SLS Resort to Be Rebranded to Sahara Hotel & Casino

From Vital Vegas

https://vitalvegas.com/sls-resort-to-be-rebranded-to-sahara-hotel-casino/

They can call it whatever they want. Ain't gonna help.

Ita all about location, location, location. They are in "no man's land" too far north on the strip, away from the famous hotel/casinos.

What to do? You need something to draw customers - gambling or food or entertainment.

Gambling - Go against the trends on the strip - offer 3:2 BJ. Offer decent paytables on video poker, with progressives on the royal.

Food - offer decent reasonably priced options. Lets face it your target audience is the "mid-roller", not the "high roller".

Entertainment - This ain't my area of expertise...

And FREE PARKING.

Thanks for posting Blonde4ever you are always quick with great info, again thanks. You are right on Don The Dentist, if a few casinos did this they would kick butt, why can't they see this, word of mouth would spread like a Texas Wildfire, oh well. Viva Las Vegas

Sometimes I wonder about the education level of some of the  upper level management.Changing the name is not going to help.Issn't this a little like pouring perfume on a pig??

Name change? That ain't gonna help. Does the Strat expect big gains from their name change?

They will have to offer their customers what is NOT main stream.

Slightly... Looser... Slots? 

Free shuttle service.

Average people prices.

Loss leader video poker.Remember when Bob Stupak offered 10-7 VP? I was all over that!

I'll go against the crowd in suggesting that the name change, while hardly gigantic, is...well, anything is better than "SLS."  I mean, a name is important. 

"Going to Vegas?  Ooh, where are you staying?"  "SLS."  "Oh." 

How many here have mourned the loss of "old Vegas" themes?   The "Sahara" name has some value there.  Lots of folks loved the Sahara in its day.   

Especially if they advertise it as being "on the Strip" (which is why I say buyer beware), and especially if they have made the good improvements we've been reading about...it might have a chance.

Best suggestions of course are Don the Dentist's and Dave's: 

 - Free shuttle would be mega huge;

 - 3:2 blackjack, huge;

 - Looser slots/VP, at least for a while (they always start good and go down quickly, but better than doing nothing);

 - Free parking of course;

 - Plenty of low-mid range $-$$ eateries. 

 - Combine the Sahara theme with modern decor.

 - Generous comps, e.g. free nights, free play, authorize pit to give out food comps like they used to.

 - Keep the casino clean--like Steve Wynn used to insist on in his places before they got taken over...but I digress.  No dirty ash trays and drink glasses left around.  Sparkling clean restrooms.

Make the mid-roller feel appreciated and want to return.

Remember when Harrah's was known for having the friendliest staff in all of Las Vegas?  Do that.

Then they might have a fighting chance.  Until someone who doesn't care takes over.

A rising tide floats all boats.  I hope it succeeds.

The Sahara did fine back when there were lots of other casinos in the neighborhood:  Stardust, New Frontier, Westward Ho, Riviera and Circus.     Thats gone.    The good news is a big neighbior is being built and will come in soon.   Foot traffic helps a great deal for all these places.

I think SLS has mostly done things right - they have more player friendly gambling than the center strip and free parking.   But the only customers they get are the people who stay there...and maybe a few stragglers from Circus Circus.    

Until the foot traffic comes back they have to find the answer to one simple question:   What do we need to do to make our hotel a destination worth traveling to?    The answer might be found by studying the Stratosphere.