The thirty-fifth anniversary Gun Engravers Show 2016 in LAS VEGAS !!!

~~The Gun Engravers Show 2016
The Board of Directors of FEGA and I are pleased to announce some really exciting news-
The Westgate Resort and Casino will be the venue for our future Gun Engraver shows.

We have agreements with the Beinfeld / Antique arms shows to be with them in 2016 on January 21, 22, 23, 24, & 25, 2016 for our 35th anniversary Gun Engravers Show at the Westgate and in the future we have plans through 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Westgate Resort and Casino is the former Las Vegas Hilton. The Westgate is located behind the Riviera and next to the Las Vegas Convention Center. It is connected to the strip by a monorail.

The Westgate is an historic venue.

In the 70’s for months at a time Elvis Presley lived in the penthouse and played 636 consecutive sold-out shows at the International and Las Vegas Hilton from July 1969 through December 1976.

http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-re...-shows-vegas-/

While Elvis’s needs may have been different from FEGA’s, it will be a very comfy venue for the Gun Engravers Show.
The Westgate convention center has the Paradise event center of 70,000 square feet, the Pavilion of 43,130 square feet, and a Ballroom of 35,000 square feet. This will give The Gun Engravers Show and The Antique Arms Show the opportunity to expand and continue to improve the quality of the show in 2017 and beyond.

Since I moved to Las Vegas , the Westgate has been my favorite Hotel for friends, family and business associates when they are in town, I even go stay there on weekends occasionally to relax and enjoy the pool and facilities.
The rooms are reasonably priced, and good sized, and my favorites are actually the least expensive, and the entire Hotel is being upgraded one floor at a time.

For 2016, we will have six foot tables, mainly due to the Westgate ‘s previous space commitments to other events which will be in the building. In 2017 and beyond, the Beinfeld group has informed me we will go back to eight foot tables.

In any event, 2016 will be tight. We will have sixty tables, including FEGA tables, and they will be closer together.

The table price in The Gun Engravers show will remain at $375. The Banquet tickets are be $68.

You may go to www.fega.com to order tables and tickets, as they are available now.

The site is still being updated today by Bill Gamradt as to the schedule and location, but all the links to buy tables and banquet tickets are valid. The dates are January 21, 22, 23, & 24, 2016.
Here is the show schedule as it appears today, small updates may occur, we will keep you posted.

Firearms Engravers Guild of America 2016 Gun Show Schedule
Thurs. Jan 21

12-6pm Exhibitor packet pickup at front registration desk

8-10 am FEGA BOD meeting

7pm Exhibitor set-up

Fri. Jan 22

Show opens to Exhibitors 8-6 public 9-5 (Honored guests 8am)

11:00am FEGA Master Engraver Judging

12:00 FEGA Awards Judging

6-10pm Members welcome reception

Sat. Jan 23

7-9am FEGA Annual Meeting

Show opens to Exhibitors 8-6 Public 9-5 (Honored guests 8am)

American Engravers III book signing 2pm-4pm

6pm Annual Banquet & Auction

Sun. Jan 24

7-9am FEGA BOD meeting

Show opens to Exhibitors 8-6 Public 9-2pm

2pm Exhibitor take down

Mon. Jan 25

Free Seminars 8am

12-1 Break for Lunch

1pm- onward- show & tell sessions

Our room block code will be announced in a few weeks, it is important to book through the roomblock,
As it gives us more wait with the hotel when they can see the numbers,so please use it when available.

The 35th anniversary Gun Engravers Show 2016 will make this the best year for FEGA yet, and I will-

See you in LAS VEGAS !!!

Great news Barry and I know you worked real hard to help get this all together. Any word on what the room costs will be yet??
Good seeing you this past weekend up in Denver
Marty

Glad to see we have a location. Do you know the reason Benfield likes to choose historic sites? Historic in this case translates to another dump soon to be demolished.

Beathard said:

Glad to see we have a location. Do you know the reason Benfield likes to choose historic sites? Historic in this case translates to another dump soon to be demolished.

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Yes, I do know why Beinfeld chooses historic sites.
The Westgate has almost 100,000 ft of convention space, and today, expedia lists the rooms at $107 during our dates.

New Hotels mostly, just do not have the almost 100,000 sq ft of space they need.
And if they do, the rooms are $300 or so a night.
And I must add, that with your knowledge of the best hotels in Las Vegas you think the Westgate is a dump, you can certainly stay over at the Wynn for $364 or more a night during our dates.
Or, the Four seasons, a bargain today at $289! on sale.
Now, the Palazzo is right near the sands convention center, its only $269 during our dates.

