'The Best' Places to See and Things to Eat and Do in Las Vegas

Here’s a list of some of “The Best” places for eating, drinking, entertainment, sightseeing and adventures in Las Vegas. If you’re attending the 2016 HIMSS Conference this year, you’ll want to check out these lists.

Tip: Bookmark this page as I will be adding to it as I find more of “The Best Things in Las Vegas"

Eating & Drinking

The 15 Most Epic Breakfasts in Vegas

The Best Coffee Shops and Cafés in Las Vegas

The 30 Best Things to Eat In Las Vegas for $10 (Or Less)

10 Things You Don’t Know About Las Vegas Buffets

The 30 Best Happy Hours in Las Vegas

The 10 Best Secret Bars & Speakeasies in Las Vegas

The Definitive Guide to Sin City’s Best Outdoor Drinking Spots

Entertainment, Sight-Seeing & Adventures

The 13 Most Amazing Shows in Las Vegas Right Now

The 21 Most Instagrammed Places in Las Vegas

12 Secret Things in Vegas You Didn’t Know Existed

7 Hidden Vegas Gems You'd Never Think to Hit... Until Now

15 Things to Do in Las Vegas... For Free

11 Secret Spots in Las Vegas

What Else?

Consider following @HITConfGuy on Twitter and also my good buddy and 2016 HIMSS Social Media Ambassador @ShimCode.

Why should you follow the @HITConfGuy Twitter Account before and during #HIMSS16?

Why? To get the good HIMSS conference-related tweets without having to sift through all the advertisements, spam, stale and repeated tweets. That’s why!

HIMSS conference attendees can be freed from being glued to a popular hashtag that’s experiencing increased levels of spam and abuse so they can focus on the conference, presentations and vendor booths. Those who aren’t attending the HIMSS conference will have an enhanced means to eavesdrop on the proceedings remotely.

How are Tweets Selected?

Twitter, popular blogs and other sources of information are monitored using various automated and manual methods using terms and phrases expected to describe the HIMSS conference. A human with 20+ years of experience in the healthcare IT and services industry will review each tweet before it’s surfaced in Twitter.

What This Account Will Do

1. Only share information related to the HIMSS 2016 conference and only share relevant healthcare IT topics. I’ll focus on the following:

#digitalhealth – Mobile health, Digital Health and Connected Health

#telemedicine – Telehealth and telemedicine
#mhealth – Mobile Health
#ACO – Accountable Care Organizations
#ehr – Electronic Health Records
#hix – Health Insurance Exchanges
#icd10 – ICD-10
#interoperability - Interoperability and integration topics

2. Monitor alternative sources of information off Twitter’s oft beaten path. This includes blogs, content made available to me by followers, various search mechanisms I use, etc.

3. Include links to supplemental content and resources associated with certain tweets.

4. Share select vendor info (whitepapers, surveys, content, offers, etc) that are not clearly a sales pitches. Veiled sales pitches may be passed along at my discretion.

5. Verify that all embedded links and embedded content can be accessed

6. Spare you the excess of the “over-tweeters”

7. Share select info on "booth-bling," tweet-ups, parties and contests.

Keep an eye out for the following “unofficial HIMSS16 hashtags” suggested by others:

#HIMSS16GoodStuff - Identify good presentations, speakers, etc
#HIMSS16DanceOff - See #HIMSSanity
#HIMSSanity - General craziness
#HIMSSFood - Places to eat – good and bad – note them!
#HIMSSPickuplines - See #HIMSSanity
#HIMSSTips - Tips and How-to’s to maximize conference value
#HIMSSwag - Booth bling and handouts worth noting

What This Account Won't Do

1. Share the same tweet more than once. Except for periodic “promotional tweets” to call attention to the service this account provides.

2. A primary value of this account is that you can just periodically review its timeline and get the scoop as to what’s going on at #HIMSS16. No need to do special searches and/or monitor the #HIMSS16 hashtag - that's my job. :)

3. Retweet every tweet mentioning this account. This isn’t about me. I really didn't even want to have my real name on this blog but it's a Google term of service item. I'm doing this because I want to share good good healthcare IT info related to the HIMSS conference.

4. Repeat the same tweet over and over and over and over and over

5. Post content requiring login or special add-ins unless a warning is given – such as [requires login] or [Requires yada yada add-in]

So click here and follow @HitConfGuy 

23 Listicles Shared During the #HIMSS15 Conference in Chicago

In case you missed them, here are some "listicles" I shared during the 2015 HIMSS Conference in Chicago.

Conference Tips

12 Ways to Get the Most Out of Attending a Conference 

15 Tips to Increase Your Social Engagement at HIMSS (Really good tips!)

5 More Tips for Connecting with New People at HIMSS

5 Secrets for Effective Networking at Your Next Conference Like #HIMSS15

5 Ways to Optimize the Business Value of Attending Conferences Like #HIMSS15 

6 Tips to Get the Greatest Return from Your Conference Investment 

5 Tips for Optimizing Your Next Business Conference Like #HIMSS15 

6 Tips for Networking at the #HIMSS15 Conference


HIMSS Conference

11 things to know before HIMSS15 (#5: Guess who has the biggest booth?) 

3 Hot Topics that Have HIMSS15 All Abuzz (#analytics #security & #patientengagement) 

6 Must-Attend Social Media Happenings 

7 Buzzwords to Watch at HIMSS 2015 

7 Must-See Sessions at #HIMSS15 for Clinicians

5 Things to Watch at #HIMSS15

Top 10 Things to See and Do at #HIMSS15 

9 different special interest focus groups at #HIMSS15 (See #9) 

Functional

3 Patient Engagement Trends to Watch at #HIMSS15 

4 hot topics CIOs will be talking about at #HIMSS15 

4 keys to core measure #compliance  

5 Considerations in Starting an #mHealth Program 

5 Mobile Health Tools for Practices to Consider 

Miscellaneous

5 health IT billionaires you know

10 Places Everyone's Talking About And Dining At in Chicago (In Order Of Heat) 

If you're interested in getting more information about Health Information Technology Conferences in North America, consider following @HITConfGuy on Twitter. For general information on Health Information  Technology, consider following @ShimCode on Twitter.

The Complete Guide to HIMSS15-Related Conference Guides

Here’s all the HIMSS Conference-related guides I can find all in one place for your ease of reference:

Updated: Sunday, April 12, 2015 @ 10:18 PST

General Conference Information – Potpourri of Tips

Tips for First Time HIMSS Annual Conference Attendees

HIMSS15 Survival Guide

A guide to news and analysis from HIMSS 2015

HIMSS15 Preview: Your Go-To-Guide to the Annual Conference

The complete guide to getting your money’s worth out of conferences

Pocket Guide to HIMSS Conference

HIStalk’s Guide to HIMSS15 

The Official Unofficial Guide to HIMSS15

The Oneview Guide to Getting The Most Out Of HIMSS15

Social Media & Marketing

The Official #HIMSS15 Hashtag Guide

The Totally Unofficial Guide to #HIMSS15 Hashtags

Some Tips for Making Your #HIMSS15 Tweets Memorable & Retweetable

Vendors & Exhibitors

DataFox Conference Navigator

HIMSS Exhibitor Search & Floor Map

Sessions

The CIO’s HIMSS15 Session Survival Guide


Provider-Payer Community Suggested Activities

Networking & Social Events

Meetups at HIMSS Spot

Unofficial #HIMSS15 Meetups & Tweetups

Preparing Your Elevator Pitch & Networking Questions for #HIMSS15

Suggestions and Ideas for Meeting and Socializing at the HIMSS Conference

Functional & Technology

What to look for in population health at HIMSS15

A Field Guide to Interoperability at HIMSS

Conference Exhibitor Guide

HIMSS15 Buyers Guide

Healthcare Scene #HIMSS15 Guide

How to Spot a Great Product "#HIMSS15: A Clinician's Guide"

Shahid’s No BS guide to patient engagement at #HIMSS15

Dining & Entertainment

Guide to Dining and Entertainment at HIMSS15 Chicago

15 fun things to do in Chicago at HIMSS

The Road to HIMSS15: Chicago in a nutsh—er, hot dog bun

HIMSS15 Visitor's Guide

What to See in Chicago: Tips From Locals

What to Expect at HIMSS15 in Chicago, for First Time Attendees

What else?

