cost entertainment, Riddle says that Clean Show attendees only need to take a stroll down The Strip. In addition to great people-watching, enjoy the volcano show at the entrance of the Mirage (7 p.m. and 8 p.m.), talking Roman statues and changing lighting at Caesars Forum, a beautiful water show at Bellagio (from 3 p.m. to midnight), a harbor rainstorm at the Miracle Mile Mall, and many more street concerts and performances.
SHOPPING
It seems like most trade show attendees want to at least buy a little something when they’re in Vegas, and the city doesn’t disappoint with its shopping options.
According to the LVCVA, one of the most recent shopping options to open is the Grand Bazaar Shops outside of Bally's Las Vegas. Modeled after the famed Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, this two-acre outdoor walking mall invites shoppers to stroll under the brightly tiled roof as they visit more than 80 boutique retail spaces, including a Swarovski store where customers can haggle over crystals, as well as experience a nightly light show featuring a 4,000-pound crystal in front of the store.
Riddle notes that Las Vegas has several shopping centers to take attendees out of the heat. Many shopping venues are intricately built to replicate some of the best marketplaces in the world. Browse the stores of Paris, Rome, New York, Cairo, Venice and South Pacific all in one trip.
The Forum Shops at Caesars has more than 100 stores and 11 restaurants with an impressive collection of premium chic designer shops. Rue de las Paris, a collection of cobblestone streets and alleys, houses a promenade with numerous French shops and boutiques.
The Venetian has the Grand Canal Shoppes, reminiscent of the famous Grand Canal waterway in Venice, Italy. Browsers at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will find 200-plus reasonably priced specialty stores and restaurants in the swanky Los Angeles-themed mall.
For just a simple mall experience, Fashion Show houses 140 stores, including those usually found in a typical upscale mall.
Of course, there is much more to see and do in Las Vegas. These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg for Clean Show attendees to make the most of their time in the “City of Lights” and the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
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