As I said in the original post, I go and stay at the Westgate on weekends with my friends and family, I even suggest it to my clients, VP's and Presidents of corporations and such.
They love it.

I picked up some friends at the Airport just this last Saturday night as I was returning from Denver , young jet set yuppie proffesional types. Where did they want to go? The Westgate. No kidding.

My understanding is Priscilla Presley is a guest of the Westgate this week.

I have stayed at the Wynn, and the Encore, Planet Hollywood and the Venitian and I can tell you honestly, I prefer the Westgate, the beds are better, and most of the rooms are bigger.
And if I tip Valet $10 at the Westgate, they will keep my car right at the curb for me

And frankly, the Riviera had the best Valet parking in Vegas, I always liked the Riviera.
About half the staff knew me by my first name.
And they had the best convention facilities to load in and load out in Vegas.

Come to think of it, I really do like dumps.
My old favorite vegas hotel was the Algiers, built in 1948, a typical old U shaped hotel with a Kidney bean pool in the middle, really a dive.
But in the Algiers in the morning you would occasionally bump into Tom Selleck, or even Steven Spielberg in the restaurant, as it had great food for cheap, being it was a dump..
Unfortunately, it was torn down about 12 years ago.

Now, I like to go out to the Longhorn on Boulder highway and order the $9.95 prime rib, and decent $2 merlot. I must say the Longhorn is - without a doubt - my favorite dump now, but alas, no convention facility, so we will be saved from the indignity of $12 prime rib dinners.

Kidding aside, the Westgate may be historic, but its no dump, its just a really nice Hotel with good food and a great convention facility where FEGA can have a great show. . . .

I will see you in Las Vegas baby!

Barry, I like dumps too. I loved the old Jockey Club. I like the Gold Nugget. But the Westgate can't be sold for more than it is. Reading your inital post you'd think we were going to the MGM or Mandaly Bay. Expectations should be set correctly. The cool features are the monorail and proximity to the convention center. A feature could be said that it is cheap. But no one would say it is a fantastic site, unless they like cheap old places that are "historic"...

FANCYGUN said:

Great news Barry and I know you worked real hard to help get this all together. Any word on what the room costs will be yet??
Good seeing you this past weekend up in Denver
Marty

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Hi Marty, loved seein you in Denver my friend.
Right now the rooms are $107, but just book your table and banquet tickets now, wait to book the room until I get us the group code please.

Beathard said:

Barry, I like dumps too. I loved the old Jockey Club. I like the Gold Nugget. But the Westgate can't be sold for more than it is. Reading your inital post you'd think we were going to the MGM or Mandaly Bay. Expectations should be set correctly. The cool features are the monorail and proximity to the convention center. A feature could be said that it is cheap. But no one would say it is a fantastic site, unless they like cheap old places that are "historic"...

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My friend, how many times have you stayed at the Westgate? I have stayed there 3 times in the last eleven months. It is the best place in Vegas for us.
When my daughter visits, that's where I get her a room.
Months ago, when Beinfeld group asked me if I knew a good place I could suggest, the Westgate was my immediate response, without hesitation.
If you have been there, you certainly know, and agree with me- it is not a dump.
On the other hand, I have stayed at the MGM, and politely, I will say that it is not my favorite. Myself, I would much rather stay at the Westgate, for pleasure or business, than the MGM. The MGM is just too big, you can get lost in there for days- my impression is the rooms are smaller and it is about 25% more money for a room during our dates.
The Mandalay Bay was considered, but it does not have enough room for the show, and its $256 a night during our dates.

See you in LAS VEGAS!

I have a time share with the hilton. Stay there frequently. Not 3 times in the last 6 months but at least 20 in the last 15 years. So obviously I do not know the property at all and bow to your expertise.

This little "Discussion" reminds me of a collectible show I was scheduled for in Scottsdale.
I asked my girl to book us a room. A couple of days later she decided on someplace at $300 a night ! And this was in the 90s !
So, I got on the horn and found us a Motel 6 for $40 a night.
You'd a thought she was doing the "Perp Walk" going from the room to the truck. Hoodie pulled over her face and scurrying along.
The only thing lacking was one of Joe Arpaio's pink jumpsuits and a pair of cuffs and shackles so she could do the shuffle.

Beathard said:

I have a time share with the hilton. Stay there frequently. Not 3 times in the last 6 months but at least 20 in the last 15 years. So obviously I do not know the property at all and bow to your expertise.

