Vegas News March 23, 2023

Vegas Visitor Data – The Average Visitor To Las Vegas

Let’s kick off this week’s edition of Vegas News with some information about the average visitor to Las Vegas in 2022 (Vegas Visitor Data). The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s (LVCVA) annual Visitor Profile is a small sample snapshot of visitors to Las Vegas. 

The report isn’t 100% accurate and it’s not a representation of any particular individual. The LVCVA interviewed 6,267 individuals for this report. For reference, almost 39 million people visited Las Vegas last year, according to the LVCVA. 

It takes a special person to stop and take a survey this large while visiting Las Vegas. While surveys like this are not totally accurate, they help paint a picture of who’s visiting Las Vegas. 

This is a good reminder that TravelZork readers are probably not the average visitors to Las Vegas. Again, the overview is a representation of how visitors spend their time and money in Las Vegas.

You can see the full report here.  

Highlights – Vegas Visitor Data

Here are some highlights from the 2022 Visitor Profile:

75% of visitors to Las Vegas gambled during their visit. That’s typical. Only 6% of visitors were in Las Vegas specifically to gamble. This is a little lower than usual but not entirely out of line with all of the concerts and non-gaming events in Las Vegas.

Visitors Gamble 2.6 Hours Per Day

Visitors only gambled 2.6 hours per day. That’s like one video poker session at Chandelier bar for me. Lastly, on this topic – the average gambling budget per visit was $761. That’s per visit – not per day. This was an increase from previous years.

10% Of Visitors Receive Comp Rooms

Only 10% of visitors received comp rooms last year. This is fairly typical. 50% of visitors paid regular advertised rates. 13% of visitors paid a discount casino rate. This increase might be due to discounts from booking directly from the casino operators.

The average age of visitors was 40.7 years. That’s down from 43.2 years in 2021 and more from previous years. It’s unclear if this includes kids. 16% of respondents had people under 18 in their travel group. That’s down from last year but up from previous years.

Visitation Increased – Downtown Las Vegas

Visitation increased to downtown Las Vegas. Half of the visitors went downtown to hang out at the Fremont Street Experience. Only 8% went downtown specifically to gamble. 60% of survey respondents that didn’t go downtown said they had no time or didn’t care about the area. 

The information may not be totally accurate but the picture it paints resembles what see in person, hear during earnings calls and read from analysts throughout the year.

The LVCVA put together some more highlights here.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

Las Vegas Grand Prix Quick Hits

• The moment we’ve been dreading is almost upon us. Las Vegas will be repaving the roads for the F1 race between April 2 and Aug. 25. The Vegas Strip paving will take place between May 9th – 19th. Brace for delays getting around. You can see the rest of the dates here.  
• Construction on the F1 paddock on Koval and Harmon will be completed around late Sept. or early Oct. This hasn’t been much of a deal for traffic but it will be a big part of the race. Read more here.  
• Hard Rock (The Mirage) is now a presenting partner for the F1 race. The casino will have its own 3,000-capacity grandstand adjacent to the Vegas Strip. Read more here. 

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

Quick Hits

• The Bellagio spring conservatory display is up! There are some familiar elements and others are new. Read and see more here.
• Say this real fast after a couple of glasses of vino. WYNN WINE WEEKEND. This will take place in March at Wynn Las Vegas. Read more here.
• There’s a rumor with very little information that Cher wants to do another Las Vegas residency. Read more here.   
• Keith Urban added more dates to his PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort residency. Read more here.

• The American Kennel Club dropped its list of the most popular dog in 2022. French Bulldogs are the most popular in Las Vegas. You can see all the details here and a slew of regional press releases here.
• Last week we shared news about The Strat renovating some rooms. This week we share this nugget – “The Strat is sky-high, sold out through March at $400 ADRs on weekends.” Read more at the bottom of this blog post.  
• Penn Entertainment officially filed plans for the new tower at M Resort. Read more here.

• Station Casinos shared a new rendering (above) of the hotel and pool along with information on a couple of bars and a restaurant. Read more here.  
• It looks like Caesars is considering selling (Selling Loyalty Club Tiers) its rewards program (Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program). I feel like I’ve been seeing this rumor since the company used the Total Rewards card featured in the article. Read more here via Vital Vegas.
• Boring is digging a new tunnel! This one will go from the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Westgate. When this opens it will be the third of 69 planned stations. Read more here.
• Resorts World named its infinity pool “Athena.” Read more here.   
• The “It” escape room is now open. Read more here.  
• LSU will play USC at Allegiant Stadium in Sept. at the Vegas Kickoff Classic. Read more here.  
• The Rouge Room at Red Rock is now open. Read more here.

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It’s often been said that the only thing constant about Las Vegas is change. It started in 1905, with the founding of the city. A year later, the Golden Gate Casino went up. There were several key turning points, including the Rat Pack and the introduction of the modern era, when Steve Wynn opened Mirage in 1989. Since then, we’ve seen numerous changes, including the “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” campaign (which worked well), to the period of making Las Vegas family-friendly (not so much).

Right now, we seem to be in the “Las Vegas Celebrity Chef” era. This follows two decades of innovation and/or restaurants coming from other cities to establish a Vegas presence. I have to admit, it’s not my favorite. Of course, I’m not particularly bougie, but it is what it is.

More Las Vegas Celebrity Chefs on the Way

For those who follow the celebrity chefs, though, Las Vegas is a gold mine. On March 21, Caesars Palace Las Vegas will be opening Stanton Social Prime. According to Caesars,

Stanton Social Prime brings Chef Santos’ signature sharable dishes to the center-Strip resort, with the return of the Famous French Onion Soup Dumplings topped with Gruyère cheese and garlic croutons, as well as Pierogies made with potato, goat cheese and truffle. New creations include the Smoked Butter Board with Thumbelina crudités, Maldon sea salt flakes and sourdough demi baguette and the ‘Al Pastor’ Yellowtail Crudo, which features grilled pineapple, cilantro, lime and pineapple ponzu.

Stanton Social Prime’s steaks are a highlight of the menu, seasoned with house dry rub, rested in a bath of Beurre de Baratte, finished with pink Himalayan salt and served with roasted black garlic. The restaurant offers a large selection of prime dry-aged steaks for the table, including ‘Pretty in Pink,’ a 10-ounce filet with pink peppercorn sauce, pink oyster mushrooms, and decadent sides such as the Dirty Tots with caviar and lobster crème fraîche. Guests can choose from a selection of sauces in vintage perfume bottles to drizzle onto their steaks, like the Eau de Poivre and Chanterelle No. 5.

True to the showmanship of Las Vegas, Stanton Social Prime also features theatrical tableside presentations, delectable desserts and charming craft cocktails. Those looking for a unique cocktail served in a bottle can try The Black Regiment, made with Bulleit rye whiskey, Carpano Antica vermouth, Amaro Montenegro liqueur and cinnamon. A signature zero-proof beverage is Strawberry Rhode created with Kin Euphorics High Rhode, strawberry puree, elderflower and lemon juice.

Hmm, interesting. I’ve never seen a steak named after a Psychedelic Furs song, but hey, it’s Las Vegas.

David Chang is Heading up Hoops & Hops at Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

Even the NCAA tournament needs a Las Vegas celebrity chef. David Chang will be joining Cosmopolitan Las Vegas for its annual celebration. Chang, the host of the “The Dave Chang Show” podcast, will be recording a podcast from the event. Chef Chang has already created Momofuku and Bang Bar at Cosmo, so it’s no surprise that the sports fan will be there.

See also: Hoops & Hops at Cosmopolitan

How Many Celebrity Chefs Does Las Vegas Need?

No clue. It all feels kind of artificial, but it is Las Vegas we’re talking about here; there’s little that isn’t artificial. But as we know, something is always changing in the city. After a showing or two of The Menu, it will be time for something else.

The post The Las Vegas Celebrity Chef Restaurant Revolution Continues appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News March 14, 2023

Las Vegas Grand Prix Update

Yep, another Las Vegas Grand Prix Update. There’s a large international following for F1, and the sport fascinates me. The intrigue is as much off the track as it is race related. The business angle is particularly interesting – especially as it relates to Las Vegas.

Last week, F1 announced that more tickets for the Las Vegas Grand Prix will go on sale to the public on March 24. Similar to the last batch there will be a presale available. Some will be able to buy tickets as soon as March 20. Read more here.  

Renderings – Las Vegas Grand Prix Update

Some more renderings for the race circuit (track) were released with the ticket information. You can see one above and the rest here. No, the race won’t look like a computer simulation in real life. Evidently, not everyone understands this so I guess that needs to be clarified.

The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) would like to buy $7 million worth of tickets for the race. Read more here.   

The renderings make me wonder if The Venetian and neighboring casinos start charging for event self-parking like the properties near T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium when MSG Sphere opens. Keep an eye on this if paying to park matters to you.