Consider following me on Twitter for more information on the 2015 HIMSS Conference in Chicago and other Healthcare IT Conferences in North America.

Unofficial #HIMSS15 Meetups & Tweetups

HIMSS has published an official list of meetups held at the HIMSS Spot Coffee Bar. And I'm maintaining a list of Unofficial Meetups and Tweetups being held before, during and after the 2015 HIMSS Conference in Chicago. 

Note: Some of the items on my list look like they should be on the Official HIMSS list but I checked and they are not listed so I am listing them here. Also, a couple of these - like the Personalized Medicine and Predictive Analytics items - may not be meetups in the traditional sense but I'm including them here with the understanding that they will be an interactive, informal meeting.

Name	Date	Location & More Info
#IheartHIT meetup	4/13/15 - 3:30 - 4:30p	HIMSS Spot Coffee Bar - North Hall - B Lobby - RSVP Requested
How IT is enabling personalized medicine	4/13/15 - 1:30p	Booth 955 -   Requires Registration
#HITChicks Community Meetup	4/14/15 - 10:00-11:00p	HIMSS Spot Coffee Bar - North Hall - B Lobby
6th Annual New Media Meetup	4/14/15 - 6:00-8:00p	Gino's East - 162 E Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611-  Requires Registration
Predictive Analytics: A glimpse at the future of population health  management	4/15/15 - 11:00am	Booth 955 - Requires Registration
#HITsm Tweetup	4/14/15 – 11:30 – 12:15	HIMSS Room S403A
HIMSS Official Meetups	4/12/15 – 4/15/15	Various Times & Locations

If you know of any items that should be added to this list please forward them to me using the Submit an Idea, Tip or Pitch link on the top right of this page.

Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter for all the latest on the 2015 HIMSS Conference in Chicago.

Ideas & Tips for Maximizing the Most Important Conference Asset: You!

A lot of attention is paid and tips suggested on how to get the most out of your attendance at a large, multi-day conference like the 2015 HIMSS Conference in Chicago. One thing that I don’t see a lot of are ideas and tips for taking care of the most important aspect of the conference: You! As luck – and social media –would have it, a recent #expochat tweetchat on “Taking Care of the Most Important Show Asset – People” provides a wealth of ideas and tips you can use to get the most out of your conference attendance.

The following tips and ideas were culled from the Storify for this recent #expochat tweetchat. For readability I’ve omitted the Twitter names of the people who submitted these ideas. Special thanks to @TraciBrowne and several #expochat tweeps who submitted many of these tweets: @TSNN_Rachel @harrisonia @MHighamVXD @EmilieBarta and @BusyEvent

1. Do you have any rituals before heading to show site?

a. Before the event I always spend as much time as possible with family.

b. I make sure to have healthy food in the freezer and house clean for my return.

c. I make sure to pack snacks, mints, reading materials...and I always compartmentalize my packing.

d. Other than charging all my batteries, I like to pack a tasty lunch/snack for the plane

e. I must have To-Do lists for week before leaving office; the last day in office and indexed packing lists.

f. I always map out the nearest Starbucks, pharmacy and 24-hour place to get any type of food.

g. I always have to find a nearby CVS or Walgreens, because I always forget headphones before I fly and stockings for show site.

