Skip to content
Last reviewed: October 7, 2026. Home Depot does not publish SMM dates; hotel rates change daily, so always check live prices.
Quick Answer: The Home Depot Store Managers Meeting (SMM) is a private, invitation-only event, and Home Depot does not publish its dates or venue. Recent editions took place in Las Vegas in March (March 13–14, 2024, according to vendor Oatey; March 2025, according to Home Depot), and past editions used the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Confirm your 2027 dates and venue with your Home Depot contact before booking. If it is at Mandalay Bay again, the closest hotels are Mandalay Bay itself, Delano (indoor connection), then Luxor and Excalibur (free tram). Note that Shoptalk Spring 2027 is at Mandalay Bay on March 22–24, 2027.
Book your hotel
Vendor Booking Window
Mandalay Bay and Delano are closest to the convention center and go first
About Home Depot SMM at Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Home Depot’s Store Managers Meeting (SMM) is the annual internal gathering where store leaders from Home Depot locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico converge on one venue to see next season’s product lineup. The event is invitation only. Store managers attend for training, keynote sessions, and a walk-through of a full-scale replica store built inside the convention hall. Vendors (Oatey, Martha Stewart Living, Husky, Hampton Bay, and hundreds of other merchandise partners) stage product activations, LED walls, and dedicated booth environments to preview what will hit shelves in the coming quarters.
Past editions have been held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center (in 2011, for example), and recent editions took place in Las Vegas in March 2024 and March 2025. The 2011 meeting drew more than 3,000 employees and vendors, according to Martha Stewart’s blog. Because attendance is closed, official housing blocks are handled internally and are not advertised. Vendors booking their own crews and independent contractors handling activation work generally book directly through Hotels.com, Expedia, or Vrbo for team stays.
Best Hotels for Home Depot SMM 2027
1. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Best for Direct Convention Access
The convention center is physically attached to Mandalay Bay Resort. No transportation, no rideshare, no weather to plan around. For vendor teams running LED activations or product demos, this matters: you can leave a client meeting on the show floor and be in your room in under 10 minutes. Expect high rates during March, especially on peak Home Depot days; check live rates. Suites available for teams needing evening client hospitality space.
Check Mandalay Bay rates on Hotels.com →
2. Delano Las Vegas, Best for All-Suite Vendor Teams
Delano is connected to Mandalay Bay via an indoor skybridge, which means you reach the convention center on foot in the same time as staying at Mandalay Bay itself. All-suite property with larger rooms suited to teams sharing space or needing in-room prep areas. Check live rates. Quieter than Mandalay Bay’s main tower, which suits vendors doing early-morning setup or late-night activation prep.
Check Delano rates on Expedia →
3. Luxor Hotel & Casino, Best Mid-Range Option with Tram Access
Luxor connects to Mandalay Bay via the free Mandalay Bay Tram (also links Excalibur). The tram gets you to the convention center in 5 to 8 minutes without stepping outside. Usually much cheaper than Mandalay Bay. Solid choice for individual vendor staff or contractors where budget matters more than 90-second convention proximity.
Check Luxor rates on Trip.com →
4. Excalibur Hotel & Casino, Best Budget Pick
End of the same Mandalay Bay Tram line as Luxor. Adds one additional stop (about 3 more minutes) to reach the convention center. Usually one of the cheapest options for a week-long vendor stay. Basic rooms, but the tram convenience puts it ahead of Strip-north hotels that require a rideshare each way.
Check Excalibur rates on Booking →
5. Vrbo Rentals Near Mandalay Bay, Best for Full Activation Crews
Activation crews of 4 to 8 people (LED techs, riggers, brand ambassadors) can often lower the per-person cost by taking a 3 or 4-bedroom rental in the Silverado Ranch or Enterprise areas, both 8 to 12 minutes by rideshare from Mandalay Bay. Kitchens matter for teams doing extended shifts. Confirm the property allows work crews before booking (some HOA rules restrict short-term commercial use).
Getting to Mandalay Bay Convention Center
From Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): Mandalay Bay is the closest major Strip property to the airport, roughly 3 miles and 8 to 12 minutes by rideshare or taxi. Rideshare fares vary with time of day. Airport shuttles serve the property but add 30 to 45 minutes.