I’m not sure if I shared this video before but the process of F1 building a street course is fascinating. Enjoy it below. 

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

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• Since you love parking…A parking garage and restaurant near Allegiant Stadium are coming along nicely. Read more here.   
• Remember that casino Golden Nugget owner was planning for the Vegas Strip? Well, it’s on hold. Read more here. 
• Bally’s Corp. is going through changes and its Las Vegas casino doesn’t appear to be its number one focus. Sounds familiar for the Tropicana. A new Chicago casino is probably top of the list. Anyway, Nevada Gaming regulators appear to like the new CEO and we might hear some plans for the future of the Tropicana before the month is over. Read more here.
• We will also hear more specific plans and possibly a timeline for Hard Rock’s guitar hotel plans for the Mirage during the same meeting. Read more here.   
• Speaking of the Mirage, Hard Rock is rebranding the Aces Of Comedy series to Center Stage Comedy. Believe it or not, there are still a few comics that haven’t jumped ship for other Vegas Strip properties. I would love to see some new funny people in the future. Read more here.   
• As of last weekend, the Mirage website was still using the Aces of Comedy branding. Maybe the website will be updated when you read this. You can see the full list of performers here.  
• Remember the cat someone found in their room at Excalibur? Well, the cat is back home. Read more here.  

CHICKEN GUY!

• CHICKEN GUY is the second-best quick-serve restaurant name in Las Vegas behind JACK POTS at Circa. The new Fieri spot at Caesars Palace Las Vegas food court will open this summer. Read more here.  
• Siegfried and Roys home is sold! That was quick. Read more here.
• The Vegas Loop is a step closer to connecting UNLV after a land deal was completed. The stop is slated to be open sometime next year. It should be noted that there are currently two stations open of the 69 planned. Read more here.    
• The LVCVA might sell the Riviera land. Read more here.   
• Zappos Theater at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort will have a new name soon. Read more here. 
• Bakkt Holdings is a crypto company. Don’t be surprised if there’s another announcement about the theater name sooner than later.
• Flanker Sports Bar will open in June at Mandalay Bay. See renderings and read more here.
• This blog quotes stock analysts saying that there’s a bull case for Las Vegas casinos. Read about it at the bottom of the post here.  
• While demand is high, I’ve been seeing relatively lower demand for Super Bowl and March Madness watch parties. Some properties started offering discounts for March Madness parties. Attendance for this event will be different this year, with the CON AGG Expo taking place at the same time.
• Perhaps we hit an inflection point in pricing with so many events taking place. Stock analysts don’t have eyes on the ground and are typically reactive, not proactive in this market. This is something I’m keeping an eye on as I look forward to economic changes in Las Vegas.
• It’s pool season in Las Vegas! The LVCVA has a solid list of dayclubs if you’re looking for an afternoon party. Check it out here.   
• Golden Entertainment, the owner of The Strat, sold its Nevada slot route business to focus on its retail businesses. Read more here.
• Shrooms might become legal in Nevada. Read more here.  
• AEW rasslin’ is returning to Las Vegas for three nights in May. Read more here.  
• It looks as though Adele might have her residency at Caesars Palace Las Vegas extended. Read the tweet here.   
• Nevada Rep. Dina Titus is trying to raise the W2G threshold to $5,000 and will index to inflation so that the amount will always change with the financial times. Read more here.  
• Gene Simmon of Kiss is hosting a three-day event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel in May. Two days are sold out already. Read more here.

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Vegas News March 9, 2023

MGM New F1 Package

MGM was in the news for a few reasons last week. You already know about the MGM Rewards tier accelerator we slid into Vegas News before posting last week. This week? MGM New F1 Package.

The company also revealed that the Las Vegas Grand Prix grandstand seats in front of Bellagio are sold out. These seats were only available to those who also reserved a room at an MGM property in Las Vegas during the race.

MGM now has tickets for the Bellagio Fountain Club available in the same area in front of the Bellagio Fountains. The space is highlighted by all-you-can-eat and drink with food provided by Mario Carbone, David Chang, Michael Mina, Masaharu Morimoto, Bryan & Michael Voltaggio, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. 

It appears as though a three-day pass will cost over $11,000. Read more about the experience here.

This is one example of how Las Vegas representatives think the F1 race will have twice the economic impact than the Super Bowl in 2024 will. You can read about that here.  

I’m probably more fascinated by the business of this F1 race in Las Vegas because it’s so new to Las Vegas. I started watching F1 racing a few years ago and have really enjoyed it. There aren’t many sports that happen when I wake up and drink my morning coffee.

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

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• It feels like just yesterday that The Strat renovated its rooms. I don’t think those updates were for all rooms. The owners, Golden Entertainment are updating just over 500 of the 2,400 rooms along with the hallways outside of the rooms. Read more from Golden’s earnings call here.
• While we’re on the north end of the Vegas Strip, there’s a real estate listing for a motel on the market near Circus Circus. Read more here.
• We like to share how casino loyalty clubs are changing. Casino operators are always looking to get the most out of their guests (us). I found a business-to-business (B2B) article from a company looking to help casinos make more money from players. I find it helpful to understand how the machine operates so I can rage against it and find angles that work for me. Read that article here.   
• On this topic, we listen to casino earnings calls so you don’t have to. We also listen so that you don’t have to wait multiple years for the mainstream media to tell you certain things about how casinos operate. Read the latest example about casino operators running a tighter ship here.  
• Want to buy a house once owned by Siegfried and Roy. See the listing here.   
• If price weren’t a factor, would you rather own Siegfried and Roy’s house or the motel near Circus Circus? Drop a comment below.
• The monthly Executive Summary of visitation from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is always interesting. You can read it here.  
• The January report was particularly interesting with CES attendance returning to normal. Visitation was up 32.3% from 2022 but down 4% from 2019. Similarly, hotel room occupancy was up 19.8% but down  4.9% from 2019. However, the average hotel room rate was up 32.0% from 2022 and up 22.4% from 2019. 
• It continues to appear as though the economics of Las Vegas are changing more than visitation. 
• It appears as though a couple of people caught Legionnaires’ disease at the Orleans. Read more here.  
• Adele fans might not be the sharpest slices of cheese. Read more here.  
• Cannabis Consumption lounges are approved. You can read details about them here. 
• I first saw a concert ticket payment plan for the When We Were Young festival. Evidently, this is spreading to Vegas Strip shows. Read more here.   
• The Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend is a blast if you like the music or not. The fans are super nice and the cars on display are rade. Read the press release here and visit the website for pics and info here.
• Stanton Social at Caesars Palace Las Vegas is now open. Read more here.  
• If you prefer to avoid Caesars Palace Las Vegas, you can get many of the same menu items at Beauty & Essex inside the Cosmopolitan. Read more here.
• Caesars is removing a part of the property nobody cares about. Read more here. 
• There’s a women’s golf event taking place at Shadow’s Creek in May. Read more here.   
• Jeff Dunham is doing six more shows at the Zappos Theater inside PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort. Read more here.   

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Vegas News March 2, 2023

Caesars Earnings

Caesars didn’t have much information beyond finances during its earnings call. Here’s a quick overview of what the company discussed about Las Vegas. Oh, and a last-minute addition about a new promotion (announced on March 1st): MGM Rewards Daily Tier Status Accelerator, which somewhat mimics the current Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program Daily Tier Promotion.

The earnings report and accompanying call fall in line with the other casino corporations that reported earnings over the past few weeks.

• Caesars Entertainment reported earnings last week. Last year was good financially. Read the financials here.  
• Caesars’ CEO Tom Reeg said that it’s “hard to express how strong Vegas is now.” However, the company has zero plans to update, upgrade or renovate any of its Las Vegas casinos. Any changes to Caesars’ properties will happen outside of Las Vegas.
• Coincidentally, a friend staying at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort last week said the rooms are starting to look run down. These rooms were renovated before the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Caesars had a busy fourth quarter and that’s leading into a busy 2023. Similar to MGM Resorts, Caesars is looking forward to a busy March.
• March is an incredibly busy month in Las Vegas with college basketball all month, NASCAR during the first weekend, the CONAGG expo, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Break, and the beginning of pool season. You can see more about the Madness here.   
• Group and convention business continues to improve for Caesars. It’s growing so rapidly that these guests are replacing lower-profit OTA (Expedia) customers and lower-tier rewards members.
• Look for lower-tier rewards members to get fewer complimentary rooms. The group customers pay higher rates, and even though they don’t gamble, they spend much more on non-gaming amenities.
• The busy year will carry into 2024 with F1 in Nov., NFR in Dec., CES in Jan, and the Super Bowl in Feb. These are just single busy periods for each month.
• Speaking of the Super Bowl, I did a quick check of room rates. Not all casinos have rooms available yet. Caesars’ hotel room rates start at $759 + resort fee at The Linq. See more here.  
• Not surprisingly, rates during the Las Vegas Grand Prix have dropped a little. Rooms at Caesars properties for F1 race weekend are around the same price as the Super Bowl. This isn’t cheap but it’s not as high as when the dates for the race were first released.

MGM Rewards Tier Promotion – MGM DAILY TIER STATUS ACCELERATOR

MGM Rewards has introduced a tier accelerator program for Las Vegas. This is similar to the Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program Daily Tier Point Bonuses. With the MGM Tier Status Accelerator, there are four milestones with bonuses between 1,250 and 60,000 Tier Credits.

The promotional day is between 6 AM Pacific Time and 5:59 AM Pacific time the following day. Unlike the Caesars Rewards program, which has been ongoing for years, this program is set to end on July 31, 2023.

Is this a good deal? Is this viable for most players? We expect to discuss a bit more, potentially on an upcoming episode of ZorkCast.

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

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• Martin Yan’s restaurant, M.Y. Asia, will open at Horseshoe Las Vegas on March 13. Read more here.
• The Cosmopolitan released dates, movies, and prices for Dive In movies outside at the Boulevard Pool. Read more here.  
• You can now watch BattleBots in Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Bellagio has a new art installation at its gallery of fine art. Read and see more here.  
• Boring could build a station at UNLV. The company is on pace to have 69 stations completed by 2090. This could change if more stations open but there are currently only two. Read more here.
• I’m surprised this hasn’t been done already. Resorts World has a partnership with custom suitmaker Indochino. Read more here.
• Genting reported earnings and it looks like Resorts World is hitting a good note. Read more here.  
• You can now get dog food and accessories from a vending machine at LAS. It’s somewhat surprising a pet-friendly casino doesn’t have this yet. Read more here.
• The new owners of Rio are slightly changing its name. “Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino” will be known as “Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas” when the new owners take over. It doesn’t appear as though the hotel rooms will be smaller when renovated. This might just be an easier name to use for marketing.
• When We Were Young festival added a second show since the first sold out so quickly. Read more here. 
• I met a friend for drinks and video poker at Chandelier Bar inside The Cosmopolitan the other night. The bartender confirmed that the signature drink menu is no longer offered as comps as the prices are too high. The bar only comps drinks to $16. My Angel’s Envy is still a comp and that’s what I’m mostly concerned with.
• Hard Rock is starting to send out offers for The Mirage. The new website and app look great. I’ll look more into these offers soon. 
• The newspaper dropped its monthly train article. Kudos for reporting on this every month for 10 years. Read more here.  
• What would you do if you saw a cat when you checked into your room? Read more and see the video here.
• Hot & Juicy slopfest opened at Downtown Grand. Read more here.  
• Las Vegas made a brief appearance in Netflix’s “Drive To Survive.” Sadly, I didn’t make the cut when the cameras were recording the announcement last year at The Cosmopolitan. Anyway, enjoy!

Have you spotted Vegas yet in the new season of #DriveToSurvive @netflix @F1 #LasVegasGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/zkWk7faenP

— F1 Las Vegas (@F1LasVegas) February 25, 2023

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Airline Rankings

Each year, I look forward to the Wall Street Journal Airline Rankings. The WSJ has always done a good job of covering the industry, and their quantitatively-based ratings make sense. Plus, they have really cool graphics.

To nobody’s surprise, Delta finished at the top again, with JetBlue at the bottom. Delta has spent the past several years investing in operations and has made a business of simply being a “better” airline. It certainly shows in the airline’s pricing, for both paid tickets and awards. The airline is near the top of the industry in each. But the numbers don’t like: They’re doing a great job.

JetBlue’s Woes

The bigger story, though, may be the continuing decline of JetBlue. Once a leader in customer satisfaction, JetBlue’s operations have declined significantly. It’s not just the summer meltdown, which saw passengers waiting for days after their flights were cancelled. JetBlue’s original model, which was to offer a better product as a discounter, never really panned out. The major carriers easily matched and surpassed JetBlue’s competitive advantage, its in-flight entertainment. Meanwhile, without the high-yielding international traffic, JetBlue struggled to match its peers unit revenues. It’s sad to say that the best thing that the Wall Street Journal Airline rankings could say about JetBlue is that it finished fourth in involuntary denied boardings, considering that the airline claims that it doesn’t overbook flights. Shouldn’t that number be close to zero, accounting for operational issues?

Although its original business model was novel at the time, the airline never evolved with the industry. Arguably, JetBlue’s biggest innovation was its domestic first “Mint” product, but again, a hard product is easily matchable. The plane itself is something that the poll can’t measure.

Other Nuggets from the Wall Street Journal Airline Rankings

• The bottom three performers were all discounters. JetBlue aside, Frontier and Spirit took the other spots at the low end. No surprises there, especially finishing eighth and ninth in complaints. The ultra-low cost carriers (ULCC) are pretty clear about what they offer: a seat. They work fine if nothing goes wrong. But if you have to be there, I’d consider a larger carrier.
• It’s going to get worse at the bottom. Assuming that the JetBlue/Spirit merger comes to fruition, we’ll be left with one major ULCC. They’ll have a lot of power. Not to mention the inevitable hiccups with the integration. Spirit and JetBlue ranked 7th and 9th, respectively, in a nine company field. Together, I expect them to rank 16th.
• Hawaiian gets no love. Alaska Air gets lots. When putting together the Wall Street Journal Airline Rankings, the editors left out Hawaiian. Why? Because they simply have an unfair advantage in a contest where weather plays such a large role. On the other hand, Alaska finished where it normally does: near the top. This year, it was #2. Despite its name, the airline flies to over 100 destinations, not just Alaska. Given how much of their flying is up and down the (relatively) calm west coast, they actually have a geographic advantage. Plus, they run one hell of an operation, and have done so for a couple of decades.

Looking Forward to 2023–It Will Get Tougher

As airlines begin to add capacity back to the sky, it will get more difficult for airlines to maintain their operations. The past three years have seen capacity cuts, allowing the airlines to manage issues such as pilot shortages.

The toughest path ahead will be for Southwest, which starts off at a disadvantage. No doubt they’ll see a number of complaints and denied boardings for the end of the year, some of which will fall into January. As they spend the year improving their technology, there will be some stumbles.

The post 2022 Wall Street Journal Airline Rankings: Delta Shines, JetBlue Trails (Again) appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News February 22, 2023

MLB at Rio?

There are so many quick hits this week that we’ll just get to it after a relatively short introduction with some off-strip casino news, including MLB at RIO?

Dreamscape, the new owners of the Rio All-Suite Hotel, secured funding to renovate the hotel towers. The company purchased the Rio from Caesars in 2019. The property will remain open during construction. 

The company hasn’t said much more about updating the Rio, and the recent news is mostly about funding. There was one fun nugget in that media release. Last week I learned that Rio is on the Vegas Strip! Who knew?!

You can read the press release that says, “​​As the first all-suite hotel to hit the Las Vegas Strip in 1990…” here.  

Secret Discussions – Oakland A’s – MLB at RIO?

Evidently, Dreamscape has been in super duper top-secret discussions with the Oakland A’s for a few years about building a new stadium on vacant land and we’re just hearing about it now. Sounds legit. You can read about MLB at RIO here. 

Rio All-Suite Hotel sits on a ton of land, so if there is a stadium at Rio, the casino probably won’t be torn down.

The A’s and MLB continue to try to leverage Las Vegas to get Oakland to build a new waterfront stadium complex. However, they’re not saying or doing anything meaningful. Read about that here.

Possibly related to this is the news that the A’s just hired lobbyists in Nevada. 

ZorkCast Returns – Season 8

That’s enough about the Rio news and rumors. Let’s get to the good stuff happening in and around Las Vegas.

Also, don’t forget about the return of ZorkCast – Vegas Podcast + Casino Experience, Gambling, and Luxury Travel. We begin Season 8 with: Season 8 – Episode 131 – Say What? Whiskey Jenn Knows Vegas!

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• U2 will make $10 million to play shows at the MSG Sphere. Read more here. 
• Like almost every other new food court, Aria’s has a hidden bar. Read more here.
• The M Resort Spa Casino security robot isn’t exactly new but people like taking pictures with it. Read more here.   
• Mark Wahlberg is making a movie at the Plaza. Read more here.  
• Sara King sounds like fun. Read more about this LA lawyer who’s on the lam for spending $10 million in Las Vegas. ​​Read about her here. 
• Twitchcon is coming to Las Vegas. Hopefully, nobody breaks a back at the event this year. Read more about 2023 here. Hit the google machine if you’re not familiar with the broken back.
• Donny Osmond extended his residency at Harrah’s. Read more here. 
• According to Twitter, it took Caesars Entertainment nine days to place nine letters spelling the word “Horseshoe” outside of the casino. See the short Twitter thread here.  
• You may have seen Bottled Blonde in the renderings of the new Bazaar Shops outside of Horseshoe Las Vegas when we shared the real estate listing a few weeks back. Well, read the announcement of the new bar here.
• You can see a list of casinos on the Vegas Strip that have free live music here.  
• The William Hill and Caesars Sportsbook apps went down during the Super Bowl. It took a few days but they’re operational again. Read more here.
• Someone left a little dog at the parking garage at Plaza. The casino shared a video about reuniting the dog and her parents. Enjoy the video below. 

