Category Archives: Tourism

Wynndia?

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

What do you do if you’re Steve Wynn and you blew it in Singapore? Leapfrog to feeder market India and plant the idea of ‘integrated resorts’ there, what else? Below is the feature-length (45 minutes) version of the interview, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Internet gambling, Macau, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Wynndia?

Twilight of the gods?

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

It’s been obvious since jump street that MGM Resorts International bit off more than it could chew when it upsized its ambitions for the old Boardwalk site into a civic citadel, a Valhalla on the Strip. Behind CEO Jim Murren‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Dubai, Entertainment, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Murren: I heart CityCenter; Wynn: I heart China; Angle: I heart Latinos … plus Boyd’s new fragrance

Posted on October 29, 2010 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International and old ball and chain Dubai World have consummated a deal to extend $1.8 billion in CityCenter loans, a reworking that MGM CEO Jim Murren calls “a capital structure that’s much more … in keeping with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Singapore: Mission accomplished

Posted on October 25, 2010 by David McKee

A curious item popped up on the Manila Web site MB.com last week. Remember how Macao was “Asia’s Las Vegas”? The new meme is “More Than Just the New Vegas” (emphasis added). The lengthy puff piece rather strenuously posited Macao … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Genting, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Singapore: Mission accomplished

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 22, 2010 by David McKee

“Far from being a threat, Canada is a major contributor to economic prosperity in your state. More than 1.3 million visitors from Canada visited Nevada in 2009, creating tens of thousands of jobs, and Canada-Nevada trade totalled [sic] more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, International, Tourism | 9 Comments

Fellini comes to Vegas

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s the one-minute version of Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas‘ surrealistic new teaser ad. I’m not sure who the target market is — the vibe is decidedly upscale but perhaps too arty, over the heads of the Speidi wannabes who frequent … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cosmopolitan, Current, Marketing, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 5 Comments

Dr. Loveman on the case; Death Ray designer stays mum

Posted on October 15, 2010 by David McKee

Confronted with an anemic patient — i.e., the Las Vegas Strip — attending physician Gary Loveman, Ph.D, has been prescribing a series of stimuli. (Possibly the only “economic stimulus” that all Americans can support.) Since customers are spending more selectively, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | 7 Comments

Kerkorian’s mixed message; Winners & Losers

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Hudson Securities analyst Robert LaFleur — something of a maverick in the gaming sector — voiced doubts about MGM Resorts International‘s ability to sustain its debt covenants. With an overhang of $13 million in debt, few properties … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 4 Comments

The whales of August

Posted on October 8, 2010 by David McKee

Nevada had another big casino bounce — $944.5 million, its largest since February’s $947 million. However, some of the positive auguries are real and some are misleading. To get the big one out of the way, Strip slot revenues were … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Ameristar’s altruism … and so much more

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Gaming regulators in Missouri got a little unsolicited advice from Ameristar Casinos as to where to put Casino License #13. Ameristar Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs Troy Stremming commissioned a study on the matter. Its shocking conclusion: … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal, TV, West Virginia | 5 Comments

Case Bets: Maryland, New Jersey, Arizona & the Riv

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Although the Maryland public has warmed up to the idea of table games, casinos in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey needn’t lose sleep: Marylanders are at least two years — probably four — from voting table games into … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, Riviera, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Ask Anthony?

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Former Harrah’s Entertainment veep and Santo Gaming founder Anthony F. Santo is six days into his stewarship of Tamares Group‘s downtown Las Vegas casinos. But he’s not putting all his eggs in Tamares’ basket. His company was handed the reins … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Reno, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Days of Reckoning

Posted on October 5, 2010 by David McKee

Pinballing between projects, I’ll try to carom off the “blogging” bumper for a moment here … 1,075. That’s the magic number of feet below which Lake Mead cannot drop lest Hoover Dam should become inoperable — plunging Clark County into … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 5 Comments

Musical chairs at Trump (again)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

High-ranking executive jobs at Trump Entertainment Resorts aren’t for “lifers.” Having steered Trump through yet another bankruptcy, CEO Mark Juliano is exiting stage right, “leaving to pursue other opportunities” — the latest executive to be purged. Nobody stays long atop … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

F-bleau on ice

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

Back in June, when I toured the “new look” Tropicana Las Vegas, it was intimated that much of the convention-area furniture and the HDTV sets in the Paradise Tower had been obtained on the cheap from Fontainebleau, when the latter … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Penn National, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

After sinking a reported $150 million into Cirque du Soleil‘s Zaia, Las Vegas Sands may find itself in possession of a very expensive “loss leader.” According to The Australian, “attendances [sic] have been poor and tickets have been heavily discounted.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

Barrack 1, Bankers 0; Criminal stupidity

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

A skirmish over the fate of the Atlantic City Hilton ended in victory for Colony Capital. A Superior Court judge decided there were too many unresolved issues in the dissolution of Colony’s East Coast casino portfolio to warrant taking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Desperate times

Posted on September 17, 2010 by David McKee

They call for desperate measures, it’s said. MGM Resorts International has just rolled out a heckuva bargain play. If you can afford a two-night stay at Aria or Vdara between Sept. 24 and Dec. 23, and you can find a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Cretins, Current, Lake Tahoe, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 7 Comments

Snooki Nation

Posted on September 17, 2010 by David McKee

Like it or not, this is the new Las Vegas, folks. If you don’t want to be trampled by the douchebagerie, you probably shouldn’t come here. Last night, Encore‘s casino floor and hallway looked like a Jersey Shores casting call. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Election, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Running silent

Posted on September 15, 2010 by David McKee

At the moment, I’m following up on some leads that might (I stress “might“) coalesce into a bigger story. I’ve also been trying to clear my desk of a flurry of Questions of the Day and sundry other essays. Topics … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, history, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments