Category Archives: Tourism

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 25, 2009 by David McKee

"With his ruddy nose, droopy eyes and imposing belly, the mayor might not be much of a looker, but the middle-aged woman behind the counter blushes, and tattooed men jump up from their brown leather armchairs and grin like schoolboys. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, International, Oscar Goodman, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

'Phantom' fans hit Vegas

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

Heaven knows, there are conventions for soap operas, sitcoms and every iteration of science fiction (I’ve been to more than a few of the latter). But a fan convention for a Broadway show? That’s unheard of. Yesterday, fans of Phantom … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on 'Phantom' fans hit Vegas

Blast from the Past

Posted on September 11, 2009 by David McKee

Rock A Hoola, the freakish subject of this 1998 promotional film, is to be the topic of a forthcoming Question of the Day, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, enjoy this slide down Memory Lane: We drove past … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Tourism | Comments Off on Blast from the Past

From the mailbag #4: California, tech troubles & 'resort fees'

Posted on September 10, 2009 by David McKee

Reader Kerr Mudgeon is less than amused by a recent dig at the cuisine offered by Commerce Casino to California firefighters. He writes: "The firefighters can go to numerous other nearby eateries if they don't like the FREE meals offered … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on From the mailbag #4: California, tech troubles & 'resort fees'

A one-ton horse

Posted on September 9, 2009 by David McKee

If giant equestrian statuary isn't enough to make you pass up Las Vegas for a vacation in Chandler, Ariz., I don't know what will do the trick. Not impressed. One reader wasn't bowled over by Commerce Casino's largesse to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on A one-ton horse

Green $hoots?

Posted on September 8, 2009 by David McKee

There's nothing like the approach of 2010's Global Gaming Expo to make Las Vegas hoteliers rethink their rates. For instance, if you want to stay at that palace of pleasure and plushness, the Plaza downtown, it'll run you $55 a … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, G2E, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Green $hoots?

Reality check

Posted on August 18, 2009 by David McKee

It's sackcloth-and-ashes time at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which ran another "The end is nigh" story about falling gambling revenues. (The Aliante Station Effect appears to have petered out in North Las Vegas.) Yes, we're all the way down, down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Reality check

Case Bets: Hard Rock, Puck, Station, Greek Isles

Posted on July 29, 2009 by David McKee

Morgans Hotel Group has never seemed able to make up its mind about what to do with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (one of the stranger acquisitions of recent years). Then-CEO Ed Scheetz came in talking big about classing … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Hard Rock, Puck, Station, Greek Isles

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 23, 2009 by David McKee

Sig Rogich’s choo-choo to nowhere. Some parts of Sig sold separately. “Even with the Victorville-Palmdale link, which is not a dead certainty, a Las Vegas rider who wanted to see the Magic Kingdom would have to travel from Sin City … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Politics, Reno, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The dream is dying

Posted on July 20, 2009 by David McKee

Just last week, UNLV‘s historical sage, Dr. Eugene Moehring, was taking a dim view of the fate of Las Vegas’ working class. Now comes the Wall Street Journal to back him up with some sobering reportage. Even at union salaries, Culinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, LVCVA, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on The dream is dying

It's Gaughan

Posted on July 16, 2009 by David McKee

Congratulations to South Point owner Michael Gaughan, the 2009 inductee to the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame. An industry "lifer" who worked his way up from the Royal Inn to the CEO's chair at Coast Casinos, Gaughan has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, G2E, James Packer, Michael Gaughan, Tourism | Comments Off on It's Gaughan

Penn finally makes a move

Posted on July 14, 2009 by David McKee

Well, let's not get all excited yet. Penn National has bought a puny stake in Morris Goldstein & Assoc., a slot distributor. It's a bit of kabuki theatre whereby Penn and executives CEO Peter Carlino, President Tim Wilmott, CFO Bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Internet gambling, Macau, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Tourism | Comments Off on Penn finally makes a move

"The mean reds"

Posted on July 13, 2009 by David McKee

Back at the home office, things still aren't up to speed. I'm caught between a cold and a stomach bug, so I feel pretty thoroughly depleted. On top of that, I'm trying to grappled with a sudden plunge into depression. … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Current, Tourism | Comments Off on "The mean reds"

Off to Michigan

Posted on July 8, 2009 by David McKee

If you notice an attenuation in the S&G blogorrhea, it's because I'm taking a view days to visit terra incognita: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I'll be spending an extended weekend in the bucolic environs of the greater Marquette area. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Entertainment, Tourism, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Off to Michigan

House of wax

Posted on July 3, 2009 by David McKee

I call your bluff, comrade. As you may have heard, casinos in Russia can stay open by converting to poker rooms. A tip of the fedora goes to reader mike_ch for pointing out this story, which delineates some of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, International, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on House of wax

Stormy weather

Posted on July 1, 2009 by David McKee

It may be monsoon season in Las Vegas but there’s a typhoon blowing through Macao‘s casino economy. A series of bulletins from J.P. Morgan outline a worrisome trajectory for China‘s gambling enclave. City of Dreams: a flop June 23: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Economy, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Stormy weather

Case Bets: A.C. Trop, 21, Ensign, Boulder City, Jacko, etc.

Posted on June 29, 2009 by David McKee

After conservator Justice Gary Stein turned his trusteeship of the Tropicana Atlantic City into a $7.4 million gravy train, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission is belatedly bolting the barn door. It's going to petition the Lege to limit the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Case Bets: A.C. Trop, 21, Ensign, Boulder City, Jacko, etc.