… when monsoon season arrived in Las Vegas on July 3, borne upon thunderstorms of exceptional. Caesars Palace had a fireworks display scheduled that evening and, at the appointed time, seemed to have nothing but a damp squib. However …
… the pyrotechnics went off slightly later than planned (roughly at 10 p.m.), to the delight of Independence Day revelers. Station Casinos followed suit with its own multi-pronged fireworks display on July 4 proper.
S&G thanks Caesars Entertainment and Station for illuminating the skies at a time when other casinos elected to hold their fire. That kind of scrimping doesn’t just display poor civic-mindedness, it’s bad business sense: “Come to Vegas for July 4 and semi-celebrate.”
(Photos by Dave Proctor)
Disneyland and Disney World have fireworks every night of the year. The philosophy is simple–for those people visiitng, tonight is the most special night of the year, and we have to make sure that we make it special.
Yes, there are shows and events every night. The Bellagio fountains and Mirage volcano are among the best examples. But there is more that the hotels and the LVCVA could do. Nightly fireworks? That would make every day special.
Augie, hit on what I was going to write about. Chefs talk about visiting Asian countries and how it changes their perspective on things, after a week at Disney World and while staying at a Disney resort, my opinion has changed on things as well in regards to the Las Vegas strip.
Disney has cut corners over the years according to most sites and forums I’ve visited, but compared to Las Vegas they spare no expense. Fireworks every night at two of the parks, add in 2-3 parades per park per day, and assorted other ‘free options’ and you can easily see why repeat business is so high.
Add in the fact, that during my week I saw not one tip jar or employee holding out their hand (and even signs that said on the shuttle bus, tips only for extraordinary service) and not one disgruntled employee (not to mention the exemplary service I experienced from multiple employees). I used to think that Las Vegas had the ability to compete with cruise lines and Disney, after going back to Disney, I realize they aren’t even on the same planet.
An S&G reader and I were lunching at the Palms buffet yesterday (whose salad bar is not worthy of the name) and the service was some of the most desultory I’ve experienced in 12+ years here. We shouldn’t have tipped — but we did anyway. (Has the TPG/Green takeover poleaxed employee morale?)
David, that stinks, and I completely understand not wanting to tip. I wouldn’t have wanted to either, but I would have, although I know that makes little sense.
The thing that infuriates me the most is that there are good employees at every property, some really do get what it is to be a strip employee and understand the dynamics of their service, down economy, and everything else. The ones that don’t leave the sour taste. It’s really sucks that you have a workforce supplemented by tips as well, and the poor employees seem to be the ones most often sticking their hands out or whining that it’s not enough.
Vegas should sponsor a fireworks convention like PGI or WPA in the spring for one year (cover loses) and see if it helps the economy.