Culinary, Caesars clash; Resort fees repel visitors

It’s collective-bargaining time in Las Vegas and the Culinary Union is dickering with Caesars Entertainment through the media. “Having rooms with a ‘Do Not Disturb’ on for days makes me shaky. I am constantly going into a room that staff hasn’t been in for four-plus days and never know what I’m going to find when I open a door: It could be completely trashed room or a dangerous situation,” says maid Amalia Uricel of the situation at Bally’s. More alarmingly, Flamingo maid Diana Thomas says, I’ve been in a room with empty gun shells laying around and I feel very uncomfortable being alone in the room in situations like that.” (Don’t come to Las Vegas without at least one gun.) The Culinary is seeking contractual language that reads, “…For security purposes…If a guest refuses entry to housekeeping employees for more than 24 hours. the Employer’s security shall open the guest’s room for entry and service by housekeeping employees and shall remain in or next to the room as long as the Security Department deems it necessary to protect the safety of housekeeping employees…” 

The fact that such a policy even has to be negotiated shows how little CEO Mark Frissora has learned from the Mandalay Bay Massacre. The company has also been unresponsive to plaints like Bally’s cocktail waitress Deborah Jeffries‘ account that “I was carrying a heavy tray full of drinks on the casino floor, and a high roller at the dice game grabbed me by the neck with both of his hands and forced me to kiss him for good luck.” It sounds like the #MeToo movement bypassed Caesars’ executive suite when it was blowing through Vegas.

The Culinary has been a busy bee of late. Late last month, workers at the Palms voted to unionize. The plebiscite was a crushing blow for the Fertitta Brothers, with 84% of voters voting “yes.” The Palms is now in line to join Boulder Station, Palace Station and Green Valley Ranch as a unionized Station Casino. The fact that these votes come at a time when the Las Vegas economy is strong tells you something about how little confidence the Fertittae inspire in their workforce. Noting that the Ferittas have already signed a pact at their tribal casino in California, Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline released a statement saying, “Once again, Station Casinos workers have spoken loud and clear, at Palms this time. The company’s decision-makers should listen to what their workers are telling them … We call on Station Casinos to immediately to negotiate and settle a fair contract for the workers at Palms, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, and Boulder Station.” The Culinary accused the Fertittas of “interference, intimidation, bullying, and litigation,” while Palms maid Sonia Garcia exclaimed, “It’s time for Station Casinos to stop treating us like second-class workers!”

In other Culinary news, it endorsed former organizer Steven Horsford (D) for Nevada Congressional District Four, being vacated by Ruben Kihuen (D). For those who care about such things.

* Could resort fees and parking charges be hurting Las Vegas? Las Vegas Advisor Publisher Anthony Curtis thinks the answer is yes. “Everyone hates resort fees, but the parking is even worse,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “Everyone wants some kind of comp, the most basic comp is free parking. That was the one comp that everyone got. I’m telling you, the customers hate it. They get madder and madder.” Confronted with a 10-month slide in Vegas visitation, Las Vegas Convention & Business Authority spokesman Jeremy Handel went on the defensive — and into esoterics: The decline “is primarily attributed to the reduction in room inventory due to renovations and upgrades at various properties, and a near-term impact from the tragic events of 1 October.” The Mandalay Bay Massacre may have had a measurable effect but fewer hotel rooms? Give me a break.

The latest entrants in the Resort Fee Hall of Shame are The Rio, which bumped its levy up $2 on May 1, and Boyd Gaming which introduced $14.99/night imposts at its three Downtown casinos on April Fool’s Day (the fool presumably being the unfortunate customer). The worst miscreants are Venetian and Palazzo ($45/night) although, at $39/night, Wynn Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Mandarin Oriental, Aria, Bellagio and Vdara are close behind. Between 2016-17 some 722,000 fewer people visited Las Vegas. With so much (greatly improving) regional competition, Vegas casinos can count on that visitor drop to keep widening the more they gouge the customers they currently take for granted. Why go to Vegas when you can get a comparable experience — at lower prices — close to home?

* As readers of this space know, Rivers Casino Schenectady has been a huge disappointment both for owner Neil Bluhm and the State of New York. In an attempt to thicken anemic revenues, Rivers Casino is trying an infusion of off-track betting, in tandem with Capital Off-Track Betting, Rivers promises “This partnership will not only attract new guests to Rivers, it will also bring in additional tax revenue to Schenectady and the surrounding area.” Note the naked plea to legislators — in the second paragraph, no less! Rivers becomes the first casino in New York State to offer an OTB. It’s a modest amenity, so don’t look for any huge infusion of revenue: “A total of 3 betting terminals will be available, with two terminals at the bar and a kiosk window with a live teller available to take bets and provide customer service.” Four races will air at any given time. As skeptical as we are about the whole thing, it’s nice to see Rivers innovating to make up for a disappointing launch.