Las Vegas Hotels

Las Vegas Strip Re-Opening Post-COVID-19

Majority of Las Vegas Casinos and Hotels re-opened on June 4, 2020. A few remaining hotels plan to re-open on June 11, 2020. We took a quick tour to have a first hand look at how Casinos are handling health and safety for its customers.

Hotels on the Strip are taking body temperatures via thermal imaging cameras. There were definitely multiple posters and signs advising customers to be more aware of social distancing and to wear masks and wash hands often. Supplies such as hand sanitizers, masks and even gloves were available for customers.

There was definitely a pent up demand for casinos, especially “local” casinos. On re-opening day, however, the traffic was lukewarm on the Strip. It definitely felt like a soft-opening. I’m quite sure things will pick up Friday and Saturday.

Regardless, I’m happy to say, Vegas is OPEN! Welcome!

Here’s how it really looked on the Strip casinos: Wynn, Venetian/Palazzo and Bellagio.

June 4, 2020 – Las Vegas Hotels Opening

The day has finally come for us Vegas locals to welcome the opening of Las Vegas hotels.

Our Fox5 News put together an article on which casinos will be opening up. So, follow the link below to find out.

For the most part, don’t expect buffets, fitness centers and showrooms to open. Social distancing will most likely to be enforced with some casinos strongly recommending that guests wear face masks.

We’ll provide more local, first hand coverage as this rolling start takes place. Stay tuned.

Reference: https://www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/heres-which-las-vegas-hotel-casinos-plan-to-reopen-june-4/article_8073ac8c-a037-11ea-8e39-8f05e85ca414.html

FREE Parking Back at MGM

When MGM, Wynn, Caesars announced a few years back that they wanted to charge for parking, all of us locals who lived in Vegas thought it was the wrong path to take. It had a few effects on the local population:

  • First effect did not benefit the casinos. Vegas locals decided it wasn’t worth going to visit the Strip casinos and instead just patronized the local casinos such as The M Resort, Stations Casinos, South Point and The Venetian (the one exception on the Strip that maintained free parking).
  • The second effect and unintended consequence of this was that all the valet parking attendents got less work and essentially very little tip because now visitors to the Strip casinos have to pay for Valet parking.
  • The third effect that can be seen as a plus for the Strip casinos is that a lot of frequent patrons decided to sign up for sponsored credit card programs that was linked to a membership tier that provided free parking. Whether this one plus outweighs the loss of local visitors to the Strip casinos? Only the casinos know.

It took a pandemic to change MGM’s mind on the free parking. But I’m glad they did. Vegas will need to re-invent itself to survive. Free parking, is a good start.

Reference: https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/mgm-resorts-to-bring-back-free-parking-on-las-vegas-strip-2030770/