Story of a puppy found at #PlazaLV
Make sure to follow us on TikTok at PlazaLasVegas pic.twitter.com/fG7SPe9U8m

— Plaza Hotel Casino (@PlazaLasVegas) February 16, 2023

• The Forbes Travel Guide is among the most popular of its kind. It features the best in high-end hotels, restaurants, and spas and is a go-to guide for those looking for the fanciest places to visit when they travel. Read the press release here. Check out the entire list here.
• Wynn has a press release about its Forbes awards here.
• MGM has a list of its Forbes awards here.
• Bruno Mars added dates to his Park MGM residency. Read more here.   
• Raiding The Rock Vault is moving to Hard Rock on the Strip (across from Aria and Park MGM). Read more here.
• Like a handful of other comedians, John Mulaney is moving to Wynn. You can see info about his first five shows at the new venue here.   
• Nevada is one of the few states without a lottery. That probably won’t change soon, but you can read about the possibility here.  
• Katy Perry and Luke Bryan added more shows to their respective residencies at Resorts World. Read more here.
• Betfred will eventually offer mobile betting. The company teased this during its NGCB meeting saying it would like to launch by football season. Read more here.
• The Super Bowl is coming to Las Vegas next year! Read more here.
• Wells Fargo and Choice Hotels have a new credit card. M Resort Spa Casino and Circus Circus fans might find this useful. Read more here.
• Pass Casino in Henderson is getting an Atwell Suites hotel. Read more here.  
• MGM Resorts closed its sale of Gold Strike in Tunica. Read more here.
• I only share the news about Gold Strike because it’s in Tunica. Enjoy one of my favorite scenes from Ocean’s 13 below. Skip to 2:50 if you don’t have the patience to watch the whole scene.

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Vegas News February 14, 2023

Casino Earnings

The casino biz was abuzz with casino earnings last week, with MGM Resorts, Red Rock, and Wynn reporting. As expected, all had very good financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year in 2022.

Focus: Most Profitable Customers

One thing continues to stand out as it has for the past four or five years. Casinos are still reducing promotions and focusing on the most profitable customers. 

During their earnings call, Red Rock reiterated that the company has “gotten out of the promotional business from 2019.” Some casinos have been out of that business longer, but that’s another story.

Properties Almost At Capacity

During the MGM call, the company mentioned that its Las Vegas properties are almost at capacity during the weekend. Lower rollers might start seeing offers moving to the weekdays instead of the weekends they prefer.

This isn’t new, but it’s something to be aware of as casino corporations continue to do well financially. 

I’ll share some notes from the individual earnings calls.

MGM Resort Earnings Quick Hits

• You can see the MGM Resorts earnings presentation here.  
• You’ll find a concise recap of MGM’s earnings here.
• The company didn’t announce a date for when Cosmopolitan will become an MGM Rewards property. Look for this to happen in late spring or mid-summer.
• I’m happy to report my last visit to Cosmopolitan felt “normal” besides the constant barrage of massage people walking around the casino at night like zombies looking for brains. 
• MGM announced it will renovate hotel rooms at the Spa Tower at Bellagio. The company mentioned something about Borgata but I zone out when they leave Las Vegas.
• There are no plans to buy new properties in Las Vegas or anywhere else. That said, the company says they’re always listening.
• Aria, Bellagio, Cosmo, and MGM Grand were the standout properties for MGM in 2022.
• The average daily hotel room rate for MGM Las Vegas properties in 2022 was $260. That’s up 30% over last year and higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic. 
• Hotel occupancy at MGM Resorts Las Vegas casinos was 91% for the year. 

Wynn earnings Quick hits

• Wynn had a record-breaking year in 2022. You can see an overview here. 
• You can see the Wynn earnings press release here.  
• The average hotel room rate at Wynn Las Vegas last year was $492. Hotel rooms were at 89% occupancy.
• Wynn didn’t have any new Las Vegas information to share, so let’s move on.