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It has changed a lot since the new owners took over about a year ago.
lots of renovations, but I still like the old rooms
And Gerry, I return the bow!
I look forward to seeing you there!

My wife loves staying at the Hilton....sorry, Westgate, and that is where we stay every time we go to Vegas. Been going there nigh on 20 years now, off and on. When I tell her where the show and meeting will be, she will get excited and there will be no "reservations" on going this time. Of course, when we go to Vegas, we always take in the "Bullring" for some good racing and watching the "Big Boys" doing touch and go's....an a visit to Fremont Street.

Thanks guys and gals for all you do for us.

Bill

Good deal with the Westgate!!!!!!

It's a big step up from the Riviera and should work well for FEGA. It's affordable, close to the strip for partners, has better restaurants and eating facilities....and did I mention affordable. For those not wanting to stay in the Westgate it's not a problem. But I would recommend it as a big part of the show is the socialising and networking before and after. That is the strength of FEGA. The show itself is only a part of it.

Don't forget that this is all new ground for all of us so over the next few months the FEGA members will get mail outs, flyers, magazine updates etc etc etc.

I'm looking forward to the show already!!

Cheers
Andrew

I'm looking forward to our move to the Westgate. My wife and I stayed there on our first visit to Vegas in 1972. We were really living large there. Back then they had the largest show room in Vegas and needed it to accommodate the crowds for Elvis and Liberace. I have very fond memories of the place.

Big-Un said:

My wife loves staying at the Hilton....sorry, Westgate, and that is where we stay every time we go to Vegas. Been going there nigh on 20 years now, off and on. When I tell her where the show and meeting will be, she will get excited and there will be no "reservations" on going this time. Of course, when we go to Vegas, we always take in the "Bullring" for some good racing and watching the "Big Boys" doing touch and go's....an a visit to Fremont Street.

Thanks guys and gals for all you do for us.

Bill

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Thanks Bill!
The big boys doing touch and goes? You mean Nellis AFB?
I am in Sunrise above Hollywood, so i get free airshows every day

Yes sir, Nellis AFB. The "big boys" are B-52's doing touch and go's, quite a sight. Then, flying with them are the F-16's which look like mosquitoes around an Eagle. Love the place. Those B-52's are very agile and powerful to be so big, banking hard right just after liftoff and quickly leaving the area, just to return and do it again.

You're very lucky to be able to see that every day. I hadn't realized you had relocated to Vegas. Might give you a call when we visit, if you're not too busy.

Bill

Big-Un said:

Yes sir, Nellis AFB. The "big boys" are B-52's doing touch and go's, quite a sight. Then, flying with them are the F-16's which look like mosquitoes around an Eagle. Love the place. Those B-52's are very agile and powerful to be so big, banking hard right just after liftoff and quickly leaving the area, just to return and do it again.

You're very lucky to be able to see that every day. I hadn't realized you had relocated to Vegas. Might give you a call when we visit, if you're not too busy.

Bill

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I have only been here a few months, but I have not seen a B52, my mother was a flight test clerk for the B52 back at Boeing in the day.
I have seen some B2's here, and they make a heck of a racquet.
The f35s go over my house now and then, as well as the A 10 .
There is a plane buzzing around a lot that I think is the F22, but my aircraft identification rating is a little week. When they have airshows here, I can see most of the base from my house, so its fun.
Give me a call when you are in the area.

I've been trying to book a room for both SHOT Show and the FEGA convention but when I put in the promo code for just the FEGA dates it says it isn't valid. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? I used the code I found in Issue 107 of the magazine.

Thanks in advance.

Neisha. Just give the hotel a call. That is what I always do instead of online. You can give them the code and also tell them what organization you are with. I just find it fast and easier

Hey guys, my wife and I will be attending this time, and, although I'll not have a table, I'm volunteering to do anything and everything needed at the convention, so feel free to call on me whenever you need something done.

Bill

FANCYGUN said:

Neisha. Just give the hotel a call. That is what I always do instead of online. You can give them the code and also tell them what organization you are with. I just find it fast and easier

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I have twin 6 year olds and a 4 year old that I homeschool. Trying to make a phone call in my house is a monumental effort. I dread voice prompt services especially when I'm trying to make a payment. It sounds like I have tourrets syndrome after I've gone through a half dozen prompts and then one of the kids scream and it says sorry we couldn't help you call back later.

I've been putting off buying some punch dots because I have to make a stinkin phone call.

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