Resort properties can be a crapshoot. They typically have every amenity under the sun but, given the volumes that they run, it is next to impossible to provide the service levels to keep every guest happy. Which is why we were pleasantly surprised with a stay at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa Resort in San Diego. It was a well-staffed property that never ran out of pool chairs, had knowledgeable front desk associates and plenty of activities to keep our kids busy.

Ours was a multi-generational trip with grandparents, parents and four grandkids, ranging from 5 to 13. The property fit everything that we were looking for: close to downtown, pool and waterslides and reasonably-priced. It was more a process of elimination than anything else.

Booking the Hotel with Hyatt Privé

I assist Michael Trager at TravelZork Travel and took advantage of the additional benefits that the agency offers through the Hyatt Privé program, which offers extra perks when you book through a participating travel agent. Prices are typically the same as the standard rate that you’d find at Hyatt’s website (although there may be a lower promotional rate, such as a AAA rate, which would come without additional benefits), but come with the following amenities (which are pretty standard for the program):

• Complimentary daily full breakfast for two
• A $100 resort credit per room (once per stay)
• Free WiFi
• Upgrades in advance, early check-in and/or late check-out. These are all based upon projected occupancy, but you can request any of them within 24 hours of booking, meaning that the hotel may be able to guarantee you an upgrade if it projects lower demand.

We booked five rooms and, while I have Globalist status and would have received the breakfast anyway, I was the only one. The resort credit was a bonus for everyone. Our rate was $379 per room, with a $35 resort fee plus taxes.

The hotel is a bit off the beaten path, on Mission Bay. It’s a few miles from Sea World and 5-7 miles from most of the major San Diego tourist sites. A safe bet is that a one-way Uber trip into San Diego is going to run $15-20.

Check-In Was Flawless

I hate the feeling of having to fight for the benefits that I’m entitled to, so it was a major bonus when the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay representative checking me in was able to explain to me in detail what we were entitled to, going so far as to note that the tip was included in the breakfast and that we didn’t have to add a gratuity on top of it.

A few of the rooms had been upgraded to suites in advance and everything had been noted. There was one small issue with rooms that were supposed to have a connecting door that didn’t, which initially caused some angst, but the agent was later able to find us appropriate rooms and gave us a small resort credit for service recovery. Dear every other hotel in the world: That’s how you should do it!

At check-in, all guests receive a coupon for one free hour of kayaking or paddle boarding. They’re only good for the singles, though, so if you are doing a larger boat with two people, you’ll still have to pay. Rentals start at $35 per hour.

The Rooms Are Attractive

I had previously read online that the rooms were older, but they looked new to me. The “wood-like” walls were a bit dark for my tastes, but the rooms were large, the furniture was in great shape and the bed was one of the most comfortable that I have ever slept in. We all had balconies with a small table and chairs, and the view from any side of the hotel was particularly good.

I’d describe the bathrooms as “adequate.” The standard rooms had a combined bathtub and shower, while the suites had showers, which had notably good water pressure.

Three Small Pools and Waterslides

The pool was one of the major draws for us. While there was no designated “child pool,” it quickly became apparent that the small one with the mini-waterslide was for the littlest children, while the largest of the three was for everyone. The pools were a bit smaller than they looked on the website and there weren’t a ton of adults in them, outside of those that were swimming with their children. The two “bigger” slides weren’t enough to keep my teenagers entertained for long, but their younger cousins had a blast. I’d say that kids under 11 or 12 would get the most enjoyment out of the slides and pools.

There was not much in the way of staff by the pool. That’s not an issue in the bigger pool, but could be, elsewhere. Those of us who had lounge chairs by the small pool could count on getting splashed by a child doing a cannonball every five or ten minutes. Likewise, the hot tub usually had as many children as adults in it, and by “children,” I mean kids who looked as young as 4 or 5. For the most part, the kids behaved, but I was surprised to see so many youngsters there.

Despite these minor inconveniences (This is a family resort, after all.), we spent almost all of our free time in the pool area. They never ran out of lounge chairs while we were there and had a good mix of those in the sun and the shade, along with plenty of umbrellas for those of us who like it cooler.

One nice touch for the kids: There was a “kids bar” next to the pool which served complimentary drinks for children (or adults acting like children). Okay, it wasn’t the best Shirley Temple that I’ve ever had, but it was free, and that really says it all.

Restaurants Are Good, But Sparse

Because of the hotel’s location, if you don’t have a car, you are mostly going to be limited to the restaurants at the hotel, Red Marlin and Pelican’s on the Bay. Red Marlin is a full restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Pelican’s is the poolside cafe which served lunch and dinner.

Red Marlin was fantastic. There’s no other word. 10 people ate there for breakfast every day for a week and nobody ever had a single complaint. The menu had a great variety and the food was excellent. Healthy? Try the avocado toast or granola and Greek yogurt. Not so much? The chocolate chip and banana pancakes are the way to go. Even though the tip was included, service was great (and the servers always circled the gratuity on the bill to make sure that we knew it was included). The one dinner that we had there was also very good.

We never did find out exactly how much of a breakfast credit we received per room (We got different answers from three people as to the dollar amount.) but there was nothing on our bill at the end and nobody felt a need to economize.

Pelican’s Bay was decent, not great. We didn’t think that the menu had as much variety as Red Marlin and the prices were slightly higher, although they were certainly reasonable for a resort property. One plus: The fruit bowl on the menu was so big that we had leftovers and the salads were good.

Other options: There’s a small fish shack behind the hotel, which has excellent clam chowder, as well as a general market with a licensed Starbucks and sandwiches. It’s nice if you are in a pinch. And, of course, we live in a world where there are really no restrictions on what you can eat because of delivery. There is a grassy area with tables and chairs, so you can take your dinner outside.

Stuff to See and Eat in San Diego

• We spent an entire day at the San Diego Zoo and still didn’t get to see everything that we wanted to. It’s a bit of a labyrinth and you will do a lot of walking, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes, but the kids had a great time and the entire staff, particularly the volunteers, really made the trip special.
• The zoo is located at Balboa Park, an urban park featuring museums (Comic-Con museum, anyone?), gardens and walking trails. It’s a great activity for those who have a large group to please, want a full day out in nature or just like to wander.
• Snooze A.M. Eatery is an all-day (or sometimes half-day) breakfast restaurant with highly caloric, decadent treats (Yum, bacon and eggs pancakes!). There is almost always a wait, but you can get on the virtual waiting list through their website. There are several locations in San Diego, as well as in other Southern cities, ranging from Charlotte to Scottsdale.

Overall Verdict? A Big Win.

Booking a hotel for a week is always a dicey venture. Choose wrong and you will spend a week telling amusing stories on Facebook about the time that the hotel tried to deliver towels to your room at 2 a.m. Fortunately, we faced no such problems. With a great staff and a decent room product, the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa Resort in San Diego proved to be a winner.

Let TravelZork Travel Book Your Next Travel Adventure

*Please visit us at TravelZork Travel to book your next trip, including extra amenities such as complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and potential upgrades at luxury properties.

We specialize in Las Vegas, including the newest posh boutique Las Vegas Luxury Property Crockfords Las Vegas. Visit our TravelZork Travel Exclusive Las Vegas Site to see the benefits, as well as the terms and conditions. TravelZork Travel is an exclusive member of the Caesars Travel Agent Program with direct contacts for leisure sales for all Caesars Properties in Las Vegas. You can also easily book Caesars Palace Las Vegas directly via the Caesars Palace Las Vegas website.

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Vegas News November 22, 2022

Million Dollar Las Vegas Grand Prix Package At Wynn and Encore

We’re just about done with the pre-race hype for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. I thought we were done but Wynn has a $1 million ticket and hotel package that sounds fantastic for those with the discretionary income. 

The package is for six people. That works out to be $166,666.67 per person. The package is impressive. Here are some highlights: 

• A four-night stay in a two-story Encore Three-Bedroom Duplex, accommodating all six guests in its three bedrooms with 24-hour butler service, daily breakfast, and custom in-room amenities.
• Exclusive access to the Opening Ceremonies, including the Red Carpet viewing and kick-off party for the weekend’s events. This event is otherwise by invitation only, with no tickets available for public purchase.
• Dinner for six in Delilah, the acclaimed nightlife dining experience, with a menu specially selected by Executive Chef Joshua Smith and champagne from Dom Perignon.
• Priority access to race-week events, to be held at Wynn Las Vegas. 
• Wynn Elite tickets to Awakening, Wynn Las Vegas’ signature new show. Tickets include private seating, a selection of complimentary small bites and premium beverages, and a dedicated server throughout the show.
• A complimentary round of golf at Wynn Golf Club for each person.
• Lifetime membership to Wynn’s exclusive Private Access program for each person. This unique program is available to a select group of individuals and features privileged access to entertainment, dining reservations, and concierge services at Wynn resort locations.

Additionally, F1 and Wynn will make a donation of $100K to local charities.

Not only does this package have premium Wynn rooms and services but it has race access not available to everyone. I would not be surprised to see Wynn sell a few of these. Read more here. 

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• The new food hall coming to the Fremont next month has a handful of quick-serve dining options that are new to the area. Read more here and see renderings here. 
• Fremont is also planning to open a retail-only FanDuel branded sportsbook in December. There will be seating for fewer than 100 people. You can find some info here. Stay tuned for opening information.
• Garth Brooks will have a residency at Caesars Palace Las Vegas next year. This could be a fun show for fans as the press release mentioned, “No two shows will be the same, with varying band members and the occasional special guest.” Read more here.  
• Excalibur is opening a new location for the TAP sports bar. You may be familiar with this brand from its location near the sportsbook at MGM Grand. You can find more information here.  
• Proper Food Hall at Aria will also have a place to get ramen and another for doughnuts when it opens next month. It sounds like prices will be a little more than Block 16 Food Hall at the Cosmopolitan with meals around $20. Read more here.
• The newspaper says experts are predicting a dip in visitation to Las Vegas for the next two years. Read more here.  
• You already know Caesars Diamond/Laurel Lounges are closed in Las Vegas. The company still offers 4 comp drinks (slight increase in value) for Diamond Plus and Elite members at select bar/restaurant locations at its properties. Seven Stars members get $10 of food per day. Read more here.
• The Ice Skating rink at Cosmomopolitan is now open. Read more here.
• This is a non-Las Vegas Tilman Fertitta update because it seems like the hotel he just purchased in Laguna Beach would be nice for rewards program members at the property coming to the Vegas Strip. Read more here. 
• Cosmopolitan has had a new video policy for slot players for a couple of weeks. You can record on a phone you’re holding but cannot use a tripod or have group pulls. Read the policy here.   
• I’m easily amused but I chuckle every time someone refers to Resorts World as Hilton. I’m not sure why it’s funny but it is. See the latest from F1 here.
• Nothing new is happening at All Net Arena. They’re just allowed to kick rocks for a little longer. Read more here.  
• There’s now a Fatburger inside Sapphire Gentleman’s Club. Read more here.
• Did you know a rap group made a song and video for Sapphire? Enjoy. 

• Ramsay’s Kitchen at Harrah’s is now open. Read more here.
• Kascade will have a residency at Zouk inside Resorts World next year. Read more here.
• Ellis Island makes its own Holiday (egg) nog and it’s available for a limited time. Read more here.
• The Dart bar at The Venetian on Nov. 28. Read more here.  
• A show called “Six” is coming to The Venetian next year. Read more here.  
• Want to buy a motel on the Vegas Strip? The abanded property across from Luxor is going to auction. Read more here.   
• Boy George and Culture Club will have a limited engagement at Wynn next February. Read more here.
• By the time you read this, you’ll be able to purchase a glow-in-the-dark Vegas Golden Knight sweater that uses the Excalibur font. Read more here.

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Poor Mobile Passport Control. While travelers rave about Global Entry for expedited border crossing, Mobile Passport Control (MPC) sits quietly in the background, waiting for somebody to notice them.

Mobile Passport Control: It’s Real and it’s Fantastic

Mobile Passport Control is a great, but less well-known, alternative to Global Entry to enter the country. Originally created in 2014, MPC is simply an electronic version of the paper form that we’re all so used to. You’ll download an app and create a profile for yourself (as well as up to 11 of your favorite family members). Just put in your passport information, date of birth and all of the other usual “stuff” that Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) likes to see. Save the information as your profile and it will be ready to go whenever you have a border crossing.

I used Mobile Passport Control for the first time this week, and it was as easy as advertised. As soon as my flight landed, I pulled up the MPC app. It asked me for my flight information and then went through the standard six questions for Customs. By the time that I arrived at the gate, the app had already generated the bar code that would let me speed through the line. Boston is one of 31 US airports (You can see the full list here.) that offers a special line for MPC users and I was one of only a few people who had the app. I went right to the counter, flashed my bar code and that was it. The agent couldn’t have been less interested and pretty much waved me through.

Speeding through Passport Control

MPC is similar to Global Entry, in that it speeds you through passport control. Each has particular benefits, but Mobile Passport Control is free, so there’s no reason that you shouldn’t have it on your phone. Among other reasons:

• There’s no interview or background check. I assume that, if your name is on a list, MPC simply won’t work for you. Otherwise, you’ll save the several month wait to get a Global Entry interview.
• As I just noted, the app is free and there is no fee to use it. Global Entry has a $100 fee with it, although several credit cards will refund the $100 every four years.
• There is no need to stop at a kiosk when you get off the plane. The bar code on your phone is the equivalent of the printout from the GE kiosk.
• In addition to 31 US airports, you can use MPC at 3 Canadian locations and 4 seaport entries.
• Your whole family can be on one profile.

There aren’t a lot of downsides to MPC, other than if you arrive at an airport that doesn’t use it. Likewise, most airports only have one booth, so if there are tons of MPC users (unlikely), there may be a bit of a wait.

Get the App. There’s no Downside

MPC can be a lifesaver (and line-saver) for those people who don’t want Global Entry or are not eligible for it. Have both? No problem. When you get to the airport, decide which line looks shorter and use that one. Either way, you’ll escape those Disney-like rope lines.

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Vegas News November 15, 2022

Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP)

The initial excitement for the launch of the Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP) next year is coming to an end. The first batches of tickets for the event are sold out but some more will be released early next year. 

Plenty of people enjoyed the free launch event at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.

As we mentioned last week, Caesars opened its LVGP ticket and hotel room packages during the event. The only way to get LVGP tickets right now is on the secondary market like Stubhub or directly from casinos offering hotel room and ticket packages.

This week, most other Vegas Strip casino operators made their hotel and ticket packages available. 

MGM Resorts – Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP)

MGM Resorts room and ticket package announcement came with information on the “Bellagio Grandstand.” These seats are only available to guests who reserve an LVGP room and ticket package directly from MGM Resorts. Guests can also choose Paddock Grandstand seats if they prefer being off the Vegas Strip.

MGM Resorts tells me the company will temporarily and safely remove the trees in front of the Bellagio fountains. The Bellagio Grandstand will cover the sidewalk and part of Lake Bellagio. 

The fountains will be operating so F1 can get the money shot of cars zooming down the Vegas Strip with blasts of water in front of the casino. This should make for a nice backdrop for the F1 TV audience.

During Wynn’s third-quarter earnings call (below) the company mentioned it’s trying to use its property as a stage for events. That’s what MGM is doing here and I think it will look great on TV for the three-day event.

Resorts World Las Vegas – Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP)

By now you know that every hotel room and room and ticket package is expensive. I called Resorts World to get information on its most expensive LVGP package.

The $200,000 package at Resorts World sounds ridiculous and kind of awesome if you’re someone who enjoys F1, gambling, clubbing, and having your face broadcasted on the video wall outside of the Hilton tower at the property.

F1 aside, get used to more expensive weekend events in the future. The casinos are loving the room prices and media attention.

For the past few years, we’ve discussed casinos focusing on the most profitable customers. That’s often based on gambling but not always. Events like the LVGP will bring in very profitable customers that may or may not gamble. Casinos want more of these visitors as the markup on non-gaming amenities is often bigger than those who only gamble.

Last LVGP note – This is the best simulation I’ve seen of the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit I’ve seen. Enjoy. https://twitter.com/f1lasvegas/status/1591150666680262658?s=43&t=4GSZvb8YclatwOZwuZWNOQ 

Grab the wheel for the first ever official on-board simulation lap of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit! With speeds reaching over 215mph (345kmh), heavy breaking zones, overtaking opportunities and walls just inches from the edge of the circuit.#LasVegasGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/oQAqEPJypW

— F1 Las Vegas (@F1LasVegas) November 11, 2022

Las Vegas Quick Hits

I’ve been enjoying keeping track of LVGP events but it’s time to see what else is happening in and around Las Vegas.

• Palms dropped its Thanksgiving menus this week. Let this serve as a reminder to make reservations sooner than later if you plan on visiting Las Vegas during Thanksgiving weekend. Restaurants all over town will be packed. Locals hate cooking and tourists like to eat. Read the Palms info here.  
• Wynn Resorts reported earnings this week. Read the press release and financials here.  
• Like other casino corporations, Wynn had a great quarter in Las Vegas. That continued into October with record EBITDA.
• My first takeaway with Wynn earnings is always the room rates. They’re usually among the highest in Las Vegas. The third quarter was no different. The Average Daily room Rate for the third quarter was $426. Occupancy during the period was 88.8%.
• Wynn’s CEO had little to say about Tilman Fertitta buying 6.1% of the company’s stock. He only said it was a good investment. Read more here.  
• The most interesting part of the call to me was that the company is looking to use the entire property as a stage for events. Think about The Match or the recent car show. 
• I might be late to the show here but I just learned that Wynn has a stories blog. Check it out here. 
• Speaking of Tilman Fertitta, he continues to move forward with preparing the land he purchased on the Vegas Strip for construction. The Travelodge and nearby buildings are going…going…gone. Read more here.   

Lotus Of Siam – Red Rock Casino

• Lotus of Siam at Red Rock Casino is now open. I checked out a preview of the venue. It’s beautiful. You can see my pics here and read more here.
• The cost to build the MSG Sphere continues to rise. Makes me wonder how much tickets to see the U2 residency will cost next year. Read more about the constitution cost here.  
• There’s a new poker room at Bally’s/Horseshoe. Check it out here.  
• Nevada has a new Governor. Read his statement about winning here.  
• Netflix is recording a show at Tropicana. It sounds like a show that should be recorded at Tropicana. Read more here.  
• You can spend $40 per person to take a walking tour of doughnut shops in downtown Las Vegas. You can also just yelp the stores and do it yourself if you prefer. Read more here.
• Keith Urban’s 2023 residency is moving to Zappos Theater inside Planet Hollywood. Read more here.  
• Black Crowes are playing two shows at Palms on Super Bowl weekend. Read more here.

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Vegas News November 8, 2022

Vegas F1 Room Rates

This was a fun news week in Las Vegas. Between the Las Vegas Grand Prix (Vegas F1 Room Rates) and casino earnings, there was a lot happening. Add that to the mix of a normal week of Vegas News, and you have a busy week. 

Having said that, there’s no time for a long intro this week. Let’s just get into the news starting with Caesars and MGM Resorts earnings. In addition to earnings news, both companies released hotel rooms for the Las Vegas Grand Prix next year. That’s all a good segue into Formula 1 ticket news.

Caesars Earnings

Caesars reported third-quarter earnings on Tuesday. As you may remember, I listen for information that may have an impact on the casino experience. You can read the press release and financials here.

Big News – Caesars Not Selling A Strip Property

The big non-financial news from the call was that the company is no longer planning to sell a Vegas Strip asset as previously planned. CEO Tom Reeg actually apologized for giving people the run around about this since he took over at Caesars.

While recent speculation was that Flamingo was on the market, the company never publicly said that was the case. CEO Tom Reeg did say that cash flow for the asset (Flamingo) has been increasing and that buyers were having a tough time raising finances to make the purchase.

Bottom Line – No Change In Comp Room Inventory

The bottom line here is that Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program will keep rooms from whichever casino it was planning on selling. This should mean there won’t be a change in the number of complimentary rooms available.

Caesars no longer plans to sell any Vegas Strip assets. Plans can change so let’s just move forward.

Caesars Occupancy – Las Vegas Hotels

Caesars Las Vegas hotels had a 94% occupancy rate in the third quarter. Reeg also noted that October is the strongest month of the fourth quarter.

Caesars – F1 Demand Greater Than Expected

Not coincidentally, November is usually the slowest month of the quarter. That should change next year with the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Reeg mentioned that hotel demand for the weekend is greater than expected. 

Caesars Vegas and F1 Rooms Rates

Caesars opened hotel rooms for November last week. It should be no surprise that rates are high. As it relates to this company, Caesars Palace Las Vegas is the highest, and The Cromwell is already sold out.

The cheapest room at Flamingo Las Vegas for the weekend starts at $949 (plus tax and resort fees). The cheapest room with a view of the Vegas Strip starts at $1304. Prices will change as rooms are booked (or not booked).

Caesars has ticket/room packages available for F1 Vegas Caesars. Package prices start at $2600.

Allegiant Stadium Events

Both Caesars and MGM mentioned how events at Allegiant Stadium have been great for business, even though there are only 50 events or so for the year.

Caesars Entertainment mentioned that Raiders games are particularly great because the event extends visits for an extra night. The cost for most nights surrounding Raiders games rates higher than usual so it makes sense they’d be happy about that.

MGM noted that they can sell two extra room nights for every event. That’s 100 extra nights at higher-than-normal rates.

The third quarter also marks the return of 55+ visitors to Las Vegas. Multiple companies, including Caesars, reported these guests are back to 2019 levels.

MGM Resorts Earnings

You can find the MGM Resorts earnings press release with financials here and the easier-to-read earnings presentation here.  

Third-quarter earnings were a record for MGM Resorts in Las Vegas. The company says 2022 will be a record year for some properties. While they didn’t mention names, luxury properties (Bellagio and Aria) were mentioned throughout the call.

Similar to Caesars, the company said that October is already looking like it will be the month with the highest hotel revenue in Las Vegas – ever. We should see confirmation of that in January.

MGM Vegas – Record High ADR

MGM set a record-high ADR (Average Daily room Rate) for the quarter. The addition of The Cosmopolitan helped set that record. The Cosmo typically ranks in the top three for room rates in Las Vegas.

The repeated mention of luxury properties doing well and weekday business travel increasing is likely bad news for leisure travelers – even those going to middle and lower-tier properties.

Midweek rates have been fairly inexpensive over the past couple of years with the lack of visitors. That will change starting with the business travelers paying for rooms at high-end properties. This will push prices up and some people to lower-tier properties they can afford. This should push all room prices higher as demand increases everywhere. 

If you think prices are bad now, wait until next year. 

MGM Vegas and F1 2023

Speaking of high prices, MGM rooms for F1 weekend are also as high as expected. Room prices at Bellagio start at $1773. A Strip View room will cost more than $6,000 for the three-day weekend.

Luxor is the least expensive hotel room for MGM properties. Those rooms start at $653 plus the resort fee. Off-strip and downtown hotels aren’t much cheaper if they are at all.

MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle noted that Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend is typically one of the least expensive of the year.  Thanks to F1, another cheap weekend to visit Las Vegas is down the tubes.

The Mirage

MGM Resorts didn’t mention The Mirage much during the earnings call. However, that didn’t stop the property from making the news.

MGM Resorts shared dropped an FAQ for visitors that have booked rooms at The Mirage. You can read that here.  

Don’t look at this as a roadmap for The Mirage. Once the sale to Hard Rock goes through, the new operator will likely announce more plans. 

For example, the FAQ from MGM says “There are no current plans to change the volcano show.” MGM says that because the company has no control over the future of the volcano. 

In an email to MGM Rewards members, the company reminded people that “Hard Rock expects to continue to operate as The Mirage following the closing.”

Remember, Hard Rock has free use of the name for up to three years. The company will likely keep the name until construction and renovations are completed in a few years.

The FAQ should answer questions for anyone who booked a hotel room at the property. Don’t look at this as anything meaningful otherwise.

Las Vegas Grand Prix 

This was a big week for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. As mentioned above, hotel room rates are available for most hotels on the Vegas Strip. The Cosmopolitan seems like the only major holdout. 

Tickets went on sale on Nov. 1, 3, and 5. Ticket prices started at $500 for the weekend. These are Standing Room Only tickets near The Venetian Sphere. The presales both sold out quickly. You can see more ticketing information here.  

MGM Zone for F1

MGM Resorts is doing something strange for the race. The company will create the MGM Zone, which is a fan area that will be “constructed over the Fountains of Bellagio.” I guess that’s valuable real estate for guests buying room/race packages.

I assumed F1 wanted that for the money shot of cars driving by the fountains exploding high into the air. I supposed the MGM could cover part of the lake in front of the fountains. Time will tell.

“Box Box, Box Box”

The creators of Absinthe are opening a new 55-seat venue next year. It will host a 1 am show during LVGP weekend called “Box Box, Box Box.” Anyone that’s watched “Drive To Survive” should be as amused as I am by that name.

Last and certainly least, the LVGP has a title sponsor. It will be officially known as the “FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN® SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2023.” Yes, all caps! Read more here.  

Let’s get to the rest of the news in and around Las Vegas.

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Las Vegas Quick Hits

The big news is for everyone. The quick hits are for the real ones that want even more news and info on what’s happening in and around Las Vegas. Let’s get to it!