Mandalay Bay Tram: Free, indoor, and unaffected by weather. Runs between Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. Visit Las Vegas lists service from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays (11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on weekends), so early-morning setup crews should plan to walk: Mandalay Bay and Luxor are connected indoors through Mandalay Place. Puts Luxor and Excalibur guests inside the convention center faster than most on-Strip walks.
Walking from Delano: Indoor skybridge and shared retail promenade connect Delano to Mandalay Bay’s convention wing. Total walk from Delano tower to the convention lobby is under 8 minutes.
From further Strip hotels (MGM Grand, NYNY, Park MGM): Rideshare is the fastest option (5 to 10 minutes depending on Strip traffic). The Las Vegas Monorail does not connect to Mandalay Bay, so plan for rideshare or the free tram via Excalibur.
Vendor Setup Logistics at Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Mandalay Bay Convention Center offers about 2 million square feet across the Bayside, South Seas, and Shoreline exhibit halls. For Home Depot SMM, activations typically occupy the largest contiguous halls. Freight and drayage are handled by the official show contractor (Freeman or GES depending on the year). Direct-to-booth delivery via the loading dock at 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, marked service entrance for the convention center.
Load-in timing: Vendors staging LED walls, custom fixtures, or full product displays generally need on-site access 48 to 72 hours before doors open. That means hotel check-ins two to three days before doors open, so book rooms for the full setup window.
Storage and staging: On-site storage inside exhibit halls is limited during setup. Vendors moving large quantities of product often use nearby off-site warehouses in the Silverado Ranch industrial area (10 minutes from the venue) for staging.
Freight elevator access: Multiple oversized freight elevators serve the Bayside and South Seas halls. Coordinate elevator time slots through your show contractor to avoid load-in delays the day before doors open.
When to Book Your Home Depot SMM Hotel
March is busy at Mandalay Bay. Shoptalk Spring 2027 runs March 22 to 24 at the same convention center, and spring break adds leisure demand across the Strip. If your SMM dates land near Shoptalk, Mandalay Bay and Delano will be the first to fill, and Luxor or Excalibur become the fallback.
Recommended: book as soon as Home Depot confirms your dates, and choose a refundable rate so you can adjust if the schedule or your crew size changes.
Related Convention Logistics Guides
- Las Vegas Exhibitor Logistics: Freight, Drayage and Setup Days — the full breakdown of drayage costs, marshaling yards, and union labour rules that apply to Home Depot SMM activations.
- Las Vegas Exhibitor Cost Calculator — estimate the true cost of a Mandalay Bay booth including drayage, hotels, meals, and shipping.
- Las Vegas Convention Hotel Compression Calendar 2026-2027 — see how Home Depot SMM fits alongside Shoptalk Spring and other March compression weeks at Mandalay Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Home Depot SMM 2027?
Home Depot does not publish the dates or venue of its Store Managers Meeting. Recent editions were held in Las Vegas in March (March 13–14, 2024, and March 2025), and past editions used the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Confirm your 2027 dates and venue with your Home Depot contact before booking.
Is Home Depot SMM open to the public?
No. Home Depot SMM is invitation only, limited to Home Depot store managers, corporate teams, and approved merchandise vendors. There is no public registration.
Does Home Depot offer a hotel block for SMM?
Home Depot manages internal housing for store managers and corporate staff. Vendors and independent activation crews book their own rooms, typically through Hotels.com, Expedia, or Vrbo.
What is the closest hotel to Mandalay Bay Convention Center?
Mandalay Bay Resort itself is physically attached to the convention center. Delano Las Vegas connects via an indoor skybridge. Both put you inside the convention hall in under 10 minutes on foot.
How early should vendor activation crews book rooms?
Vendor crews staging large activations typically need on-site access 48 to 72 hours before the show opens. That means booking rooms two to three days before doors open. Book as soon as your dates are confirmed, ideally on a refundable rate.
Book Your Home Depot SMM 2027 Hotel
Book your hotel
Lock Your Mandalay Bay Rate Before February
Check current rates on more than one site and read each rate’s cancellation terms before you book.