That tricky Steve Wynn

As you probably saw on Twitter or LVA yesterday, Wynncore has quietly introduced a $20 “resort fee,” joining the parade of dishonor that includes practically everyone not named Harrah’s Entertainment or — believe it or not — Tamares Group. (Keeping up with Palace Station are we, Steve?)

As LVA reported, “When we called to inquire what it covered, the policy was so new that no one knew; today, we can confirm that the amenities covered by the fee include Internet access (including WiFi), local/long distant/domestic calls, access to the fitness center, and boarding pass printing.” Chuck Monster obtained the official announcement.

Adding insult to injury, Wynn Resorts said it was “Responding directly to extensive customer feedback.” Yes, it’s “responding” all right … with a loud “Fuck you!” As an LVA reader pointed out, you won’t know about the new impost unless you click on “Terms and Conditions” to read all the fine print. “The total shown for your online reservation does not include this daily fee,” Wynncore smugly adds. If you’re willing to trade free shuttle service for Wi-Fi, Gold Coast gives you basically the same deal for a $3 levy.

Of course, this jiggery-pokery has nothing to do with improving your experience and everything to do with boosting ADRs. The cruel irony is that Steve Wynn was the CEO who least needed to do it because his rates are rebounding the most of any major operator on the Strip. It’s also a way of ducking the room-tax increase that Clark County voters, the 2009 Legislature and Gov. Jim Gibbons conspired to foist upon hotel guests, as “resort fees” are non-taxable. Or, to look at it another way, it’s a means for hotels to tax you and keep the dough to themselves.

You have to give Harrah’s some serious props for holding the line against resort fees. Not only is great marketing, Harrah’s is the Strip operator who needs the extra dollars more than anyone and yet it’s not stooped to this odious compulsory-amenity crap. We should send some naches in Gary Loveman‘s direction.

Daring to bare? USA Today has a rundown of “adult” pools in Vegas, which forms a handy supplement to our own Cool Pools guide. For those of us who don’t meet the three-tattoo/six-pack abs/one Ed Hardy shirt quota for some of these places, there’s always Garden of the Gods at Caesars Palace. The salty house variant on a Bloody Mary is very good (but expensive) and lunches are reasonably priced, with generous portions and speedy service. It’s the pool scene for those of us whose stomachs trend toward “washtub” rather than “washboard” — although roving packs of douchebags (who seems to travel in threes) were seen moving in by mid-afternoon.