• Bally’s Corp reported earnings this week. There’s no news about the Tropicana. The company still has no plan for the future. Carry on or read more here.  
• No plans for Tropicana means nothing has changed and the A’s could still build a stadium. Read more here. 
• Read more on the A’s moving to Las Vegas here. Also see: Is Las Vegas About To Get Its Third Major Sports Team?
• Museum of Illusion is opening in Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Rick Springfield is playing two shows at The Strat next year. Read more here.   
• The Las Vegas XFL team will be the Vegas Vipers. The team still has no home venue. Read more here.
• The MLS continues to tease Las Vegas with a team. It’s possible this has been going on for 10 years but my memory is fuzzy about specifics. Read more here.  
• The company that operates the slot machines at LAS has passed a billion in revenue. Read more here.
• Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta is the largest shareholder of Wynn Resorts, with 6.1% of available stock. Read more here.
• The former CEO of Wynn Resorts may be looking to buy a casino in downtown Las Vegas.  Read more here.   

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Caesars Entertainment Update: It’s Not Always About Gambling

It’s always fun to write about some of the “soft changes” going on in Las Vegas. Sometimes it’s “Sin City,” and other times, it’s a place to play Skee-Ball or stuff yourself with bad shrimp. But there’s always time for a Caesars Entertainment update, since they are always adding something new. Here’s what I’ve got:

The Arcade at Bally’s

It’s very possible that I am the only visitor over the age of 21 to get excited about an arcade at Bally’s, but I also start to sweat when I move from nickel video poker to quarters, so take it for what it’s worth. Located on the food court, so it can pick off those oh-so-valuable teenage customers, the Bally’s Arcade is 7,000 square feet of neon lights, air hockey and those newfangled immersive games that all the kids love so much. And if you’re not a kid, don’t worry. There will be an “enhanced” bar.

So why lose money gambling when you can do it at the arcade by spending $100 to earn enough prize tickets to cash out for a stuffed animal that would cost $2 on the street? Because, as your parents always told you, it’s not about how you played the game, but rather, whether you won or lost.

And, as an added bonus: If you’re looking to play pinball, Frogger or Paperboy, be sure to check out the Pinball Hall of Fame.

Food and Drink? No Problem

The Main Meal

Let’s start with the main meal.

• Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace Las Vegas offers new seasonal menu items, including pumpkin gelato, mac and cheese with crispy prosciutto, shiitake mushroom gyoza and pizza with white sauce, brie, apples, hot honey, arugula and candied pecans.
• GIADA at The Cromwell Las Vegas introduces new fall items, including:
  • Mandorlato, a specialty cocktail made with Stoli vanilla vodka, Tia Maria cold brew, amaretto, maple syrup, and almond milk
  • Penne Rigate, with wild mushroom and vegetable Bolognese
  • Neapolitan Flatbread, with Pecorino Toscano and black truffles

• At Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse inside Flamingo Las Vegas, guests can enjoy a selection of new fall items, including the butternut kale salad, seared diver scallops, and Jidori chicken. Also now open at Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse is The Count Room. This prohibition-era-inspired speakeasy is located in the back of Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse. The Count Room is open for cocktails and light bites from 5 to 11 p.m. Monday – Thursday and from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday – Sunday. Live entertainment is also featured on Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 8 p.m. The menu’s signature cocktails include:
  • The A Spot of Tea cocktail, made with tropical tea-infused Mount Gay rum, lavender simple syrup and lemon
  • The Barrel-Aged cocktail, made with Bulleit rye, Bulleit bourbon, house-made Demerara syrup and Angostura bitters
• Ramsay’s Kitchen at Harrah’s Las Vegas now accepts reservations through OpenTable. Ramsay’s Kitchen, which marks the celebrated chef’s sixth Las Vegas restaurant in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, offers a glimpse into Chef Ramsay’s personal kitchen and takes guests on a culinary journey inspired by his travels around the world. The Ramsay’s Kitchen menu will offer a mix of original specialties infused with Vegas flair, specifically curated for the Entertainment Capital of the World. Guests may visit Ramsey’s Kitchen for more information.

Save Room for Dessert

Actually, forget that. I’m skipping right to dessert.

• Dominique Ansel Las Vegas at Caesars Palace Las Vegas has officially opened. The bakery, which is the famed chef’s only West Coast location, is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Guests can enjoy Chef Dominique’s signature items, such as the world-famous Cronut^®, as well as the only-in-Vegas “Lucky 7” pastry collection. The set of seven pastries exclusively available at the Caesars Palace location include:
  • Lucky Penny Pig, made with milk chocolate crémeux, homemade raspberry jam and salted peanut feuilletine between vanilla sablé cookies shaped like a pig and topped with a lucky gilded chocolate penny
  • Ladybug, created with elderflower mascarpone mousse, fresh strawberry compote, strawberry gelée, fluffy chiffon cake and a lychee meringue in the shape of a mini garden watering can and finished with a tiny chocolate ladybug
  • Goldfish, made up of tropical flavors of calamansi coconut mousse, fresh diced mango, mango passionfruit gelée and coconut dacquoise, complete with hand-painted white chocolate fins
  • Four-Leaf Clover, comprised of coffee mousse topped with hazelnut dacquoise, dark chocolate crémeux and crispy feuilletine to create a four-leaf clover
  • Fortune Cookie, made with a sablé Breton base and topped with jasmine tea crémeux and lemon curd and topped with a white chocolate “fortune.”
  • Feather, created with a vanilla sablé cookie topped with chestnut mousse, banana jam, orange marmalade and banana cake and garnished with a white chocolate feather
  • Evil Eye Éclair, created with a classic French éclair and filled with cassis jam and Valrhona Caramelia whipped ganache

I know the desserts are too sophisticated for me when I can’t pronounce half of the words. Personally, I’m a cheesecake kind of guy, but I’ve got my evil eye on that Evil Eye Eclair.

Related: Caesars Palace Las Vegas Renovations

That’s Entertainment! Enjoy Yourself at the Caesars Empire

Trager would kill me if I forgot to include the spa in my Caesars Entertainment update because that’s where he can usually be found when he isn’t at the baccarat tables. Naturally, a bunch of their treatments have a fall theme, so get ready for apple and pumpkin spice facials. Hey, I think this pumpkin spice might become a thing. Here are a few new treatments that you can get at one of the Caesars properties.

New Fall-Themed Caesars Spa Treatments

• Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace Las Vegas offers a signature Apple Blossom Facial now through November.
  • The 50-minute facial, which starts at $205 on weekdays and $245 on weekends, includes a nourishing cranberry-pomegranate mask, botanical growth factors and peptides for a hydrating, anti-aging treatment.
• At The Spa at Harrah’s Las Vegas, guests can indulge in the Royal Flush Massage Special now through the end of the year.
  • Spa guests hit the jackpot with this relaxing and revitalizing Swedish massage, as well as a sore muscle relief enhancement. This 50-minute service, which also offers bonus enhancements, is available Monday – Thursday for $109.
• Voie Spa and Salon at Paris Las Vegas offers new treatments Monday – Thursday, including:
  • Tahitian Himalayan Stone Massage – Himalayan salt stones are heated to perfection in this ultimate stress-reducing treatment. The incorporation of heated Himalayan salt stones, with the addition of Tahitian lotion, melts restricted muscle and loosens joints. The 80-minute treatment starts at $275.
  • Red Wine Facial – This facial uses natural active ingredients to cleanse, restore and hydrate the skin, with the addition of a hydrating red wine mask. The 50-minute facial starts at $160.
• Guests at The Spa at Flamingo Las Vegas can indulge in seasonal pumpkin and vanilla treatments. Pricing starts at $130.
  • Vanilla Hot Stone Massage – This 50-minute massage uses hot stones and soothing vanilla scents to melt away tension. 
  • Pumpkin Spice Facial – This 50-minute facial is infused with antioxidants to deeply cleanse and hydrate the skin.

Shows at Caesars Properties

And finally, there are some new shows. Okay, so Adele cancelled earlier in the year, but she’s back for good this time. That could be a really fun concert, even for those of you who don’t care much for her music.

• Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club will reopen at The LINQ Promenade Thursday, Nov. 3. The venue, which is curated and designed by TV host and famed comedian Jimmy Kimmel, will feature a variety of comedians, including Gina Billon and Luenell. The comedy club will also offer a daily happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., which includes $5 shots, $6 beers, wine and well drinks and $7 select food items.
• The LINQ Promenade will host its annual Christmas tree lighting Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. The event will feature guest appearances from the cast of Potted Potter and Farrell Dillon.
• Adele will open her highly anticipated residency, “Weekends with Adele,” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Friday, Nov. 18.
• Jeff Dunham will bring his “JEFF DUNHAM: SERIOUSLY!?” tour to Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Saturday, Nov. 5, Saturday, Nov. 12, and Friday, Dec. 2.

The only aspect of Las Vegas that remains the same over time is the constant change. The city is continuing its evolution toward becoming an all-encompassing entertainment destination and away from being strictly for gamblers. I expect that the percentage of revenue that The Strip generates from non-gaming activities will continue to go up.

Caesars has been at the forefront of the transition, and it’s nice to see this Caesars Entertainment update. It looks like they are adding some high-quality products for their guests.

Let TravelZork Travel Book Your Next Casino Adventure

*Please visit us at TravelZork Travel to book your next trip, including extra amenities such as complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and potential upgrades at luxury properties, including the newest posh boutique Las Vegas Luxury Property Crockfords Las Vegas. Visit our TravelZork Travel Exclusive Las Vegas Site to see the benefits, as well as the terms and conditions. TravelZork Travel is an exclusive member of the Caesars Travel Agent Program with direct contacts for leisure sales for all Caesars Properties in Las Vegas. You can also easily book Caesars Palace Las Vegas directly via the Caesars Palace Las Vegas website.

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Vegas News October 31, 2022

We’re going to flip Vegas News around today. Instead of starting with the big news of the week, we’re going to begin with Quick Hits. 

Not coincidentally, the first story is what should be one of the biggest events in Las Vegas next year.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

F1 Tickets Las Vegas

Let’s get to the Vegas News, starting with something that might be slightly out of date when depending on when you read this.

• Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP) F1 tickets for the race next year are on sale for American Express customers on Nov. 1. Those who spent $7.77 to get on the early list can purchase on Nov. 3. The public can buy on Nov. 5. 3-Day passes will start at $500. You can see all the different ticket options and locations here.   
• Here’s a sim of what the LVGP circuit could be like.

Quick Hits – Bacon and Baseball

• Tilman Fertitta isn’t wasting time getting construction for his new Vegas Strip property started. He’s already pulled demolition permits to remove some of the structures on his land. Read more here.   
• The President said something stopping about the resort and similar fees. I’ll believe it when I see it Read and see more here.
• Westgate has a deal to offer guests electronic vehicles. Read more here.
• The MLB commissioner is publicly negotiating with Oakland about the team moving to Las Vegas again. Read more here.

• Bacon Nation at The D is open to the public. I look forward to checking it out. Read more here.
• Las Vegas will have a Flag football franchise someday. Read more here.  
• The people that say they’re going to build All Net Arena say they’re going to fund a Moulin Rogue project. Like the arena, I’ll believe it when I see it. Read more here.
• Mohegan dropped “Sun” from the name of its Las Vegas casino at Virgin. Read more here.  
• Unlike other locations with legal sports betting, Mohegan Casino in Las Vegas still doesn’t have an operational sportsbook.
• Katy Perry will be back at Resorts World for more shows next year. Read more here.
• Palms has a suite deal. Read more here.

Boyd And Red Rock/Station Earnings

Quarterly casino earnings season started last week with Boyd Gaming. Overall, business seems steady but may have leveled off a little from the record-breaking quarters from the past year. You can see the press release and financials here.  

There was only one bit of Las Vegas non-financial news from Boyd this quarter. The expansion at Fremont Casino should be done by the end of the year. You may remember that this includes a new food court and FanDuel (retail-only) sportsbook. 

Here are a couple of financial notes that stood out to me.

1. Boyd customers don’t seem to be affected by inflation.

2. The company is holding onto the (higher) profit margins it was able to create during Covid.

High Prices Likely To Continue

The casino corporations started to share similar profit information during the last round of earnings calls. It seems like the high prices at casinos will likely continue in the future. This isn’t a surprise but it’s helpful to hear confirmation from the business so we know what to expect when visiting casinos.

Red Rock Resorts (Station Casinos) also reported earnings last week. You can see the press release and financials here. You can download the easier-to-read and more useful investor presentation here.  

Red Rock Financials

The financials for Red Rock were similar to Boyd Gaming, which is fairly normal. During the call, the company said it’s always focused on creating greater profits for its stockholders. This isn’t anything new but it’s a reminder that everything a casino does is to support its bottom line.

Despite an analyst saying the opening of Durango will be pushed back to 2024 a couple of weeks ago, Red Rock says it’s on schedule to open in the Fall of 2023. The company says it won’t start construction on other projects until Durango is completed. 

The Wildfire casino in downtown Las Vegas should be open by the Super Bowl next year. The casino-only property will have just 200 slot machines and ETGs. It will have two restaurants as well.

Red Rock plans to sell off 321 acres of land in Las Vegas and another 8 acres in Reno. Interesting to note that the company is looking to sell some of the land at the Durango and Viva projects.

It’s currently marketing 188 acres of that land. Red Rock says it has interested buyers for everything the company is looking to sell at this time.

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Snag Your 80,000 Citi ThankYou Points Bonus

The Citi Premier Mastercard (They’re too cool to use the whole “Citibank” name.) is not only one of the best cards for everyday spending but is also offering a limited-time premium sign-up bonus: 80,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards Points, worth at least $800 in cash (Seriously, they’ll send you a check if you don’t like any other rewards.). In other words, you will do no worse than getting a penny per point.

The card has offered a promotional 80,000-point sign-up bonus for a few months now, and I figure that it can’t last forever. Grab it while you can.

Affiliate Disclosure: To answer your first question, yes, some of these links do pay us referral fees. But please keep two things in mind: First, we will never post a card simply because of the opportunity to earn money. In fact, we own most of the cards personally that show up on the “our favorite cards” page. And second, if we see a better offer for the same card that we can give you, we will direct you to it. We promise. The content on this page is all ours. The companies that we discuss do not review or endorse it. All opinions are ours. You can’t have them. Please view our advertising disclosure page for additional details about our partners.

Why the Citi Premier Card is Worth Having

Forget the $800 that you get for signing up for the card and meeting the minimum spend ($4,000 total, not per month, in the first three months). This is a card that you’ll actually want to keep. For starters, it will give you 3 points per dollar spent in the following categories:

• Supermarkets
• Airfare and Hotels
• Gas Stations
• Dining
• 1 point per dollar spent on anything else

Hotel benefits: You’ll get $100 back on a stay of $500 or more once per year. That $100 will more than cover your $95 annual fee.

Transfer benefits: You can transfer points to any of 14 airline or 2 hotel programs.

Point Value: I value Citi ThankYou Reward points as worth at least 1.5 cents each if you transfer them to one of the airline partners.

How to Travel for Free (to Las Vegas or anywhere else)

Let’s get right to it. Here’s how to take advantage of the 80,000 bonus points from Citi Premier:

Option 1: The Easy Path

Collect your 80,000 points after you meet the minimum spend on the Citi Premier card. Go to the Citibank website and log into your account. Transfer $800 in your bank account. Find a flight on Spirit, Frontier, Southwest or another cheap airline. Find a cheap hotel. Or redeem for $800 worth of MGM gift cards. Or just keep the $800. Remember, this is easy.

Option 2: The Easy Path with an Extra Step or Three

Collect your 80,000 points and open a JetBlue TrueBlue (frequent flyer) account. Don’t worry, it’s free.

• Go to JetBlue’s website, enter your dates and cities, and check the box that says “Use TrueBlue points.” It will tell you how many points your flight costs. You can do that without a JetBlue account.
• Transfer the number of points you need to JetBlue from your 80,000 points. They transfer 1-for-1 and you can do it online.
• Buy your ticket on JetBlue, once again checking the box that says “Use TrueBlue points.” Prepare to fly!

Your flight will likely not cost the full 80,000 points. For instance, I saw round-trip flights from New York to Las Vegas for about 35,000 points and from Los Angeles for about 9,000. Your mileage may vary, but probably not by much.

Flight Example:

You can then take your leftover points and do whatever you’d like with them. Cash them out, pay for somebody else’s ticket or whatever else you can think of.

Option 3: Fly Somewhere Else

You can also transfer your points to one of 13 other global partners. Not sure what that will get you? How about a one-way business class ticket to Europe on one of any number of carriers, including Singapore or Turkish?

Flight Example:

Airline partners include:

• Aeromexico
• Cathay’s Asia Miles
• Avianca LifeMiles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• Eva Air
• Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Qatar Privilege Club
• Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
• Thai Royal Orchid
• Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

And that’s all. You can keep the card for a year and if you like it (I like it personally and have one.), renew it. If not, cancel it (The easiest way to do it is usually to cancel online via chat.). Added bonus: Even if you like the card, call to cancel it after a year and see if they offer you an additional bonus to keep it. That way, you’ll get extra rewards for a card that you never intended to cancel anyway! Worst case scenario, they don’t offer you anything extra and you tell them not to cancel it.

The Bottom Line

The Citi Premier card offers $800 in cash, or more value in travel, just for getting the card and meeting the minimum spend. Don’t plan on spending that much? Think about prepaying insurance, buying restaurant gift cards or supermarket gift cards for your favorite places (Remember, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar that you spend.) or accelerating large purchases.

I think that it’s a good card to keep in your wallet going forward, particularly if you’re going to use the $100 hotel credit. Otherwise, well, you’ll simply be enjoying that free trip.

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Vegas News October 25, 2022

More Info – New Vegas Strip Casino

Last week the low-key big news was about $1 billion in upgrades planned for The Venetian. For the most part, the property will look the same, with new places to eat and new hotel rooms.

This week the big news is that Tilman Fertitta received approval from Clark County to build a new casino hotel on the Vegas Strip.

As a reminder, the land across from The Cosmopolitan and Harmon Corner includes the Tex Mex restaurant, souvenir shops, and the Travelodge, which is closed. You can see maps of the land use here.

There was little to no doubt that he would receive the approval but ya never know. This approval is so fresh that there’s no timeline for construction or opening available yet.

Now that we can see the plans we have a little more information on the property we didn’t share a couple of weeks ago.

Plans and More Information – New Vegas Strip Casino

The plans are for construction, so there aren’t specifics about the venues inside. However, there’s more information that will help paint a more vivid picture of what to expect.

First, we’ll touch on some new things I see in the plans. You can read the approved plans here. Afterward, we’ll re-share the old information to create a more complete picture.

The property will only have 1,847 parking spaces. This is 23% fewer than required. This is a property for tourists and business travelers so they don’t expect many will drive to the property.

Parking and Rideshare – New Vegas Strip Casino

There will be a 14-level parking garage on the east side of the property Two levels of parking will be underground. Valet will use the underground spaces.

Yes, you should expect to pay for parking.

The porte-cochère will be “located on the north side of the hotel, adjacent to Harmon Avenue.” This will be a relatively small space with only four lanes designed for rideshare dropoffs and valet.

I’m guessing rideshare pickup will be elsewhere – probably at the parking garage, which will be built behind the casino if you’re looking at it from the Vegas Strip.

Elevations – New Vegas Strip Casino

The elevations shared by Clark County make the property look a lot like The Cosmopolitan. I’m not sure the actual renderings of the building will be this color so I’ll hold judgment. 

The metal parapet wall system of the building reminds me of the ocean-view balcony suites at the Showboat in Atlantic City. That’s still the best casino comp I’ve ever received. 

Hotel rooms will be between 525 and 2,000 square feet. The suites will be between 1,480 and 5,810 square feet. Lastly, the villas measure between 1,775 and 5,382 square feet.

Here are the items we knew about Fertitta’s new casino hotel from the previous reporting:

• A 43-story tall hotel tower
• 2,420 hotel rooms, suites and villas
• 2,500 capacity theater 
• An unknown number of bars and restaurants
• 37,000-square-foot spa and fitness center
• Wedding chapel
• 91,000 square feet of convention space
• An auto dealership

I’m surprised there’s no information about the size of the casino floor in the plan. Hopefully, we’ll hear an official announcement about the future property sooner than later. Stay tuned!

Let’s get to the rest of the news in and around Las Vegas. 

Las Vegas Quick Hits

Here’s a look at real pictures of the new rooms at New York-New York. 

Folks are starting to be allocated renovated rooms at @NYNYVegas pic.twitter.com/8GrkFRqWdT

— Steve (Las Vegas UK) (@LasVegasUK) October 20, 2022

• Vintage Las Vegas fans might like to check out these eight refurbished signs that will be installed on Las Vegas Blvd. Read more here.
• Next year Wynn Las Vegas will open a new restaurant with “Mediterranean cuisine with Middle Eastern influences.” Read more here.
• Jerry Seinfeld will perform six shows at Caesars Palace Las Vegas next year. Read more here.  
• Lotus of Siam is opening its new location at Red Rock Casino on Nov. 11. Read more here.  
• The Aria food hall announced more tenants. There will be a pizza place owned by Steve Aoki, a burger joint, and an Israeli street food stand. Read more here.  
• While we’re discussing the casino, Aria will be opening a Las Vegas location of Cathedrale. The New York location has French-Mediterranean cuisine. Read more here and see the NY location here. 
• Caesars plans on pursuing a New York City casino in Times Square. Read more here.
• It will be interesting to see if any Manhattan casinos are actually approved. From what I’ve been hearing, none of the existing businesses want a casino in the area. Read more here.  
• It looks like Magic Johnson is trying to buy a piece of the Raiders. Read more here.  
• The Glittering Lights Christmas display will open at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 10. Read more here.   
• Plaza construction is moving along. See pictures here.  
• A caviar bar is opening at Paris Las Vegas. See more here.  
• Legends at Tropicana has a special show from Nov. 5 through Dec. 30. Read more here.  
• The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has a new ad campaign telling parents to leave kids at home. Read and see more here.  
• Coincidentally, the Arcade at Bally’s/Horseshoe is now open. Read more here.  
• All Net Arena, the land between Fontainebleau and Sahara, is telling people it has money again and has new plans. I’ll believe it when I see it. If you feel like you’ve been reading about this for almost a decade, you’re not alone. Read more here if you’re curious. 
• SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand are among the most expensive resorts in the country. Read more here.
• Barry Manilow’s residency is returning to the Westgate next year. He’ll be performing most of the year. Read more here. 
• Nevada approved slap-fighting as a legitimate sport. I’m still waiting to hear from the sportsbooks if they’ll be taking bets. It’s not very likely. Read more here.   
• The band Chicago is returning to The Venetian for another limited engagement next year. Read more here. ​​

Last but not least, enjoy Rodney Dangerfield talking about Las Vegas and gambling for a few minutes.

Good morning https://t.co/xSiMeK67u6

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) October 19, 2022

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Vegas News October 20, 2022

The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) blew through Las Vegas this week. As always, it was a fun time seeing new casino games, meeting new people, and connecting with others I don’t see very often.

At times, the attendance at the expo and at panels felt a bit overwhelming. The first day is only panels and usually isn’t well attended. This year, almost every session was standing room only. Turns out, the attendance was just a little lower than in 2019. Read about that here. 

New Casino Games and Gaming Trends

If you’re curious about gaming trends, I shared some highlights from the expo here. You can see even more pictures from the week here.  

The game that was the talk of the show fits perfectly at Circa. This is the only casino with the new Rock Paper Scissors gambling game.

ROCK PAPER SCISSORS

The game used to settle every childhood debate just hit our 21+ casino floor.

Don’t look elsewhere; #CircaLasVegas is the ONLY property in the world where you can play.

Tag a friend who would be all about this. #DTLV #GamblingTwitter pic.twitter.com/qmOSiZBFkn

— Circa Las Vegas (@CircaLasVegas) October 12, 2022

I didn’t see all that much innovation at G2E this year. There were very few table games and the Electronic Table Games are all starting to look alike. 

There were a lot of old slot machine themes and game mechanics (like the new versions of Buffalo) that a being combined to make “new games.” That said, I’m a sucker for BUFFALOOOOOOOOOOO!

In addition to Rock Paper Scissors, Aruze rolled out new versions of Roll To Win and Shoot To Win craps.

The most interesting thing I saw at G2E this week wasn’t actually new. The Peak Bartop with sports betting machine from IGT is an updated version of the unit from last year. It sounds like this will be in casinos before the year is over. Somehow, IGT won a land-based casino gaming award for a game that isn’t in casinos yet. Read more here.

Circa Won the Property of the Year

Circa won the property of the year award during G2E. Read more here.

