Category Archives: Marketing

Wynncore sells itself short

Posted on March 4, 2011 by David McKee

While I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a substitute for Mardi Gras, the “Jazz Brunch” at Country Club Grill is as tasty as they would have you believe … and quite a lot better than it comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Louisiana, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

If you can’t come to the Cosmo …

Posted on March 1, 2011 by David McKee

… then The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will come to you, thanks to this handy-dandy traveling attraction. Perhaps other Vegas resorts have tried this but this is the first such “roadshow” I’ve seen. On a not-so-happy note, I’ve been hearing … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Marketing, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on If you can’t come to the Cosmo …

Power shift at Ameristar

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

No longer will the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation be calling the shots at Ameristar Casinos. The financial needs of the nonprofit have led Ameristar Chairman Ray Neilsen to liquidate 83% of the foundation’s stake in ASCA for an above-market $17.50. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Indiana, Kansas, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

“They basically gave the middle finger to their database … Once an offer has been extended and redeemed, I don’t think you can welsh on it.” — Fine Point Group founder Randall Fine, on Sheldon Adelson‘s retroactive revocation of comps … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 16, 2011 by David McKee

“Vegas is a different market. You can get a room in the finest hotels on the Strip for Holiday Inn Express prices. That’s why Sheldon Adelson is stomping his feet. The restaurants are not making their lease payments either. The convention … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Las Vegas Sands: Who’s minding the store?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by David McKee

Investors would do well to ask that, not least because of CEO Sheldon Adelson‘s attitude of, ‘The buck stops here … except when it doesn’t.’ To hear Adelson tell it, everything that goes awry at Las Vegas Sands and Sands … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Genting, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Mob, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Las Vegas Sands: Who’s minding the store?

Gary Loveman … visionary?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by David McKee

At the risk of pumping additional hydrogen into his already zeppelin-sized ego, allow me to suggest that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, PhD. is actually onto something. But first would somebody clue him in that there has been casino gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Jack Binion, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Plaudits for Navegante; The great Hard Rock caper that wasn’t

Posted on February 15, 2011 by David McKee

A frequent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino player, for one, is happy to know that Navegante Group is waiting in the wings to take the reins should Morgans Hotel Group continue to falter. (The owners of the HRH have until … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Golden Gaming, International, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 2 Comments

Caesars too good for Cincy

Posted on February 11, 2011 by David McKee

Congratulations, Cincinnati, you’re getting a Horshoe-branded casino. Yup, the relatively low-key casino planned for the Queen City’s historic district is getting the most down-market of the company’s three brands. This despite the fact that there’s already a Horseshoe casino just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos | 15 Comments

Burnt out at Marina Bay Sands; Winners in Atlantic City

Posted on January 28, 2011 by David McKee

Another day, another Las Vegas Sands executive falls by the wayside. In the case of Marina Bay Sands, it sounds like CEO Thomas Arasi has been burned out in what must have been a pretty intense 18 months at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, IGT, International, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 3 Comments

Rooms at the top

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David McKee

It’s been a bumpy and expensive education in the Las Vegas casino business for Goldman Sachs. However, the banking house is giving its flagship property, the Stratosphere, a new look (and a new general manger to go with it). If … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Harrah’s to Philly: “We’re back!”; MGM tries something new

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David McKee

Or so Ed Snider‘s Philadelphia Entertainment & Development Partnership claims in a new petition to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control, asking for its license back. Snider’s group says that it now has $275 million in seed money sown up and would … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Desperate housewife

Posted on January 10, 2011 by David McKee

As you’ve probably heard, Beso has become the first known casualty of CityCenter. Its Chapter 11 filing was smuggled out in the waning hours of last week’s news cycle. The Panglossian rhetoric of the initial dispatch tried to paint the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Dubai, Election, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Palms: Maloof out, Loveman in?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David McKee

Now that Las Vegas has fallen about as far as it can, private equity firms are picking over the city like vultures sampling carrion. Don’t get me wrong: It’s a much smarter strategy than those PE bozos who bought in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

From the mailbag

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

It’s but 9:07 a.m. and two big pieces of news have fallen over the cyber-transom. An S&G reader informs me that leaderless Greektown Casino will have new — and good — management soon, in the form of a GM who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Let it (not) snow!; BP screws casinos

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

With Atlantic City currently in white-out mode, casino executives must be studying next weekend’s forecast and hoping that it holds true. A few days of above-freezing temperatures ought to give the Boardwalk a chance to melt and shovel its way … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

The Gossy 500

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re not watching heavy amounts of ESPN you may have missed this … … because nothing says “NASCAR” quite like a pallid British crooner in a slouch hat and tuxedo. Christmas in Vegas: Regarding that travel advice I gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Marketing, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Cosmo: Let the debate commence!

Posted on December 16, 2010 by David McKee

Leading lights of the blog world were on hand for last night’s Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas coming-out party and had pretty divergent reactions. Steve Friess is keeping his opinion of the property to himself but he’s among those who are … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, G2E, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Cosmo: Let the debate commence!

D-Day for Philadelphia

Posted on December 13, 2010 by David McKee

Investors in the stymied Foxwoods Philadelphia riverfront casino project have a date with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday. That’s where they’ll make their last-ditch pitch to retain custody of the project. State legislators and other officials have voiced … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment

Atlantic City’s future: “Bleak”

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

Such is the prognosis from J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff after the November revenues rolled in from the Boardwalk. Basically, the double-edged sword that was table games in Pennsylvania and a casino in Philadelphia has swung, and lopped 12.5% off … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment