My Zorkfest Weekend At M Resort Off The Strip — Big Suites, Better Comps, And Boozy Five Guys Shakes On The Strip

I spent this past weekend in Las Vegas at Zorkfest, the annual frequent flyer and casino loyalty conference. The best part was spending time with all of the great people there – including many readers, soem of whom I’ve met before and some I got to meet for the first time.

I did a session on Saturday afternoon with:

• David Feldman: (moderator) consultant and host of the Loyalty Summit Americas industry conference.
  
• Ed Pizzarello: host of the Miles To Go podcast
  
• Clint Henderson: Managing Editor at The Points Guy

The most important miles & points conversation of the year! Dave Feldman moderates @pizzainmotion @garyleff & @ClintPHenderson at #Zorkfest2025. #milespoints #travel #loyalty pic.twitter.com/dty7xnVKgx

— ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟᴢᴏʀᴋ (@TravelZork) December 6, 2025

There were a few striking things about the experience around the conference, aside from the excellent presentations on both miles and points on the one hand, and working casino comps on the other.

Staying Off-Strip Was Kind Of Great

I generally stay on the Strip when I’m in Las Vegas. Sometimes I’ll stay at the far end of the Strip, to be sure. My single best stay was probably at Bellagio when I tipped $100 at check-in for a suite with 5 bathrooms, but I have zero complaints with Resorts World. I like that this isn’t a property non-guests travel to – it’s not nearly as packed as Bellagio, and I’m a big fan of their Famous Foods food court (great Southeast Asian food, unsurprising since Resorts World is controlled by a Malaysian company).

However Zorkfest was held at M Resort in Henderson. It’s a good drive to the Strip – expect $35 to $40 with Uber. You aren’t going to leave the property much.

This used to be one of the nicer ‘locals’ hotels. Their Las Vegas Raiders deal is a game-changer for them, blocking 300 rooms on game nights and bringing in fans. They opened a new tower last week, and that’s where I had my room asisgnment.

• The entire hotel is sparkling clean
  
• The staff were friendly
  
• And there’s a lot more value if you don’t need to be on the strip and aren’t paying for Strip location.

Zorkfest can do more and better food and breaks at the hotel, and get more and better comps. So it was the perfect choice.

Room rates generally start at low–mid $100s with a wide band around that, plus a $40 resort fee. And a base room is 550 square feet.

• Weeknights, off-peak I see $90 – $150
  
• Weekends and busy periods: cseem to run $170 – $250+

Here was my suite in the new tower:

Wait, The Vegas Five Guys On The Strip Is A Tourist Destination?

I didn’t have much time to spend off-site or doing ‘Vegas’ during the conference. It was intentionally held off strip, which both kept people together for the event and delivered a lot more value in accommodations, food and beverage, and casino comps than you’d get from a strip property. But I did wind up Saturday night at… Five Guys, next to the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. And it was kind of awesome?

Ed Pizza hosted the group there, and they have a complement of booze. This wasn’t your average Five Guys burgers. They have boozy shakes, and they were delicious. They do breakfast all day (get an egg on your burger, any time..).

Plus you have to take a selfie at their rendition of the ‘Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign.

It was a reminder that in Vegas, you don’t always get the best value or the most fun by chasing the neon on the Strip – sometimes it’s a clean room in Henderson and a boozy burger joint that win the weekend.