Today, MGM Resorts International is expected to begin construction on an expansion project planned for their Las Vegas Strip convention space. The company is hoping to be able to gain a larger share of the trade show business that Las Vegas is known for.

The MGM Grand Convention Center will be enlarged by 250,000 square feet which will provide 850,000 square feet of convention space. The $130 million expansion will make the MGM space the second largest convention center owned by the Las Vegas-based global hospitality and entertainment company. The largest space is found at Mandalay Bay.

The project should be completed by next year and will see MGM Resorts continue their aggressive expansion of their convention space in Las Vegas. With the changes, MGM is hoping to provide companies as well as individuals with the confidence to spend more on trade show attendance.

Convention delegate numbers are on the rise with Las Vegas seeing an increase of 41% since 2010. Recreational tourism numbers are also up by 15% for the same time frame. With the changes to the MGM Grand, this will be the third convention space expansion by the company along the Strip in three years. Back in late 2014, the company focused efforts on the Mandalay Bay convention center, adding 350,000 square feet of space and spending $70 million. Just last year, the company spent $150 million to expand the convention center of the Aria, providing 200,000 additional square feet of space.