Overall, G2E was interesting and a fun work function, but it wasn’t mind-blowing for me as a casino customer. I’m already looking forward to next year. In the meantime, let’s get to the news in and around Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• While at The Venetian for G2E I noticed the lunch special menu on the screen outside of Milo’s. The price is now $38 and there’s an upcharge for items like lamb. It’s still a bargain for this restaurant but it’s not “cheap.” I recommend having this as a heavy lunch and just grabbing a quick small bite for dinner at one of the food halls/courts. 
• The Venetian has been sharing information changes to the property individually over the past couple of months. You can see details about the changes here.
• There’s one update at The Venetian that hasn’t already been announced. The suites at The Palazzo and Venetian will all see a renovation. 
• One interesting note from The Venetian article is that entertainment will increase from around 100 shows per year to as many as 1,000 shows. Appolo mentioned this would be a priority when taking over operations of the property. In fact, the entire article is essentially the plans they announced after the purchase.
• The co-creator of the new show at The Venetian, Lin-Manuel Miranda, is making a special appearance to likely help boost interest in the show for two nights in November. Read more here.
• It looks like the Caesars property (Flamingo Las Vegas) sale is now on hold. Can’t wait to hear the spin during the quarterly earnings call coming up. Read more here.
• It looks like Garth Brooks might end up with a residency at Caesars Palace Las Vegas next year. Read more here.
• Virgin replaced the Money Baby sports bar with a generic version of the same concept. Read more here.
• Virgin/Mohegan Sun Casino still doesn’t have a sportsbook to wager on the games. You can sit in the small space to watch the games if you’d like but you’ll have to go elsewhere or use an app from another casino to wager on the games.

Mirage Plans/Update

• Vital Vegas shared a letter to employees at The Mirage about future plans. It looks like the property will largely remain the same when Hard Rock takes over operations. Read the letter here.  

Ice Rink Returning

• The Ice Rink is returning to The Cosmopolitan in November. See specifics (dates, times, prices, etc.) here.  
• You don’t have to skate to enjoy the gorgeous fall/winter night at the Cosmopolitan rink. See pics from my visit last year here.  
• Adam Sandler is doing two shows at The Cosmopolitan in December. Read more here.
• M Resort is adding a new hotel tower. See and read more here. 
• The Arcade at Bally’s/Horseshoe is now open. Read more here.  
• This is a reminder that Arcade at Bally’s/Horseshoe replaced the sportsbook. There’s a sports betting desk in the casino but there’s no longer a dedicated place to watch the games inside the casino.
• You can now buy a bottle of Sahara’s 70th Anniversary bourbon at Chickie’s & Pete’s. It’s available to drink elsewhere at the property as well. See the Twitter thread here.  
• The BrewDog rooftop bar across from Park MGM is opening in December. You can find more information and renderings here.
• I zoomed in on the construction of BrewDog when I stayed at Park MGM earlier this year. You can see the location above Target here.
• There’s going to be a Punk Rock Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Read more here. 
• The When We Were Young festival dropped the 2023 lineup already. Read more here.  
• Foreigner just announced dates for its 2023 limited engagement at The Venetian. Read more here.
• A show at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort nobody cared about is closed. Find out which show is closed here.  
• Plaza is hosting an art exhibition at the old bus station next door. Read more here.  
• The Bronx Wanderers show is moving to South Point. See the tweet here.  
• SkankFest looks like a fun comedy festival. See the list of performers here.   
• I don’t remember how long Jimmy Kimmel’s comedy club at The Linq was open but it looks like it will reopen next month. Read more here.
• MGM Resorts is renovating the Mandalay Bay convention center. Read more here.  
• The M&M’s Store on the Vegas Strip has been open for 25 years. Who knew?! Read more here.
• Palms is having a brunch where guests can talk to dead people. Read more here.  

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Las Vegas Buffets

The Las Vegas Buffet is a highlight (or, occasionally, a lowlight) of any trip to Vegas and a dining experience you won’t soon forget. What separates a Las Vegas Buffet from your typical buffet can be anything from mimosas and a shrimp cocktail brunch, or a towering plate of crab legs and a street taco cart. As Las Vegas Buffets continue to reopen and serve, check out our list for times, locations, prices, and other information to help plan your next buffet trip.

What Is A Buffet?

A buffet is an all-you-can-eat experience, typically offering dishes from around the globe to sample. Guests typically serve themselves while the food is prepared behind the scenes by kitchen staff, although some buffets offer live cooking stations for you to view the action. Drinks tend to be a separate cost if you’re interested in anything other than water. Vegan and gluten-free options are typically available, and not something you need to worry about in Vegas. The dishes offered vary depending on whether you’re there for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner. All buffets listed below have accommodations for children as well.

Buffets have always had a special association with Las Vegas. At first, they were viewed as loss leaders to lure customers into the casinos. But after the construction of Mirage, Las Vegas began to transition to a city based on total tourism revenue, rather than simply gambling. Casinos had to pretty themselves up, as families with no time, little money and destructive little people began to arrive. And because everything has to be bigger and better in Las Vegas, the buffets ultimately caught on. They expanded and brought in not only American but also global cuisine options, eventually becoming centers of bacchanalian delight. No, seriously, there’s actually a buffet called Bacchanal at Caesars and, before our global health crisis, you could get 24-hour passes that got you into select buffets as much as you wanted.

And, of course, they got prices to match their newfound status. Casinos began to advertise their buffets as culinary destinations, rather than a bunch of food that had sat under a heat lamp too long. Lines at the most popular ones can be more than an hour and line passes have become treasured possessions, often handed out as perks for elite status or for preferred gamblers.

Buffet Hints

Naturally, you can’t go into a buffet without a plan. You just don’t want to invest that much money and not get a return. So just remember a few buffet basics:

• Stroll around the buffet. Take your time. Locate the high-end stuff and determine where you want to place your well-deserved appetite.
• They’ll put a lot of the “fillers” and cheap stuff right at the beginning. Yes, they want nothing more than for you to fill yourself up with rice and mashed potatoes. Pretend you’re on “Supermarket Sweep” and head for the meat.
• Desserts always look really good, but I’ve rarely found them to taste as good as they look. Except gelato. It’s hard to screw that up.
• Price is not a perfect indicator of the quality of the buffet (e.g. A good buffet off the Strip might cost less than a bad one on it.), but the correlation is pretty high. Wynn and Bellagio have excellent buffets, and you’ll pay for it. On the other hand, I’ve had cheap buffets that were so bad that I left still hungry.

Buffets During Covid-Times

Not many buffets were operating during the height of COVID-19 and are only recently beginning to reopen their doors. Wynn, for example, was operating as a full-service buffet during the pandemic while most buffets shut their doors entirely. In almost all cases, social distancing is not a requirement in Vegas anymore. Still, if given the opportunity, it would be wise to book a reservation rather than walk in to guarantee seating. (This is not always an option, but always good to check.)

Open Buffets in Las Vegas

The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas

Location: Wynn Las Vegas
Hours: 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
Price: $39 – $70
Link: Click Here
Other Details: Resort casual attire. Children under five are welcome. The Buffet accepts all major credit cards as well as debit cards. Cash is not accepted.

The Buffet at Wynn offers up to two hours of limitless indulgence from 90 different savory dishes as well as a variety of irresistible desserts. Unlimited beverage packages are also available at an additional cost. They don’t take reservations, but you may secure a spot in line by booking pre-paid priority seating to minimize the wait.

Children aged 3 to 9 years old eat half the price.

Bacchanal Buffet (Caesars Palace)

Location: Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Hours:
9:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday thru Sunday
4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Monday thru Thursday
Price: $65 – $80
Link: Click Here

Bacchanal advertises Sushi, Dim Sum, Mediterranean, and more in addition to American cuisine, with vegan and gluten-free options available as well. You can even find Thai, Filipino, and Indonesian cuisine! Bacchanal is truly an elegant space, decorated with glass and stone textures throughout; Caesars describes “these spaces [as] reminiscent of ice caves, mountains and more.”

Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Kids under 4 eat free and rug rats aged 5-10 are half price. The dress code is casual.

MGM Grand Buffet

Location: MGM Grand
Hours: Closed through 11/14

Garden Buffet (South Point)

Location: South Point Casino
Hours: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm; The brunch is closed between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm, as well as 10-11 on weekdays. It opens at 8:00 am on the weekends.
Price: $15 – $45
Link: Click Here

Garden buffets tout six live cooking stations, which include Mexican, Asian, Italian, Barbecue, Seafood, and Chinese cuisine. There are a variety of plates you can pay for, including Prime Rib and Peel & Eat Shrimp plates which are all listed on their site.

Breakfast starts at 7:00 am, lunch begins at 11:00 am, and dinner runs from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The dress code is casual, and children 3 and under eat free. Children 4-8 eat at half price.

Fresh Buffet

Location: WestGate Las Vegas inside WestGate Superbook
Hours:  Friday – Sunday 7:00 am thru 2:00 pm | Closed Mon-Thur
Price: $20
Link: Click Here

Fresh Buffet offers food for every mood; Chinese, seafood, or American cuisine is there to satisfy your palate. Located within the WestGate Superbook, you can enjoy your food while viewing live sports on the 220 ft by 18 ft 4K Video Wall!

Wicked Spoon (Cosmo)

Location: Cosmopolitan
Hours: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday thru Friday; 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday
Price: $38 – $49
Link: Click Here

Indulge into a unique market dining experience on The Las Vegas Strip. Enjoy the delectable seasonal dishes and exquisite original selections. Bottomless drinks are advertised on their page for an additional $21.

Children under five eat free, and older kids are $19 a plate. Menus are also available on their site.

The Circus Buffet

Location: Circus Circus
Hours: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm Friday thru Sunday | 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm Saturday and Sunday
Price: $29-31
Link: Click Here

The website doesn’t have a page dedicated to the buffet, but Circus Buffet does offer buffet staples, like the build-your-own omelet option for breakfast and lunch and fried chicken for dinner. Breakfast and brunch run from 7:00 to 2:00, and dinner starts at 4:30, giving you plenty of time to plan your meal. Children ages 4-10 receive an $8 discount and those under 4 are free.

Market Place Buffet

Location: Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin
Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm; 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Saturday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm; 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Sunday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Price: $20 – $30
Link: Click Here

Market Place Buffet is unique in that it’s the only Las Vegas buffet located in Northwest Las Vegas. Featuring Prime Rib dinners and weekend Champagne brunches, Market Place Buffet is sure to astound with their Culinary Action stations and beautiful patio dining area.

Hours are subject to change, and children ages 12 and younger eat for $13 at lunch, $18 at dinner and brunch

The Buffet at Excalibur

Location: Excalibur
Hours: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday thru Sunday
Price: $29 – $32
Link: Click Here

Enjoy an all-American cuisine at Excalibur’s buffet is touted as brunch-specific, offering shrimp, bacon, fruit, and a made-to-order crepe and omelet station.

Kids under five eat free, and children 5-11 are $17 during the week and $18 on the weekend

The Buffet at Bellagio

Location: Bellagio
Hours: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Monday thru Sunday | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Friday thru Sunday
Price: $42 – $65
Link: Click Here

Bellagio’s buffet offers cuisine samplings from all over the world, made by their featured chefs at “Live-Action” cooking stations. With the buffet closing at 3:00 Monday thru Thursday, you’re limited to breakfast and lunch, but don’t let that stop you from spoiling your dinner with their large dessert variety.

The dress code is Resort Casual (tank tops and swimwear are not permitted). Children under 6 eat free, and kids 6-11 eat for half price. Bottomless Drinks are available for $25.

Garden Court Buffet

Location: Main Street Station
Hours: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; 4:00 pm til 9:00 pm Friday and Saturday
Prices: $23 – $30
Link: Click Here

Garden Court promises elegant Victorian décor to compliment the variety of food offered, including Southern, Seafood, and International fares. Children ages 4-10 eat at half price.

The Buffet at Luxor

Location: The Luxor
Hours: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday, Thursday thru Sunday
Prices: $29 – $32 | There’s a $12-14 discount for children 5-11
Link: Click Here

Located in the lower level of The Luxor, The Buffet at Luxor is sure to satiate your hunger with a casual Las Vegas dining experience, a 30-foot salad bar, homemade pizza station, and more.

A.Y.C.E. Buffet

Location: The Palms Casino Resort
Hours: 8:00 am – 11:00 am and 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday thru Friday | Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm -10:00 pm | Sunday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Prices: $25 to $65; Discount for children 3-11 based on the meal
Link: Click Here

Enjoy the culinary trip around the world at  A.Y.C.E. Buffet. It features seven unique food stations – The Greenery, World Plan, Revival, The Heart, The Roastery, Steel & Light & Smoke & Fire. In addition, you can enjoy All You Can Eat Lobster on Wednesday nights, Crab & Prime Rib on Thursday and Friday nights respectively, and our Weekend Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Prices for children 3-11 are $13-$55

FAQs

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MGM, Cosmopolitan Las Vegas And Loyalty Programs

The MGM Cosmopolitan Las Vegas acquisition was a game-changer for the company. Not only did MGM solidify its position on the west side of the Strip but it also picked up one of the hottest properties with a higher ADR (average daily rate for a room). Its sale of Mirage will help finance the purchase. In the realty world, it’s pretty straightforward. MGM is now the owner of Cosmo-Vegas operations.

What Will Happen to the Loyalty Programs And Partnerships? – Cosmopolitan Las Vegas And Loyalty

For the rest of us, though, there remains a bigger question about what MGM intends to do with its, and Cosmo’s, partnership.

First, Cosmopolitan’s loyalty program Identity. It’s destined for the dustbin of rewards programs. We don’t know the timing on when, but MGM is eventually going to get rid of it. It’s probably time to start thinking about whether you should credit your spending to MGM or Cosmo if you do decide to go to Cosmopolitan Las Vegas before the transition. (Bethany at Bougie Miles does a good analysis.).

Hotel partnerships are more interesting. Right now, Cosmopolitan has a relationship with Marriott Bonvoy, and it’s a strong one. Bonvoy members can earn and burn points, get elite benefits and even use Marriott gift cards to pay for their final folio balance. It has worked out great for Cosmo, since it gets their hotel into the largest hotel network in the country, while Marriott has benefited by being able to offer a near-luxury property in the center of the Strip. And gamblers may be incentivized to gamble there, since Marriott and Cosmopolitan Identity members can transfer points between the two programs. Of course, that will end when MGM shuts down Identity.

Problem is, MGM has a partnership with Hyatt and arguably, that one’s stronger than the Cosmo-Marriott marriage. There’s reciprocal earning between the two and your Hyatt points can get you a room at one of about a dozen MGM Strip hotels, including the luxury properties such as Delano or Bellagio. But the most important perk might be the status match between the two.

There’s a lot of value in status matching, particularly if you are going from Hyatt to MGM. World of Hyatt’s entry level Discoverist status, which requires only 10 nights, gets you MGM Pearl, which entitles you to free parking. Explorist, which takes 30 nights, translates to Gold, which results in waived resort fees, which can be as much as a midweek room rate. You can also go the other way (MGM->Hyatt), although the value of the benefits isn’t quite as high.

Related: The My Borgata Rewards transition to MGM Mlife

Did MGM Get a Good Deal? How Would We Even Know? Numbers to Geek Out Over.

Gaming company transactions are often valued as a multiple of EBITDA, which stands for “Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.” Just think of it as “earnings before all the annoying accounting and government stuff gets taken out.” In this case, MGM paid 8X EBITDA, which is generally a pretty good value. Two things to note, though:

Numbers to Geek Out Over

• The number is “inclusive of expected operational synergies and identified revenue growth opportunities.” That means that they’re assuming that they’ll fire people but still find new ways to make money.
• MGM does not actually own the land. They rent it from a group of partners that do. They bought the operations of the hotel and make their money there, paying rent to the owners. Even if the casino never generates a penny (obviously a worst-case scenario, like a global pandemic or something), they’ll still get a rent bill.
• Upon the sale, Blackstone gave every Cosmo employee $5,000.

What’s a Casino to do? For Now, not much of Anything.

For now, MGM has stated that it plans to maintain the Marriott relationship with Cosmopolitan. Without seeing the legal documents, I can’t state for certainty that Marriott is locked in for a certain period of time but, given the speculation that has always surrounded Cosmo, I doubt that Marriott would have made it easy for them to get out of an agreement on a change of ownership.

Does MGM Actually Need to Bring Cosmo Into the Hyatt Partnership?

Assuming that MGM even could bring Cosmo into the Hyatt partnership, does it have any real urgency to do so? Probably not. The integration, even of a single hotel, is going to be particularly messy, and MGM likely views the partnership issue as a very small tail that is wagging an awfully large dog.

What Will MGM do (Eventually)? How about Harmonizing Hotels with Hyatt – Cosmopolitan Las Vegas And Loyalty

In a Las Vegas Advisor blog, Stiffs and Georges, David McKee quoted Deutsche Bank Lodging and Gaming analyst Carlo Santarelli, one of the more experienced analyst. Mr. Santarelli recently met with MGM Resorts management, who indicated that the integration was going better than expected and that the partnership with Marriott was a profitable one, leading him to suggest “‘in our view, makes sense to potentially expand further, given the benefits relative to a traditional OTA channel.'”*

Consumer expect a certain amount of consistency. Interacting with multiple partners that offer different benefits is confusing, and MGM recognizes that. They will eventually move Cosmopolitan over to the MGM Rewards program, which will mean the end of one of the most valuable Cosmopolitan Identity features, the ability to transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy.

Logically, it makes sense that MGM will merge Cosmopolitan into the Hyatt relationship. I guess I could argue that having both Marriott and Hyatt in the system gives MGM access to two programs instead of just one, or that the Marriott network offers far more potential customers than Hyatt does. Both are true. But the costs of maintaining a separate partner just for Cosmo, both real and in terms of customer confusion, are going to be pretty high, and Hyatt is already well-integrated into the system. The ultimate game would be to wait until the Hyatt contract expires and play them off against each other, but MGM will have way more leverage over Hyatt than it does with Marriott, and the juice likely isn’t worth the squeeze for our friends in Bethesda.

Cosmo Plus Marriott Does Have One Big Advantage: Marriott’s Stars and Luminous Program

One area where the existing structure has an advantage is when it comes to booking.

Cosmopolitan is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a group of hotels that are managed by Marriott but don’t carry the brand’s name. As an upscale property, it participates in Marriott’s Stars/Luminous program, which is open only to qualified travel agents, including TravelZork Travel. When you book your stay through one of these select agencies, you should receive the same price as if you book online but also some amazing complimentary benefits. Not every full-service property offers these benefits, particularly at the Sheraton and Westin level, but anything more luxurious likely does. Even better, you’ll still receive miles and elite benefits.

Perks vary by property, but Cosmo is a pretty good example. You’ll receive daily breakfast for two, a $100 resort credit, a welcome amenity and complimentary WiFi. You would also be eligible for a room upgrade, as well as early check-in or late check-out, if available.

Virtually every chain offers something similar.** Hyatt’s is Prive and Hilton (which offers benefits only at Waldorf, Conrad and LXR). Again, benefits are similar.

Despite it’s partnership with Hyatt, though, MGM does not participate in Prive (although you can still book with a qualified travel agent to receive benefits through an agent network such as Virtuoso). If MGM were to fold Cosmopolitan into its Hyatt partnership, we’d probably lose those additional benefits. Of course, with yet another luxury property in the portfolio, MGM might decide that the Prive benefits would be a great marketing tool after all…

Hyatt is the Logical Partner for Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

There are certainly reasons to keep Cosmopolitan in a parallel network, but it seems to me that the logical thing to do is to fold it Hyatt partnership. Hyatt would be thrilled to have an additional luxury property on the Strip and MGM wouldn’t have to deal with the hassles of running multiple programs. In particular, it would avoid confusing MGM’s customers, who would be able to bank (or use) points within a single hotel network the same way that they will eventually be able to use their casino loyalty points at any MGM property. There’s no rush to make big changes because of the MGM Cosmopolitan acquisition, but it could change down the line.

*In the history of Wall Street, no analyst has ever met with a company and then stated that integration was going worse than expected, knowing that it could be detrimental to their firm’s investment banking revenue.

**These perks are also available at luxury properties around the world when you book through a qualified agent. Four Seasons offers particularly attractive benefits. Take a look at the TravelZork Travel page to get an idea of the types of properties that participate.

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Vegas News October 11, 2022

First things first. If you haven’t heard, someone stabbed eight people in front of Wynn. Read more here. 

I’m moving on as I’d rather spend my time dealing with casinos and things to do in Las Vegas. What better way to start Vegas news than with plans for a new hotel-casino on the Vegas Strip?! Let’s go!

Plans For New Vegas Strip Casino

Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Golden Nugget, finally shared some plans for the six acres of land he purchased on the Vegas Strip near Harmon Ave. diagonally across from The Cosmopolitan.

All signs point to this property being something that isn’t part of the Golden Nugget family. The plans call for a 43-story hotel-casino. For comparison, this will be a little shorter (51 floors) and on a slightly smaller plot of land (8.5 acres) than The Cosmopolitan.

The plans for the property include 2,420 rooms, suites, and villas along with an unknown number of restaurants, convention space, a spa, a wedding chapel, an auto showroom, and a 2,500-seat theater. 

Fertitta says he wants this to be a luxury property so there will be high-limit rooms and gaming salons. Plans also include an auto showroom. 

More Fertitta Details – Plans For New Vegas Strip Casino

He owns Post Oak Motor Cars and Post Oak Hotel in Houston so it makes sense he’d bring those luxury brands to Las Vegas. His Landry’s roster of businesses has increased a lot over the past few years. You can tool around the website to learn more here. I was stunned by the number of holdings the company has now. 

It’s also likely he brings dining options that are part of his empire. Landry’s has plenty of fine dining and upscale casual restaurant brands. Chain restaurants aren’t very exciting but there are quite a few that would work for a Vegas Strip property. 

Tilman Fertitta Files Plans

Clark County will decide on whether or not the plans for a new Vegas Strip Casino are approved on Oct. 19. You can read more about the plans here. 

We should hear more after the project receives approval. Until then, let’s get to the rest of the Vegas News.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• Wynn Las Vegas finally announced a new full-production show named “Awakening.” The show opens next month. Read more here. 
• I’m not a show person, but I think those who enjoy the “Big Vegas Show” vibe might enjoy “Awakening.” Here’s the teaser.

• The Disney Immersive Experience is coming to the Vegas Strip. Read more here and see what the experience will look like here.  
• The Aces of Comedy series at The Mirage will continue next year. The initial batch of shows includes familiar names that have performed in the series before –  Daniel Tosh, Nick Swardson, Tim Allen, Ray Romano, and Brian Regan. See dates and more info here.
• There will be luxury cars on display at Wynn Las Vegas this month. Read more here.
• New Year’s Eve shows continue to roll out. The original Misfits will play at Mandalay Bay. Read more here.
• If you enjoy listening to earnings calls from casino corporations, we have some news. Boyd will have its call on 10/25, Red Rock/Station Casinos is on 10/27 and Caesars is on 11/1. 
• Station Casinos now offers cashless gaming for machine games like slots, video poker, keno, video blackjack and more. Read about it here.  
• G2E is next week and companies are still rolling out previews of games we’ll see. Forgive me if I forget to take pictures or videos of the new Rocky and Bullwinkle slot machines. Read more here.
• Rod Stewart’s residency will continue at Caesars Palace next year. Read more here.
• Station Casinos topped off Durango Resort. The company says it plans to open the property in late 2023. Read and see more here.
• During its last earnings call, Station Casinos said it plans to build one new property at a time. Scratch that – the company now plans to build three properties when Durango is completed. Read more here.
• YO! There was a camel at an In N Out Burger drive-thru. The video is fun. Watch it here.
• It looks like construction on the arcade replacing the sportsbook at Bally’s/Horseshoe is finished. See pics here.  
• Chris Tucker has a limited engagement at Wynn Las Vegas next January. Read more here.
• Mike Epps is returning to The Venetian for a couple of nights next February. Read more here.  
• Light Nightclub at Mandalay Bay is closed. Read more here.
• Sahara turned 70 this week. Read more about what’s happening at the property today here.
• Boring update: Evidently, there will be a station at the Fashion Show Mall someday. Read more here. 
• Prime Rib ice cream sounds dumb but I’m told the normal flavors are delicious. Read more about Salt and Straw opening in Las Vegas here. 
• A longtime cheat in Las Vegas casinos could be the 37th person in the Nevada Black Book. Read more here.  
• I know more than a few people that would love this horror-themed cafe that just opened downtown. Read more here.   
• Bill Foley, the owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, just purchased an English soccer team. Read more here.  
• Last but not least, the Ethel M chocolate factory announced its plans for the holiday cactus garden in Henderson. Read more here. 

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Could the Oakland A’s, the home of Moneyball and Rollie Fingers’ mustache, soon be no more? According to several news sources, including the R-J, it’s becoming increasingly likely, as Las Vegas becomes a top contender to win the franchise, which would be its third major sports team since 2017. Yup, it’s true. Las Vegas baseball could soon be a thing.

Las Vegas Is No Longer Just About Casinos

At the turn of the Millenium, even a single sports team in the “Big 5 (Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer)” would have been unthinkable. But it’s not 2000 anymore, and both the city and the nature of gambling have changed. Gaming revenue now accounts for less than half of the total on the Strip, as hotel and restaurant sales have boomed.

But it’s the evolution of sports gambling outside of Las Vegas has also had a major impact on the city’s view toward professional teams. Sin City was always going to have to bring in teams to grow its positioning, but that was likely accelerated as regional and internet gaming boomed. Concerns over the impact of sports on gambling took a back seat, and the city launched its pro sports odyssey with the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team in 2017*. Three years later, the Oakland Raiders followed. Think the city hasn’t gone sports crazy? Check out the price of tickets in the secondary market, or hotel rooms the weekend of a Raiders game.

Will Baseball Follow?