2. Do you have travel or packing tips?

a. I print a packing list for each trip and check things off as I pack.

b. I do a clothing calendar for that trip to help minimize shoes/attire but maximize usage w/o obvious overlap.

c. I pick a color palette for the trip... makes it more efficient + provides mix-mix - and - match options on the fly.

d. I assign every outfit to a day I will wear it, then I remove at least 2 outfits. Also cut down on shoes!

e. Always have a hoodie + a hat in case of emergency run somewhere before being "show floor ready."

f. I pack snacks & tea, chargers, dollar bills for tipping, & backups of any materials/files I'll need access to at the show.

g. Biggest packing tip is to roll everything (more room) and to laundry bag (less wrinkles) everything else.

h. Roll your clothes...you can fit more in you bag and will eliminate creasing. Also pack a travel iron!

i. Wrap each shoe in a plastic grocery bag so you can squeeze them into the corners of your suitcase.

j. Unpacking is the 1st thing I do when I get to the hotel! After all...it is home for the week!

k. When I get to hotel I unpack & iron everything immediately - unplug the alarm clock, make sure I have lots of water, charge phone

l. Is unpacking in the hotel room a girl thing? So many men look at me like I'm nutz when I say I do this

m. Pack an extra charger/battery for your phone! Don't want to run out while traveling...

n. Making sure all my devices are fully charged, figured out the shortest route between airport and venue, got my Uber on order and

o. Check at the front desk for spare chargers, people leave them in the room all the time.

3. What are your must bring items to maintain your mental or physical health?

a. Foot roller massage, healthy snacks, oat meal packets and soup packets to use w/ room coffee maker in the morning.

b. Included on my checklist (always) is medicine for headaches, stomach aches, cramps, cotton swabs.

c. I bring disinfecting spray to remove germs + air spray to make it smell pretty.

d. Confession: I pack Clorox wipes for the oft-touch objects in the room.

e. Doctor Scholl's inserts. They have saved my life far too many times to count. And vodka.

f. Foot spray, sore muscle cream, and heavy duty lotion help protect my feet from the floor and my skin from the dry air!

4. How do you sustain your health and energy at show?

a. MUST eat breakfast and must carry protein bars or energy bars on/near your person.

b. Taking time to eat meals close to at-home schedule

c. Emergen C, probiotics, fiber drinks, cough crops, cold medicine. Pack stays in the suitcase always.

5. What are some tips you would pass on to a first time show attendee to keep their energy levels up, and maintain their health?

a. Treat the day as "business" not a "party."

b. Sleep, easy on the alcohol, coffee, lots of water, redbull repeat

c. Don't forget your business cards. And bring waaaaay more than u think u need!

d. You can attend an event with a drink in hand, but you don't have to keep refreshing it!

e. I would say to pace themselves in ALL ways - especially the opening reception (too much drink winky ...)

f. When you hear yourself say the words "I'll just have one more" stop and say "never mind, I'll take the check"

6. What are some of your post-show decompression techniques?

a. I lie and tell people I am coming back days later. Don't answer the phone!

b. Set an “out of the office” message the 1st day back home. Use that day to sleep, decompress, unpack, give brain a break.

c. I've learned to schedule an extra day in cities where I have friends or would like to explore - relax before I go home!

d. If it's a resort town, stay an extra day. Particularly so you can finally enjoy the upgrade you received

e. @Netflix...Binge watch all my missed shows!

7. How can we capitalize on that buzz right after show?

a. Follow up with those you promised to follow up with. The sooner you do that, the more respect you gain from buyer

b. You can always send it to their company addresses & those are always online

c. Share stories + pics. Follow up on conversations. Write thank u notes.

d. Follow up on Linkedin, twitter, and email, get together the list and send something clever, make appointments with new leads.

e. As long as they are flattering... I am sometimes shocked at photos that get published! :(

f. People love seeing pictures of themselves.

g. It's sending them an email about the conversation you had with them

h. Write a blog post, share media from the show, and send thank you notes to friends and partners.

Other Ideas?

What ideas, tips and suggestions do you have to get the most out of your conference attendance?  For more info on Health Information Technology Conferences like HIMSS annual conference, consider following me on Twitter.