Editor’s note: Here is the second in a series of contributions from University of South Carolina faculty member Prof. Augie Grant. In today’s installment, Dr. Grant reflects on the gap between rhetoric and performance in the “greening” of Las Vegas — and notes one property that gets it right.
One thing that bothers me a little during my visits is the difficulty to practice the same “green” habits I have at home: especially recycling and conserving water. Almost every hotel room has a card somewhere in the room that indicates that the hotel wants to save water by reducing the number of towels washed (“On the floor means ‘replace’; on the rack means I’ll use it again”). Okay, it’s a really small thing, but I usually hang up my towels. Hey, I’m a guy — I don’t mind using a towel two or three times.
But it never works that way. The used towels are always taken away and replaced with clean ones. That’s a mark of great customer service but it flies in the face of the green initiatives. I don’t want to complain to the housekeepers who are working to give me the best experience they can, but I’m a little frustrated. (And I’ve never seen any place to recycle bottles and cans in the hotels.)
But there’s one notable exception. The Las Vegas Hilton has a program that allows you to completely opt out of housekeeping for a day. Just hang the eco-themed door hanger on your door handle by 7 a.m., and housekeeping will simply skip your room that day — and then reward you with Continue reading
“Lack of interest leads to not taking gambling seriously. Even a smart politician like Barack Obama can make the mistake of telling people not to waste their money going to Las Vegas — twice. Obama knows that Nevada is a swing state. And he knows it is represented in the U.S. Senate by Harry Reid, the Majority Leader, who is also a Democrat. He would not make a similar slip about nuclear arms, health care or the auto industry.” — I. Nelson Rose, from his newest column, “The Danger of Not Caring About Gaming.”
Steve Wynn has long prided himself on his good relations with the Culinary Union. However, those could soon be a thing of the past if he and front man Jesse Waits continue to 
Florida casinos, the latest pet project of Sheldon Adelson and new ally Gov. Rick Scott (R), 
Another state that’s playing Russian roulette with its tribal-gambling revenues is Arizona. Lawmakers have proposed adding racinos to the state’s betting mix. The motive for this high-stakes gambit seems to be pique. Since the Tohono O’odham Nation will not be deterred from pursuing a very litigious — and too convoluted to summarize — casino project (above) adjacent to Glendale, freshman state Rep. John Fillmore (R) is playing the racino card. To his somewhat Neanderthal way of thinking, if Arizona’s other tribes can’t club the (sovereign) Tohono O’odham Nation into submission, they all should 
Recent photo coverage of the makeover of CityCenter‘s famous/notorious “pocket park” made it appear as though the Henry Moore sculpture (best thing in CityCenter, IMO) had gone missing. Was MGM Resorts International retreating from its commitment to public after a mere 14 months?
“You miss the ‘olden days’ when poultry was considered currency.” — from Las Vegas CityLife‘s list of “
“They also said they were less likely to share their success with others, by talking about their rewards, if they earned cash. In addition, two of every five survey participants said they use cash rewards for bills or other necessities, like gas and groceries. The cash becomes an add-on to existing salary for living needs, instead of providing a memorable, rewarding experience.” — Paula Godar on Caesars Entertainment‘s “Total Return” program, which saves the company money by incentivizing employee performance with points instead of money.
Gov. Deval Patrick (D), in an interview with The Republican, signaled that he’s willing to compromise with the Legislature this time around. Last year, his no-racinos stance ultimately scuttled a bill that lawmakers had hammered out at great length. The one currently making the rounds of Beacon Hill is much closer to what Patrick envisioned, prescribing one resort casino for the western part of Massachusetts, one for the coastal region and one in the middle. However, the state’s tracks have a powerful ally in House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D, above) and, if DeLeo senses newfound flexibility in Patrick, he’s certain to press their case.
“All that happened was some of [the Hollywood Foreign Press Association] were taken to see Cher 
“Our intent is to be a large capital facilitator to enable SBE to embark on a shopping spree through the rubble and wreckage of a stretched industry, and do those bold things that others would not consider.” — Colony Capital CEO Tom Barrack. With the bankruptcy of Station Casinos, the repossession of Resorts Atlantic City (above), the ongoing foreclosure of the Atlantic City Hilton and 
Mr. Captain of Industry there is Allen R. Glick (1942- ), front man for the infamous Stardust skim. I’ll be spending some quality time with Mr. Glick’s curriculum vitae this afternoon, as he’s to be the subject of a forthcoming “Question of the Day.” Glick may look like typecasting for the role of Evil Mastermind but history — abetted by the movie Casino — has filed him under “Hapless Dupe.” For now, let’s just say that if he hadn’t screwed up so spectacularly then we might never have had Las Vegas‘ subsequent rise is Middle America’s destination of choice.
“Sahara is a dirty hell hole. This is all you need to know.” — 
Still desperate. Optimistic proclamations of an enlarged role with MGM Resorts International notwithstanding, actress-cum-restaurateur Eva Longoria‘s troubled Beso 
I’m one state closer to making the “under” on my over/under of states 
“Macau-see, Macau-do.” That’s how reporter Muhammad Cohen characterizes the imitative nature of casino development in Macao. So long as China‘s GDP continues to grow at an 8%+ rate, Macanese casino business appears sustainable. That’s good because 
“Getting it done right and getting it done with quality is the better thing to do … You want to capitalize property tax relief, not political contribution relief.” — Pennsylvania House Republican spokesman Steve Miskin, addressing another probable delay in the awarding of the state’s “resort casino” license.