The Oakland A’s are in, as Ned Flanders would say, a dilly of a pickle. They currently have the lowest average attendance of any major league team and play in a stadium built more than 50 years ago. Clearly, the status quo is not working, and the A’s current lease expires in 2024. The team is currently in negotiations with the city to build a new stadium, but the city faces more than a few problems. Forget the fact that we don’t even know if the team wants to stay in Oakland, where it has always played second fiddle to its crosstown rivals, the Giants.

The Team has now missed a big deadline. The R-J noted that if the team wanted to be a part of Oakland’s Howard Terminal waterfront project, the most likely home location, it would have needed to have an agreement in place a couple of weeks ago, to get it in front of the city council this year. The city would also need a federal grant or local bond offering to finance the ballpark. The league is demanding that Nevada offer public financing for a new stadium, as well, but Sin City has additional “outs (pun intended),” since there are more private options for funding available on the Strip than there are in Oakland. And MLB has already tacitly endorsed the move by agreeing to waive franchise relocation fees if the team moves to Las Vegas.

Bottom line: If Oakland can’t do something in a hurry, Nevada natives might soon have a Las Vegas baseball team to root for. And if baseball doesn’t work, the city could always fall back on basketball. Whatever LeBron wants, LeBron gets.

These concerns would become moot a year later, when the Supreme Court ruled that states could set their own rules regarding sports betting.

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TB12 By Tom Brady At Wynn

The GOAT has finally met the GOAT. Wynn Las Vegas has just announced that it is partnering with Tom Brady’s fitness and nutrition company TB12, and really, the only question is “What took so long?” The Encore Fitness Center will soon begin offering body coaching sessions based on the TB12 training method. Soon, you too can look like Tom Brady, who attributes the fact that he never ages and is the greatest quarterback of all time to his training regimen and surely not selling his soul to the devil.

According to the press release, you’ll receive a one-on-one training session with a Body Coach trained in the TB12 methodology, which is based Brady’s (and trainer Alex Guerrero’s) holistic approach to wellness and the system’s “five pillars,” pliability, nutrition, hydration, movement, and mental fitness. And if a couple of training sessions don’t get the job done, you can but TB12 snacks, smoothies and supplements at the Encore Juice Bar. No word on the avocado ice cream.

The TB12 Method

It’s an appealing picture, though. Brady is notorious for a heavy emphasis on stretching and drinking gallons of water daily, and he has been virtually injury-free his entire career. The TB12 method focuses on injury prevention and recovery, and he has been one of the most durable players in football history, despite playing one of the most dangerous positions in the game. The guy is 45 years old and shows no signs of slowing down, so maybe a few sessions can’t hurt…

“Lifestyle Brands”

All kidding aside, I’m really curious to see how this pairing turns out. Both Tom Brady and Wynn are marketing geniuses, with Steve Wynn’s aura hanging over everything with his name on it, even if he’s no longer the CEO. Both are aiming to position themselves as “lifestyle brands” for luxury consumers. Wynn has certainly already done so, and Brady began planning his second career long before he left the New England Patriots.

The combination of the two could be a real powerhouse. The press release uses words like “prestigious,” “elite” and “prestigious,” and that’s no mistake. I don’t think the average Wynn customer is going to turn into Tom Brady anytime soon, but I’ve gotta think that the association with their partner is a good fit.

Neither of the names comes without a history: Steve Wynn had to resign after accusations of harassment, and Alex Guerrero has been investigated multiple times and been sanctioned by the FTC. But both carry a strong brand and one that people want to identify with.

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Vegas News October 4, 2022

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• The autumn display at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is up. While beautiful, this is probably my least favorite every year. Read and see more here.  
• You may notice that the dining table is no longer inside the conservatory. I’m not sure how popular it was but I know one group that enjoyed the experience.
• The F1 launch party for the Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place at Caesars Palace Las Vegas on Nov. 5. You can see the schedule of events and sign up to attend here. 500 people will receive a free ticket to see The Killers perform.
• Stock analyst opinions are often obvious or entirely off base. Having said that one stock analyst sees the Marriott partnership with Cosmopolitan as a plus and recommends the company keep it and possibly expand the deal. Read more here.  
• More from the analyst – “Despite new ownership, the resumption of operations at The Palms has had little to no impact on the operations of Gold Coast.” Ooooooh…burn! For what it’s worth, Palms had a similar impact on Gold Coast when Station Casino was operating the property. Read more here. 
• It looks as though Durango Resort (Station Casino) won’t open until early 2024 now. Read more here.  
• The dolphin attraction at The Mirage is on hold temporarily. I’m pretty sure it will be closed forever. I don’t see Hard Rock keeping this attraction after the company takes over operations from MGM Resorts. Read more here.  
• Maroon 5 will have its first Las Vegas residency at Park MGM next year. Find dates and more information here.
• The sale of Tropicana to Bally’s Corp. is complete. Read more here.
• Tropicana has a new rewards program. This is not currently connected with Bally’s casinos around the country. Read the FAQ here.  
• As a reminder, mychoice points from the old Tropicana players club can be redeemed at M Resort. You can find more info about that rewards program here.  

• The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority released its monthly Executive Summary. You can read it here.  
• Every month this year I’ve been amused by the average daily hotel room rate. This month is no different. In August visitation to Las Vegas was down 10.9% from 2019. Meanwhile, the average daily room rate in Aug. was up 22.4% from 2019.
• El Cortez renovated the original hotel tower rooms. Read about this and the other room renovations at the property here.  
• I stayed in this hotel tower at El Cortez once and it was absolutely miserable. Forget that the rooms needed this refresh. The bed/mattress was the most uncomfortable I’ve had in a hotel. Hopefully, those were changed. None of the available media has any information about this.
• Painful mattress aside, I loved the motel vibe with an attached casino. The view was beautiful.
• Sahara changed its Infinity Rewards casino players club (no points for non-gaming spending). See the specifics here.  
• One interesting item I noticed is that the highest-level players can transfer points to other players. Don’t think I’ve seen this elsewhere before.
• Sigma Derby at The D is working again. People are so excited they can’t sit down. See the proof here!
• Pitbull will be at Resorts World on New Year’s Eve. Tiesto is performing in the club too. I don’t expect many other people care about Pitbull but this is another reminder to get your holiday plans in order sooner than later. Find more info here.
• It looks like the free circus acts at Circus Circus will only be on weekends. See the tweet here.
• Choke Hole is extreme drag wrestling at Area 15. There’s definitely a niche audience for this. I know several people that would enjoy this if they were in town. Read more here.
• There’s a beer festival at the Downtown Container Park on 10/15. The cost is $35 for 3 hours of beer. And there’s live music. This is inexpensive but you should not expect craft beer. You should expect long lines that come with a low price. Read more here.
• The Duck Duck Shed event coming to the Neon Museum in late October looks at Las Vegas architecture. The intro video is a great tease on the topic. Read and see more here.   
• Miranda Lambert’s residency is underway at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort. Read more here. 

• Here’s another new slot machine as we get ready for G2E. Aristocrat is already rolling out its new high-limit Dollar Lightning Link slots. Read more here.  
• The guy that invented the cronut is opening a joint inside Caesars Palace Las Vegas this month. Read more here.
• If nothing else, the baker makes cute sweet treats.
• Not sure I give any credibility to a report from Club Med but it says Las Vegas is America’s happiest holiday destination. Captain Obvious could have written this report. Read more here.

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Vegas News September 29, 2022

Caesars Renovations and Comp $27 Cocktails

Caesars Palace Las Vegas just finished renovations that include a new lobby bar. Everything looks great, especially the new lobby bar (above). Read the press release here and find out even more here. 

Vital Vegas says that some of the $27 specialty cocktails at the new lobby bar will be comp’d. See the tweet and pics from the bar here. 

New Galleria Bar at Caesars Palace is awesome. Specialty drink prices are, well, $27 is the new $18, which was the new $12 (a good number can be comped for video poker players). Bartender Brian will be familiar to Hell’s Kitchen fans. Love what they’ve done to the place. pic.twitter.com/6FWZ3RSwMk

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) September 22, 2022

Bally’s Trop Takeover

The Nevada Gaming Commission approved the Tropicana sale to Bally’s this week. Just about everything will remain the same at the property for a year or two. You can read highlights of the changes from a couple of weeks ago here. 

Eventually, Tropicana will have a new name. Bally’s will be considering multiple redevelopment possibilities over the next couple of years. The company hasn’t teased names, but I think Tropicana will eventually become the new Bally’s Las Vegas.

Bally’s did share something new this week. The company is working on a changeover plan with Penn Entertainment. All players at the Tropicana will start the new Bally’s Rewards program at zero. Eventually, Penn’s mychoice rewards will no longer be accepted at Tropicana. M Resort is the only other Las Vegas option for mychoice rewards members.

Bally’s Rewards – Bally’s Trop Takeover

Bally’s didn’t mention matching tiers during its meeting with the Nevada Gaming Commission this week. It’s possible there will be a tier match with points starting at zero. You can learn more about Bally’s Rewards available at Bally’s Lake Tahoe here.

Formula 1 – 2023 Calendar

Formula 1 released its 2023 calendar this week. The Las Vegas Grand Prix date is scheduled for November 18 if the track is ready to go. Events will take place from 11/16-18. Read more here.

You can still donate $7.77 to possibly gain early access to F1 tickets.  It looks like “only” 100,000 tickets will be available, and there will be much more ticket demand. Read more here.

Food Hall Concept

We finally have details on the food hall replacing the buffet at Aria. Read about Proper Eats here.  

The food hall concept may not be original, but I’m looking forward to checking out Seoul Bird. This will be its first US location. Learn more here.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• Station Casinos continues to move forward with planning new casinos. It looks like approval for a new casino in North Las Vegas will be right around the corner. Read more here. 
• MGM Resorts has its own airplane(s) for high rollers. It’s no surprise that the company is selling the Cosmopolitan jet. It’s less than $9 million if you’re interested in buying a used Gulfstream. See the specs here.  
• You love parking updates so here ya go. The Venetian and The Palazzo are now charging for valet parking. Self-parking is still free. Read more here.   
• Bruno Mars will be playing two shows at Park MGM on New Year’s Eve weekend. Read more here.
• A slew of performances have been announced for New Year’s Eve over the past couple of weeks. You might want to start making plans if you want to visit Las Vegas for the holiday weekend.
• Lucky Club Hotel & Casino in North Las Vegas is being renovated and rebranded as Ojos Locos Sports Cantina y Casino at Hotel Jefe. Read more here.
• The Nevada Gaming Control Board fined William Hill for issues with its sports betting app. Read more here.  

• The problems at William Hill started in 2015. This is well before Caesars purchased the company. You can read about that deal here.
• Binions and 4 Queens are owned by the same company. They’re finally combining players clubs. Read more here. 
• If you haven’t been to Binion’s website in a while it still looks like this.  
• You’ve known this information about the hotel and casino business for more than a year since you read Vegas News every week. Read more here.  
• Speaking of conferences, here’s a preview of some of the slot machines that will be on display at G2E.
• There aren’t many licensed games so many of the slot machines above should be in casinos sooner than later. Some of the new cabinets are already in casinos. I’m hoping to be wowed by some of the new technology in the games.
• The Strat is part of the World Hotels collection. I’m not familiar with these properties. Read more here. 
• There’s a new viewing deck being built at The Strat so people can see the Gateway arches to downtown Las Vegas more easily. Read more here.  
• The Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA championship this week. The team celebrated on the Vegas Strip next to the Bellagio fountains. Read and see more here.  

• Santana’s residency at House Of Blues inside Mandalay Bay will continue next year. Read more here.  
• Caesars announced more show dates for Donny Osmond at Harrah’s next year. Read more here.

Event Planners – PopUp Rideshare Service

This one is for event planners. I saw a press release for a popup rideshare service to get people to and from conventions. I could think of many uses for this service, but I’ll leave that to the experts. I’ve been out of the event game for years. Read more here.  

Guns-N-Roses

Last but not least, I was wondering why details on a Guns n Roses box set was in my Las Vegas news feed. You can read the press release here but I’ll save you the time if you prefer. The set will have a “complete audio recording of Live In Las Vegas taped at Thomas & Mack Center on January 25, 1992, newly mixed from the original multi-track tapes and features the band’s new guitarist Gilby Clarke.“

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Caesars Palace Las Vegas Renovation

As travelers continue to emerge from hibernation, casinos are once again starting to pour money into properties and renovations. This year seems to be the year of Caesars Entertainment, which has just completed a new entrance at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, ahead of an upcoming rebranding from Bally’s to Horseshoe. Let’s take a quick peek at this extensive Caesars Palace Las Vegas Renovation.

New Light, New Look

Caesars literally raised the roof on the new entrance, replacing a ceiling that risked hitting the average NBA player squarely in the forehead, as well as the dome, which was less than inspiring.

