Las Vegas Casinos Are Open, But Visitors Staying Away
Posted on: August 9, 2020, 01:03h.
Last updated on: August 10, 2020, 07:22h.
Las Vegas casinos reopened in early June after they were forced to temporarily shutter in March because of the coronavirus. But the gaming floors have remained relatively deserted since the slots were turned back on.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) says visitor volume totaled a little more than one million people in June. That’s down 70.5 percent from June 2019.
Of the 1,065,100 people who did venture to the region, not a one did so for convention business purposes. With daily new COVID-19 cases continuing to rise throughout the month — and in July — Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) continues to limit indoor gatherings, keeping convention and exhibitions off-limits.
June is traditionally a busy month for Las Vegas, as schools let out and leisure travelers and families get their summer vacations underway. However, after 78 days of being closed, Sin City casinos had little trouble in abiding their state-ordered 50 percent occupancy limits.
Through the first half of 2020, Las Vegas visitor volume stands at 9.7 million — a 54 percent decline. Approximately 11.4 million fewer people have arrived in town in the last six months, compared with the same period in 2019.
Every large convention for the remainder of 2020 has been postponed or canceled, and adding to the bad near-term outlook, the Las Vegas Raiders announced this past week that the team’s inaugural season will be played without fans in Allegiant Stadium.
Luring Travelers
June’s visitor volume is down 70.5 percent. But it’s nonetheless an improvement on May when volume totaled just 151,300 — a 96 percent year-over-year plunge.
It’s not that the casino resorts aren’t trying. Numerous properties along the Strip and elsewhere are offering varying incentives to bring back tourists. From the temporary release of resort fees (Sahara, M Resort), to deeply discounted rooms at every major casino property, the gaming industry is doing what it can.
MGM Resorts, which operates the most casino properties in Las Vegas, launched an advertising blitz this past week that seeks to attract remote workers to its resorts. “Viva Las Office” is tailored to those not accustomed to working from home who need a change of scenery. The program provides food and beverage credits per night, early and late checkouts, and credits to fly private on JSX.
Speaking of JSX, one of its main partners is Wynn Resorts. Last week, the casino operator announced the most unheard-of hotel deal for a luxury Las Vegas resort: weekend buy-on/get-one (BOGO) deals.
Prices for a Wynn room started at just $155 (plus $45/night resort fee) for this weekend. Those who booked a room received a second night free (exclusive of taxes and resort fee).
“When you’re sort of overcome with melancholy seeing a BOGO offer. From Wynn. On a weekend,” Vital Vegas commented on the promo.
Critical Marketing
The LVCVA has been criticized in years past for what some believe is an exorbitant operating budget. Critics say Las Vegas sells itself, a notion the authority has continually rejected.
In the COVID-era, the authority certainly has a chance to prove its naysayers wrong, as the task ahead is certainly tall.
In June, the LVCVA extended its decades-long advertising contract with R&R Partners for a year. The contract was up for bidding, but the agency extended its R&R deal in the wake of the pandemic.
R&R was given a $110 million war chest to develop and produce marketing spots around the country. The money is also used to secure the media buys.
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Last Comments ( 56 )
You clearly have not been to the Cosmopolitan. Customers are stuffed in like sardines every weekend. We, the workers are at risk everyday..
Ive been to LV hotels over 100 times and seeing these "resort fees" makes me take my travel biz to other locales. Take them away and give a fair flat rate and maybe others will want to come back. 25-40% of room rate for a fee is like robbing us without a gun,
IMO Trump really failed Las Vegas. The town is going to be hurting for a long time.
Vegas is failing because they've gotten too greedy: Resort fees Parking fees 000 roulette 6:5 blackjack With casinos everywhere now, they need to be a BETTER deal than local casinos. Otherwise, wither and die.
was there in middle of july. temp scans at entrances. there WERE cocktail waitresses walking around, susan! masks required except when eating, drinking at slots, or smoking. don't like it? stay away!!! no smoking at tables. was busy but not like normal. no buffets as we knew [and loved] em. only 3 open [wynn, cosmo, south point] - only south point didn't jack prices outrageously. parking free at many strip resorts but resort fees still the norm, which stinks. $10 table minimum's the norm now, even at off-strip places where i stayed/played. a few $5 craps downtown but rare.
I love Vegas and stayed for a week in July. Although it was quite different, the stay was enjoyable with the exception of the ‘mask’ policy being policed. Constantly moving it aside to take a drink or a drag from a cigarette was ridiculous. Masking is political and I don’t go to Vegas to play politics. Ditch the mask and I’m back 100%. We usually go 6 times a year but will now wait.
take those resort fees and shove them.
I can lose a couple thousand on the floor and I really don't care, my choice. $45 a night resort fee for Wi-Fi that I don't need? $15 parking? THAT is why Vegas was failing BEFORE Covid.
Unless the US lifts its travel restrictions on the rest of the world Vegas will not recover. It needs the foreign tourists money.
If visitors are staying away. Then why is there talk of shutting down again?
I don't know where you got your information sir, but it's 100% wrong. Have you even visited any casino? Most of us are at 75% capacity or higher..... Try some research
one big positive motive to bring p/p back to Vegas is Hotel is to remove Resort fee.
The real reason people aren't going is the alcohol restrictions. My fiance and I, along with his son and girlfriend had a trip planned last month, but then Sisolak banned all alcohol unless you're eating in a restaurant. People can have fun while losing money in Las Vegas, but not if they're stone cold sober. There are no video poker bars and no cocktail waitresses bringing drinks to you on the floor. Why would anybody go all that way and be willing to spend all that money for what would end up being a totally miserable experience? So we cancelled our trip, hoping to reschedule it for later this month. But as of now it looks like it's going to get delayed indefinitely. The lack of buffets is a big hit to Las Vegas too as most restaurants are very expensive for very little food, so the buffets were always the best deal. The Rio World Buffet was my favorite. I understand shutting down the buffets, but bring back the alcohol. Vegas isn't Vegas without the alcohol.
Not true at all, I been there 3 times, lots of people in just of the casinos. To many many reports out there Not being truthful. I also read one that said the casinos are not Forcing people to wear a mask that was not true either every casino I went you people was being told to put on a mask. I was even asked to to put mine on out side.
It is not just fear of COVID that keeps people away. It is also the fact that people come to Vegas to be carefree and have fun. Wearing mask dampens that whole vibe, and with the bars in casinos, nightclubs and shows closed, what's the point? Vegas isn't Vegas right now. Until the restrictions associated with COVID loosen, it's not worth the flight.