Culinary, Caesars, MGM make peace; IGT does a Kerouac

More specifically, “These new historic agreements mean workers will have their family health benefits in place until next year, even if they are currently laid off, and that workers will be able to return to their jobs as business recovers with full seniority rights,” said union Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline. The three parties hammered out a deal that includes: “Continued no-monthly premium and full-family healthcare through the Culinary Health Fund for furloughed workers through March 1, 2021. Two-year recall rights for union workers who were laid off as a result of COVID-19, which means they can return to their same jobs with full seniority as business improves. Employees not recalled back to work will still be eligible for unemployment benefits. 10 paid days for quarantine initiated by the Southern Nevada Health District or the Employer. No attendance points/discipline to any worker who calls out sick or who is in quarantine because of COVID-19 symptoms. An opportunity for workers to work in a different job if more employees are needed. The possibility of an unpaid leave of absence for up to 6 weeks for workers, if they wish to request one. Training for managers on responding to workers when they come forward with positive test results for the virus.” Wow. And: Bravo!

MGM, meanwhile, continues to send mixed signals, reopening The Mirage at the same time that it sacks thousands of Las Vegas workers. To add to the message confusion, Park MGM‘s reopening has been tentatively advanced to Oct. 1. Without getting into specifics, Hornbuckle said it is contingent upon The Mirage “hits its numbers in September.” Park MGM would be the last of MGM’s casinos to resume business and would mark the beginning of a grand experiment as a no-smoking resort. Alas, no Lady Gaga: The Park Theater will remain closed, as shows continue to be a no-fly zone.

If the Global Gaming Expo mountain can’t come to Mohammed, International Game Technology is doing the next best thing: Taking its act on the road, interfacing with customers one on one. It’s loaded up a colorful trailer with slot machines and is bringing it to casinos nationwide, starting in the Midwest, then making a swing through New England and the East Coast. “We see it as an extension of all our trade show activities, and an opportunity to leverage even a higher level of exposure to our customers,” IGT exec Ken Bossingham told Global Gaming Business. So far, the expo-on-wheels has visited an impressive 150 casinos and racked up 10,000 miles. To hear Bossingham tell it, the new format is even better than G2E: “We’re meeting with floor attendants, operational slot people, the folks who didn’t go to the trade shows and didn’t get to touch and feel the product. We’re getting their comments, which are invaluable, and we’ve been able to use that feedback in many ways. It’s an opportunity to really reach a much larger group of people.” Like virtual meetings, it’s one more indicator that the traditional expo may be passé, dare we say it?

Tenet, the latest mind bender from writer/director Christopher Nolan, will go down as one of his minor works, rampant special effects be damned. It’s overlong, overloud, heavily freighted with technobabble and weakly cast. 150 minutes rarely passed so slowly. Rent Inception or Interstellar instead.

Jottings: In a testament to their soundness of construction, neither L’Auberge Lake Charles nor Golden Nugget Lake Charles suffered serious damage from Hurricane Laura. Less fortunate was long-suffering Isle Grand Palais, torn from its pier and driven by storm winds into the pilings of the I-10 bridge, where it remained stuck … Can’t see a traditional Las Vegas Strip show? Vegas PBS has the thing for you, an original documentary entitled The Showgirl: A Las Vegas Icon. According to the TV station, the special “reveals the glamorous history of the iconic, yet now rare, symbol of Las Vegas show business. The Las Vegas Showgirl is like a beautiful, giant, sparkling bird flaunting fabulous feathers, but she is much more than that. On stage, she’s an icon who represents Las Vegas to the world. Off stage, she’s an ordinary person living an extraordinary life.” Not so much these days, but hopefully soon … Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao (pictured) has crossed Reno/Tahoe International Airport‘s palm with a $1 million federal grant. The money will go toward unspecified infrastructural improvements.