Inaugural Festival Draws Celebrity Guests and Top Culinary Talent MGM Resorts International and event agency a21 hosted the inaugural Drink Las Vegas across four properties—Bellagio, ARIA, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and Park MGM—from September 24-27. The four-day festival brought together more than 7,000 guests for 30 events spanning tastings, dinners, cocktail experiences, and educational panels. The lineup included celebrity guests Shaquille O'Neal, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Holland, Alix Earle, Sammy Hagar, Jon Taffer, and Johnny Depp, alongside chefs Wolfgang Puck, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Michael Mina, Masaharu Morimoto, Tom Colicchio, Roy Choi, Tiffany Derry, and others. Many participated directly in events rather than appearing as guests only.
Signature Tastings and Notable Events Three nights of walk-around tastings at ARIA's Yucca Pool anchored the festival.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened Thursday with Shaquille O'Neal and Sammy Hagar. Tom Colicchio and Tiffany Derry hosted Friday's "A Night of Excellence" with the James Beard Foundation, while Michael Mina, Masaharu Morimoto, and Wolfgang Puck hosted Saturday's "Timeless Taste: Celebrating the Legacy of Las Vegas." Sylvester Stallone hosted a sold-out Carbone Riviera lunch with a question-and-answer session. Andrew Zimmern hosted the No Proof Dinner featuring Tom Holland, co-founder of BERO, spotlighting non-alcoholic beverages. Johnny Depp appeared at an exclusive late-night event at Reserve Bar. Other events included vintner dinners from Opus One, Abreu Vineyards, and Hundred Acre; a tasting of 100-point wines; The Best of Rip Van Winkle tastings; Elements of Agave; Island Alchemy; MarUmi; and Curtain Call, plus "The Future of the Restaurant Cocktail," presented by Food & Wine.
Industry Impact and Support "Reflecting on what we've accomplished with Drink Las Vegas, I am deeply inspired by the caliber of F&B talent that came together across our resorts this past weekend," said Ari Kastrati, MGM Resorts' Chief Content, Hospitality & Development Officer. "What made this event truly special was the sheer depth of creativity—seeing world-class mixologists, winemakers and legendary chefs collaborate so seamlessly to push the boundaries of craft and culture." Brett Friedman, Founder and CEO of a21, remarked: "What a remarkable debut for Drink Las Vegas. What other event has the ability to pair Shaquille O'Neal with Sammy Hagar and Jean-Georges? It's been quite the journey over the past five years developing this endeavor on behalf of MGM Resorts, and we have now established Drink Las Vegas as a signature culinary event on the national stage." MGM Resorts made a financial contribution to the James Beard Foundation to support equitable and sustainable food culture initiatives.
Why It Matters
Drink Las Vegas positions MGM Resorts as a hospitality destination for upscale food-and-beverage tourism, leveraging celebrity draw and chef talent to attract high-spend consumers. For the broader industry, the event signals demand for experiential dining events that pair entertainment value with culinary education—a model other markets and resort operators may seek to replicate.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
