Against all odds, it appears that Las Vegas‘ recovery is taking place faster than anticipated (save by a very few). A CNN feature is vaguely euphoric but it does cite several new must-see attractions. For the all-important convention business, which sustains the town Monday-Thursday, there is the lure of the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, which may banish memories of the Riviera, whose site it occupies. Then there’s a triple-whammy of new casinos: Circa, Virgin Las Vegas (or Mohegan Sun Las Vegas, according to the TITO vouchers) and the July-debuting Resorts World Las Vegas, the most expensive megaresort yet built in Sin City. And, for a wholesome change of pace, the Pinball Hall of Fame reopens at a new location at the southern terminus of the Las Vegas Strip, complete with a park for food trucks. We sense a smash hit in the making.
More quantifiably, Plaza Hotel CEO Jonathan Jossel reports that business was “hopping” during March Madness and that casino play has regained pre-pandemic levels, which would be no small achievement. Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) is so optimistic that he’s planning a return to full capacity in public spaces as of June 1 (Nye County, for one, is jumping the gun, going 100% on May 1). Self-service buffets—if they return—can come back at 50% on May Day, as can nightclubs and strip joints. (No word yet on brothels.) As for casinos going back to 100%, that’s the Nevada Gaming Control Board‘s call to make, although we imagine the pressure will be overwhelming.
The condo industry certainly has to like what it’s seeing right now: A surge in ‘vaxications’ that is spurring destination travel. In Las Vegas this has meant a 36% increase in short-term rentals from 2019, an amazing number. The only other casino destination—one which could use some good intelligence on this front—is New Orleans, where short-term rentals have leapt 22%. Maybe all those Vegas travelers are reacting to the news that, according to LawnStarter, Sin City is the 10th-best place to get stoned. LawnStarter crunched 12 indicators, including Google searches for “weed” and “head shop.” Las Vegas may rank only 50th in number of dispensaries per capita but it is fifth in the number of cannabis-friendly lodging establishments and fourth in “number of marijuana events” and social-consumption lounges. What’s the most pot-besotted city in America? Denver. The Mile-High City is really living up to its name. (If you wish to celebrate Las Vegas’ newest claim to fame, be advised that International Peter Tosh Day is next Tuesday.)
Congratulations are in order to Seminole Hard Rock. It has been named a best-managed company by the eponymous organization, which lauded Hard Rock for “excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic, resilient culture, as well as strong financials, all while facing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Best Managed Companies has never singled out a casino firm previously. Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen deflected credit onto his employees, saying, “Our team members all contribute to the success of our organization and I want to thank them for their dedication and commitment to service excellence and financial results, which make this recognition possible.”
Jim Allen is a class act.
Car rental prices are through the roof at MSY, nothing near term cheaper than $100 a day last I checked. I’ll just drive the 600 miles and save a bundle.
“business hopping”? wonder if it’s from the bed bugs hopping on all those new visitors.
Pinball is the game of my generation, arcades are where we went to at night, the pictures of the new Pinball Hall Of Fame are fabulous, I wish them the very best, I promise to go by and check it out. My now grown up kids are in the new video game generation, where your games are inside your own home, and they are graphic and gruesome. Of course we would have been playing Call Of Duty and Grand Theft Auto had they existed decades ago, but there is something of value in going out, getting off the couch, doing something. Las Vegas needs places like The Pinball Hall Of Fame, somewhere a vacationing family can go and spend some enjoyable time away from gambling. I am concerned about my kids generation becoming sports betting addicts, it’s just too dang easy to have a phone app that supplies you with ways to lose your money with a few simple clicks. The politicians see this in revenue terms, not human ones. My older son tells me many of his law colleague friends now place multiple bets a day, every day. Sports betting is a boon for the casinos, time will tell if it eventually evolves into a societal detriment. As a lifelong gambler/poker player I have seen a lot of friends melt down, I have seen amazing winning and losing streaks, the sports betting lure is a strong one, picking winners can seen so easy at times it befuddles you when you just can’t do it anymore for long extended periods…
In my humble opinion, the convention center and huge parking lot right on the Strip is the worst eyesore except the Fountainbleyuck.