With more than 2,700 exhibitors spanning two major venues, the SHOT Show® merits a multi-day visit for attendees. Factoring in travel, lodging and meals for multiple team members, however, expenses can quickly mount. So, it’s necessary to look for any way to add value to your team’s stay in Las Vegas.
When it comes to hotels near The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum, there is an abundance of options to fit a wide range of needs — providing both great value and convenience. We’ve identified some ways to save on lodging during SHOT Week®.
(Looking for more budget-saving tips for the 2027 SHOT Show? Bookmark shotshow.org/blog for insights on travel and more to come soon.)
Walkable, Budget-Friendly Hotels
When a hotel has budget-friendly rooms available and it’s a short walk to The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum, it’s a win-win. (A win for you, adding value to your team’s stay, and a win for employees who will appreciate the extra convenience after walking the SHOT Show’s miles of aisles each day.)
There are several official SHOT Show hotels available through onPeak — the only official hotel provider for the 2027 SHOT Show — that offer good value and a walkable distance to the convention halls. For the purposes of this evaluation, we’ll examine hotels in the onPeak block of rooms around $250 per night and within close walking distance to the show.
As of this writing, a handful of hotels offering both good value and walkable distance to the convention halls have widespread availability: Treasure Island (TI), Harrah’s, The LINQ Hotel, Horseshoe Las Vegas and Flamingo Las Vegas.
Between each of these properties, prices are in the same ballpark; a lot depends on individual needs and preferences. For example, there is a $50 per night difference between the TI on the higher end of this price range and Flamingo on the low end through onPeak. Across a four-night stay, this equates to a difference of $200 if your team decides to stay at the Flamingo. However, if you plan on using a vehicle during SHOT Week, parking is $20 a day at Flamingo for hotel guests and free at TI.
Speaking of TI, it has long been a popular hotel for SHOT Show attendees thanks to its proximity to The Venetian Expo (with a pedestrian bridge connecting the two properties), the aforementioned free parking and a CVS conveniently located inside its grounds — which offers significant cost savings for essentials.
The Flamingo is an icon of The Strip. Coinciding with its 80th anniversary this year, the Flamingo underwent renovations that included a redesigned lobby with an all-new bar and upgraded VIP check-in area. It also debuted refreshed public spaces and a full revamp of Bugsy’s Bar on the casino floor.
For those looking for a “classic” Las Vegas atmosphere, Horseshoe is a good fit. The LINQ has a contemporary, youthful vibe, as well as the neighboring (and lively) LINQ Promenade. Harrah’s completed a major $200 million renovation in 2021, resulting in significantly upgraded rooms. Each of these hotels is a modest walk from the SHOT Show.
A Word on “Sold Out” Hotels
For those booking through onPeak, if a hotel appears “unavailable” it only means the discounted SHOT Show block is sold out. (At the time of writing, Caesars Palace is the only hotel this applies to.) In most cases, you can still book direct through the hotel; it will just be at a higher nightly rate, include the full resort fee instead of a discounted resort fee and be without the protections and flexibility offered through onPeak.
To lock in better rates, many seasoned attendees and exhibitors book rooms a year in advance. There are times when they may not know how many team members they will send to the following year’s show and will reduce their own room block closer to their hotel’s reservation deadline as they lock in their show plans.
Reservation deadlines vary by hotel, ranging from late December to early January. Depending on how exhibitors and attendees adjust their room selections, availability in the onPeak block may open back up in SHOT Show hotels near the show — but it’s not something to count on.
Farther Out, on a Budget
There are additional official SHOT Show hotels available through onPeak at budget-friendly prices but require transportation to get to the show each day.
The added distance results in more savings. As of this writing, Sahara Las Vegas and Palace Station Hotel are priced right around $200 per night, while rooms at Plaza Hotel and Circus Circus Hotel are currently available for under $100 per night.
Each of these hotels have varying attributes, and like the first section above, your final choice will be based on pricing and personal preference.
