AWS re:Invent is the premier global cloud conference—an annual takeover of Las Vegas that brings together the fastest-growing startups, the world’s largest enterprises, and government innovators who all lean on AWS to scale smarter and innovate faster. This year’s event ran December 1–5 and drew more than 65,000 attendees, making it the largest re:Invent yet—and the perfect environment to meet clients, spot emerging industry trends, and get inspired.
Our onsite team of two checked in to Vegas for 5 days, and we walked away energized by the scale of the branding moments, the creativity of the meeting lounges, and the sheer volume of conversations happening across every hallway, restaurant, and expo floor. For an event planning agency like ours, re:Invent always serves as a masterclass in what’s possible when innovation meets experience design (and large budgets).
Where the Action Happened
re:Invent 2025 spanned multiple Las Vegas landmarks—MGM Grand, Caesars Forum, and The Venetian—but the Venetian was undeniably the event’s heartbeat. With the main expo and sessions hosted there, every corridor pulsed with traffic. And this year, something stood out to us: nearly every notable restaurant along the Venetian’s main ‘restaurant row’ had been transformed into a branded meeting space, vanishing all restaurant name and branding.
Think Cote reimagined as a powerhouse Accounting firm’s Lounge, Lavo flipped into a bustling meeting space, and Wakuda turned into the haunt of a tech giant—each with large-scale signage, check-in hosts, coffee bars, and full food-and-beverage service for customers and prospects. Even a Starbucks became one company’s AWS re:Invent Café, greeting attendees as they flowed toward the main exhibition hall, with branded coffee sleeves in tow
These branded takeovers did exactly what great Event Management aims to accomplish: make a high-traffic location impossible to ignore and engage with.
Glean AWS Re: Invent Starbucks Takeover
Zero Legacy Lounge Lavo Takeover
PwC Lounge Cote Takeover
The Dinner Rush: Real and Intense
Meeting lounges weren’t the only hot commodity. Private dining buyouts were booked solid across the Strip—and most likely, 9-12 months in advance. For our own search, many top venues were already fully committed by July 2025. And be prepared to pay for a hefty F&B minimum. For a 40-45 person private dining room, we saw some F&B minimums exceed $50,000.
Vegas during re:Invent operates on its own timeline, so here’s the schedule rhythm we observed:
Sunday – Attendees arrive; branded build-outs begin.
Monday – Some attendees arrive on this day as well. We’ll call this the ‘Settling-in’ day; great for internal receptions, not as much for external meet-ups
Tuesday – Peak energy. One of the top meeting-lounge days. Ideal for welcome dinners.
Wednesday – Strong for meetings with the evening dominated by official AWS events.
Thursday – Attendees begin departing, but still a productive meeting-lounge day. We advise arranging meet-ups in the morning. Expo closes at 4 PM.
Friday – Light traffic - some attendees catch a red eye Thursday night, and some head home today. Recommend booking nothing external or internally-facing on this day.
Understanding this cadence is crucial, especially for teams deep in Business Conference Planning and competing for attention in a very full week.
What We Learned (and What We’re Taking Into 2026)
We left re:Invent with a long list of takeaways, but a few rose to the top:
Branding Matters More Than Ever: Bold, immersive, high-visibility branding dominated the Strip. The companies that invested in big visual Event Spotlights—from lounges to cafe takeovers to multi-story wraps—won the visibility game.
The Early Bird Wins the Restaurant: Top-tier restaurants like Carbone, é by José Andrés, Nobu, and Bazaar Meat are booked nearly a year out. If you want to impress clients with an experience they cannot get on their own, advance planning is non-negotiable.
Meetings Need a Hook: Everyone is meeting with everyone. Small thoughtful perks dramatically increased foot traffic. To stand out, lounge hosts offered:
Walk-up meeting check-ins
Espresso stations
Signature cocktails
Quick tasting bites and even a to-go counter for attendees on the move
15-minute micro-demos
Start Your Outreach Early—Really Early: With tens of thousands of attendees competing for space and time, the most successful sales teams began scheduling meetings weeks before Thanksgiving. We recommend leaving ample space in your schedule for walk-ins, or folks you meet on the floor.
Thinking Ahead to AWS re:Invent 2026? Start Now. re:Invent has been in Las Vegas for more than a decade, and top hotels and restaurants already have holds in place for next year. If you’re planning to activate in 2026—whether a meeting lounge, client dinner, or full-scale takeover—starting early will set you up for success.
Reach out to the cred team to secure your space, elevate your presence, and build an experience that stands out across the Strip. And subscribe to our newsletter for more updates like this in the future!