They hit the mark with the new space. The main entrance, dome and porte-cochère are now not only the same height as the lobby but also have incredible lighting that doesn’t make you feel like you are walking through a government building. The focus of the space is the chandelier, which consists of more than 70,000 crystals.

A 15-foot marble statue of Augustus Caesar is planted directly underneath the chandelier, and really, that’s what everyone needs in their living room. Past the entryway, there are two new gaming pits, as well as a 3,200-pound chandelier in the casino dome.

Have a Drink While You Wait

Checking in on a Friday night and standing behind 200 other guests? No problem, have a drink. The new Galleria Bar in the lobby, designed to look like an Italian study, has 24 seats and 22 multi-game slot machines, meaning that two people will be unable to lose their money before even checking into their room. The bar is actually colored in gold and black and looks spectacular, graced by murals and four statues of Venus, who stare down at you disapprovingly. You’ll have your choice of wine, signature cocktails, or whatever happens to catch your eye. No word yet on whether they give free refills on the Diet Coke.

Signature cocktails at Galleria Bar include:

• Branson XO Sidecar, made with Branson XO Cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice, egg whites and a cinnamon sugar rim
• Denarius, made with Ron Zacapa Centenario XO rum, orange juice, coconut cream, pineapple juice and a fresh pineapple wedge garnish
• Empress Smash, made with Empress 1908 Gin, Aperol, lemon juice, strawberries and basil
• Queen of Hearts, made with Casamigos tequila, watermelon purée, lime juice, a pinch of salt, sliced jalapenos and a fresh watermelon wedge
• Wild Orchid, made with Ketel One Oranje Vodka, lemon juice and crème de violette

Be Sure To Check Out
Caesars, NOT Caesar’s Palace | Las Vegas
and a throwback to 2016
Las Vegas | Finding A Classic: Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace

A New Las Vegas Upgrade Cycle?

As you probably know, Las Vegas tends to go through boom and bust cycles. Although the peaks and valleys have flattened over time, when economic conditions allow, the companies pump capital into the Strip. Despite the global health crisis, we seem to be in yet another period of construction. In 2020, Circa opened downtown, the first new casino on Fremont Street in decades. A year later, we got Resorts World, a project that had gone through several iterations before finally opening in June. The Strip property has three hotels, almost 3,500 rooms, and seven pools at the $4 billion property, including a private one at the boutique hotel Crockfords, which offers fantastic value for a luxury product.*

For some more details, be sure to watch the quick video “Walk-Through of Caesars Palace Refresh” by the famous (infamous) vegas-influencer Scott of Vital Vegas.

But no matter what happens with future casinos in Las Vegas, it’s nice to see Caesars Entertainment putting some money into its icon property. She certainly deserves it.

Let TravelZork Travel Book Your Next Casino Adventure

*Please visit us at TravelZork Travel to book your next trip, including extra amenities such as complimentary breakfast, a hotel credit, and potential upgrades at luxury properties, including the newest posh boutique Las Vegas Luxury Property Crockfords Las Vegas. Visit our TravelZork Travel Exclusive Las Vegas Site to see the benefits, as well as the terms and conditions. TravelZork Travel is an exclusive member of the Caesars Travel Agent Program with direct contacts for leisure sales for all Caesars Properties in Las Vegas. You can also easily book Caesars Palace Las Vegas directly via the Caesars Palace Las Vegas website.

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Vegas News September 19, 2022

Renovations and New Construction Update

This week we will get to a new construction update as well as some current renovations. We mentioned that MGM Resorts planned on renovating a portion of the rooms at MGM Grand after the company’s recent earnings call. Some of the rooms in the newly named Studio Tower (former West Wing) will be available in late October. The rest should be completed before the end of the year. Read more here.

Once again, MGM Resorts made a virtual tour available for the new rooms. Check out a virtual view of the new MGM Grand room here.

I don’t love or hate the renderings, but Twitter responses seemed to have a strong negative feeling about the design. The opinions of the people who follow me on Instagram are a little more evenly split. The good news is that there are more towers with different rooms if you don’t like this.

BUFFALOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

G2E is closing in and companies are starting to reveal some of the products they’ll have on display. In a stunning development, Aristocrat will reveal a new version of Buffalo slot machine at the show!

This reminds me of this Buffalo demo game from G2E that hasn’t hit the casino floor from a few years ago.

A new Frank Sinatra slot machine is already available in some California casinos. Seems like this should have debuted in NJ or near the Sinatra restaurant at Encore. Read more here.

Light & Wonder will have a similar Johnny Cash slot machine on display at G2E.

I’ll be in attendance at G2E in Oct. and will share new slot machines, table games, and anything I find fun or interesting on Twitter and Instagram.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• How does Wynn NYC sound? The company plans to bid on building a casino in New York City. Read more here.
• Back in Las Vegas, Wynn has partnered with Tom Brady for the TB12 Body Coach. This will be available at the Encore Fitness Center at Wynn Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Station Casinos started demolition on Texas Station and Fiesta Henderson. Read more here.
• Red Rock Resort opened a new video poker bar this weekend. Read more here.
• Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) will have a show at The Venetian. Read more about Freestyle Love Supreme here.
• Resorts World will have a Christmas Light “extravaganza” this year. Read more here.
• Speaking of Christmas fun, M Resort will have a holiday carnival. Read more here.
• Human Nature will be performing a few holiday shows at South Point. Read more here.
• Here’s one if you’re not ready for Christmas right now. Freakling Bros. is back for Halloween if you’re looking for something haunted. Read more here.
• This will probably appeal more to locals and regional visitors since this becomes a deal when seeing multiple shows. The Live Nation Club Pass will allow you entry into unlimited shows at House Of Blues at Mandalay Bay from Oct. through Dec. Read more here.
• The Live Nation deal is available around the country. You can see a list of participating venues here.
• You can see Battlebots live in Las Vegas this October. The show will be recorded at Caesars Entertainment Studios on Koval. This is located near Ellis Island – not Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Lids (the hat store) is opening a 2-story flagship location on the Vegas Strip. Read more here. 

Las Vegas Construction Update

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) released an update of its construction bulletin this week. 

The report has an overview of construction that has been announced for Las Vegas over the next few years. Not everything listed will be built or finished on time. 

Right now the LVCVA is projecting nearly 9,000 new or renovated hotel rooms and more than 830,000 square feet of convention space will be coming to Las Vegas in the next few years.

The list does give a solid overview of what might be coming to Las Vegas this year and beyond. Since the list starts with 2022, some of the projects are completed or underway. 

• Here are a few highlights to look forward to in 2023 and 2024. You’re probably aware of many of these since they were already announced.
• Fremont Casino expansion
• Circus Circus renovations

Construction @MiracleMileLV pic.twitter.com/sxeHGwcnmw

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) September 14, 2022

• Miracle Mile Shops renovations
• Silverton and New York-New York room renovations
• Durango Resort
• Dream Las Vegas
• Hard Rock Las Vegas
• MSG Sphere at The Venetian
• Rio renovations
• Vegas Loop (estimated completion date still 2045)

Last but not least – Fontainebleau and All Net Arena are both celebrating 10 years on this list!

There’s one interesting item that doesn’t have a completion date yet. At some point, the city will build a new pedestrian bridge near Bellagio.

This will likely be good for safety, but it will take away one of the few options to cross the street without riding an escalator or walking stairs. 

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Vegas News September 12, 2022

Football Season Vegas

It’s football season and Las Vegas sportsbooks will be packed every Saturday and Sunday for the next few months. This is a great atmosphere for someone that’s a football fan and/or bettor.

My preference has changed from enjoying a mellow day or night of baseball to the intensity of watching football games in the sportsbook. There aren’t many experiences in the casino that can match watching football games.

Las Vegas is different than any other city with legal sports betting. For starters, the Nevada sports betting apps are not connected with those from other states. 

Apps From Other States Do Not Work In Las Vegas

The BetMGM, Caesars, William Hill, and WynnBet apps from other states do not work in Las Vegas. You must sign up for a Nevada account at a sportsbook inside a casino to bet on a mobile device – even if you already have an account with one of those operators elsewhere. The app technology and betting menus are entirely different.

Since there’s so much more in-person betting in Las Vegas that the sportsbooks are full of people. Having such high demand for seating in the sportsbook during football season allows casinos and bars the ability to either charge a reservation fee or require a minimum spend.

This isn’t a new topic but not everyone remembers how busy Las Vegas casinos are during football games. Consider this your reminder. You can read more specifics here.

Casinos usually target football season to debut new sportsbook updates. Caesars spent the summer upgrading many of its sportsbooks. Harrah’s and Paris have new furniture and screens. Caesars has some new seating and carpet. 

Bally’s Sportsbook – That Isn’t Really A Sportsbook

The Linq just has a sports bar. You may remember that Bally’s closed its sportsbook to make an arcade. This week Bally’s revealed its new sportsbook…that isn’t really a sportsbook. 

.@Ballysvegas, the future @HorseshoeVegas, opened its new Caesars Sportsbook space in time for #Kickoff2022

It features betting windows, self-service betting kiosks, and 12, 55-inch odds boards.

Located next to Burger Brasserie in between #BallysVegas & @ParisVegas. pic.twitter.com/xL1bHMDmOT

— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) September 8, 2022

Bally’s Sports Betting Desk And Kiosks

The Bally’s sports betting desk and kiosks are located near Burger Brasserie. The bar and restaurant is located a few steps into Paris Las Vegas just beyond the Bally’s casino floor. The burger joint will eventually become another Guy Fieri sports bar/restaurant. 

Las Vegas Sportsbook Changes You May Have Missed

Here are a few other sportsbook changes you may have missed over the past couple of years:

• BetMGM now operates the sportsbook inside The Cosmopolitan. This used to be William Hill sportsbook.
• The Tuscany sportsbook is basically a Circa Sports satellite location similar to Golden Gate. You can watch games at Pub 365.
• Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo is closed. There’s a sports betting counter on the main casino floor.

Happy football season!

Tropicana Quick Hits

We’ll share some information about Tropicana developments in quick hit form since this was a relatively slow news week in Las Vegas.

• Bally’s Corp. was recommended for a license to operate the Tropicana. Read more here.
• Nevada Gaming Commission should approve the license on Sept. 22. Bally’s expects the sale to close by the end of the month.
• As a reminder, Bally’s Corp. is a national casino operator that has nothing to do with the casino in Las Vegas. Learn more about Bally’s here.
• When Bally’s takes over The Tropicana it will keep the name for a while.
• Don’t expect to see any major changes to the property from the casino floor to restaurants. Employees that want to stay at the property will continue to work for the new operator.
• William Hill will continue to operate the sportsbook for now. That will likely change next year as Bally’s will submit an application to operate the sportsbook within 60-120 days of the sale closing.
• Bally’s will have a redevelopment plan for the property somewhere between 12 and 24 months. The company can build whatever it wants on the land since Bally’s owns the physical structures.
• The Tropicana is one potential stadium site if the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas. There have also been rumors about the Tropicana building out retail space for years.
• Players will be moved from Tropicana/Penn Entertainment MyChoice Rewards to Bally Rewards.
• Double Tree should remain Tropicana’s hotel partner for at least a year.
• Bally’s is keeping plans close to the vest for now. The company might share some more after the sale closes but don’t expect to hear too much about developing the property for a while.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

There wasn’t too much casino and gambling news about Las Vegas this week but you know we have all the good stuff for ya.

• Wally’s at Resort World is adding a tequila bar. Read more here. 
• Vetri Cucina is reopening at Palms on Nov. 1. Read more here.
• USA Today must still be important because I received multiple press releases from companies on its Top 10 lists. I haven’t seen a USA Today newspaper in years and don’t know anyone that reads the website so take this info for whatever you think it’s worth.
• USA Today named Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program the Best Players Club for the fifth year in a row. Read more here.
• Only one Caesars property, Caesars Palace Las Vegas, made the best Las Vegas casino’s top 10 list. Read more here.
• The D, Downtown Grand, and Plaza were the top three casinos on that top 10 list.
• In other useless lists, Las Vegas is the #3 city in the US for chocolate lovers. Read more here.
• The Caviar Bar at Resorts World is having a champagne and wine event on 9/16. This sounds like fun. Evidently this combination is a thing. It’s a thing I’m curious about now. See the invite here.
• The 13th annual Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival will take place at Tivoli Village on Oct. 7 and 8. If you’re not familiar with the location it’s directly across the street from Suncoast Casino. Read more here.
• The Las Vegas Pizza Festival will take place on Nov. 12. See ticketing information and the large list of pizza places that will be serving up slices here.
• Kevin Hart is performing at Resorts World on Nov. 18 and 19. The shows will be recorded for an upcoming special. Read more here
• Silverton will be building an apartment complex next to the casino. Seems like it would be nice to live within walking distance of Cracker Barrel, Big Bass Pro Shop, and a casino. Read more here.

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