Given all the footsteps you’ll take to peruse products at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum, it’s not advisable to walk to the show from any of these hotels. There are four methods to consider, with varying degrees of savings and convenience potential:
- Free Option: Each of these four hotels are served by a free shuttle bus service to the SHOT Show, with morning and late afternoon service. This is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Convenient Option: Hailing a taxi or using rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can get you to the show floor at your convenience, but you’ll pay for it. Surge pricing will be in effect during the morning rush for the rideshare apps, making taxis a potentially more reasonable option.
- Monorail Option: Recommended for Sahara and Circus Circus guests, the Las Vegas Monorail has a station connected to the Sahara. (Circus Circus guests can walk to either the Sahara Station or Westgate Station, each are about 15 minutes away by foot.) The Harrah’s/LINQ Station provides direct access to Caesars Forum. Trains run every 5–6 minutes beginning at 7:00 a.m. (Discounted Monorail passes are available to SHOT Show attendees, which can be purchased during SHOT Show registration.)
- Personal Vehicle Option: If you elect to rent a vehicle or drive to Las Vegas, driving from your hotel to The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum is another option available. Keep in mind free parking along the Strip is becoming harder to come by, and traffic in parking lots near the show will be at a standstill around opening and closing times.
There are, of course, additional hotel options throughout Las Vegas that have budget-friendly pricing outside of the onPeak room block. Some are closer to the action than others, with varying degrees of convenience to do business in the convention hall.
A Hotel for Every Budget, Preference
The benefit of attending a trade show in Las Vegas is (pun intended) there are multiple games in town when it comes to lodging. In fact, there are nearly 300 hotels and resorts in Las Vegas. With 150,300 hotel rooms available, it would take a person 411.8 years to spend one night in every hotel room in Las Vegas.
All this to say: There are dozens of budget options within close walking distance of The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum from national chains such as the Best Western Plus Casino Royale, Las Vegas Marriott, Residence Inn, Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, Embassy Suites and more. It just takes a little bit of research to find the best fit.
Independent hotels, like Mardi Gras Hotel, Tuscany Suites and Ellis Island, are additional budget-friendly options within walking distance or a short taxi ride to the show.
More Ways to Save With Short-Term Rentals
Short-term rental properties, through providers like Airbnb and Vrbo, are available throughout Las Vegas and near The Strip. They offer numerous ways to save. For example, if you are sending four team members to attend the SHOT Show, one short-term rental has a savings edge over four separate hotel rooms.
Since these locations generally have a kitchen, the savings potential is significant. Team members can have meals together, brew coffee before heading to the show and store refrigerated items purchased from a grocery store.
There are still many short-term rental options available through both Airbnb and Vrbo during the week of the SHOT Show. Like booking a hotel, doing so well in advance will help lock in a better rate for you and your team. Be aware of scams: Keep all communication and payments on the Airbnb/Vrbo platforms and verify profiles and listings if details sound too good to be true.
Another consideration for booking budget lodging stays, the SHOT Show isn’t the only trade show happening in Las Vegas during SHOT Week. World of Concrete, which had nearly 50,000 attendees last year, runs Jan. 19–21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Coinciding with increased demand, prices for these options are elevated.
Everyone. Everything. All Together.
For four days in Las Vegas, everyone in the shooting, hunting, outdoor and law enforcement/tactical industry will be on hand at the 2027 SHOT Show to support everything about this great industry. With more than 2,700 exhibitors, thousands of new products on display and key decision makers all in one place, the opportunities available at the SHOT Show are unmatched.
Attending the show for multiple days represents a substantial investment, but there are plenty of other ways to stretch your budget throughout the week. To help you further experience SHOT Show on a budget, make sure you bookmark the first story in this series (budget-saving travel) and be on the lookout for additional articles covering entertainment, dining and more coming soon.
– Jade Moldae, Director of Content, NSSF