Red Rock Earnings Quick Hits

• Red Rock was happy with earnings, but much of the call discussed future plans. You can see a recap of earnings here.  
• You can see the Red Rock earnings press release here.  
• The company says the Durango casino will be fully enclosed by April and is on target to open in the fourth quarter. 
• Unrelated to the earnings call, Station Casinos shared info on the food hall at Durango. I’m stoked it will include one of my favorite local coffee roasters, Vesta. Read more here.   
• There was no announcement about the next new Station Casinos property after Durango is finished. The company is prepping entitlements for multiple properties so they can start construction ASAP when Durango is completed.
• Wildfire on Fremont opened last week. It’s a nice little neighborhood casino. You can see some pics here. 
• Interesting note that bowling, salon, and spa revenue was up double-digit percentage points last year.
• Red Rock is seeing overflow from Vegas Strip customers looking for other options.

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

Las Vegas Quick Hits

Last Earnings Note From MSG

One last earnings note from MSG. During its earnings call, the builders of the MSG Sphere at The Venetian said the entertainment venue will open in September. 

MSG Teased Residencies

MSG teased possible four to six residencies per year. On a related note, did you see this website?  It’s been updated with info on U2’s Las Vegas shows. You can read the press release here.

You can see MSG’s earnings press release here.  

• The Undertaker is performing a one-man show at the Cosmopolitan the same weekend WWE Smackdown is in Las Vegas. Read more here.
• It looks like the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be around for 10 years instead of three. Read more here.  
• Van Morrison is doing a few shows at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort in September. Read more here.   
• The Virgin sportsbook is finally open. Read more here. 
• Speaking of openings, the Ojos locos Sports Cantina y Casino is now open. 
• Psycho Las Vegas is on pause in 2023 and will supposedly return in 2024. Read more here.
• There’s a new Jazz bar downtown. Read more here.   
• Curious about Las Vegas visitation last year? Read this.  
• Hard Rock changed some blackjack rules at the Mirage. Read the breakdown here.
• More land across from Mandalay Bay was purchased. Read more here.   
• Boyd announced a partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders. Read more here.
• Caesars has a new hotel and airline booking engine. Prices may be good if you log in with the Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program. My non-rewards searches were more than Aria’s for the same dates. Read more here.   
• Retro by Voltagio is replacing a restaurant I haven’t heard about in at least five years at Mandalay Bay. Read more here.  

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Vegas News February 9, 2023

New Casinos Opening

Two new Las Vegas casinos are opening or have opened this week depending on when you read this. Chances are few tourists will take the trip to visit more than one but new casinos are always fun so let’s take a look. Of course, don’t miss the news below about MGM Tier Match downgrades, which is a huge topic of conversation in the casino and travel loyalty world.

While one is open on Fremont Street, it’s not within walking distance from where the tourists usually hang out. The other new casino is about 15-30 minutes away from the Fremont Street Experience.

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina Y Casino

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina Y Casino at Hotel Jefe opened in North Las Vegas on Feb. 6. The small casino is a small 10,000 square-foot gaming floor. For comparison, this is just over half the size of The Cromwell casino and smaller than Ellis Island. 

The hotel has less than 100 rooms that are still being renovated. The casino has 280 new slot and gaming machines. There are no live dealer games. 

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina is a chain restaurant with seating for about 300 people. There’s a sportsbook and 90 TVs throughout the property. 

This should do well in this part of town. It also offers visitors something different to check out. Read more about Ojos Locos Sports Cantina Y Casino and Hotel Jefe here.

Wildfire Casino

Station Casinos Downtown Wildfire officially opens on Feb. 10. This is a 30-minute walk or six-minute drive east of El Cortez. 

Wildfire casinos are typically no-frills casinos for nearby locals to bang away on slot machines. This Wildfire will have some more bells and whistles with an IHOP and a couple more restaurants. 

Wildfire Casino Details

The casino has about 200 machine games and a sportsbook. There are no live dealer games at the Downtown Wildfire.

If you miss the marquee outside you might not even realize this is a casino based on the building design. The building reminds me of the Party USA I used to visit for the secret post office in the back.

The Station Casinos blog has more information about the Wildfire Casino here.

If you like machine games and visiting different parts of Las Vegas, either of these might be a place to check out. 

Short Trip To South Point

I haven’t been to South Point Casino since before the Covid-19 pandemic. I made a triumphant return to record the Beating The Book podcast. 

The South Point is exactly how I remember it. I’ve never visited this casino often since it’s about 30 minutes from where I live. There are three casinos within a few minutes of me and it only takes about 15 minutes to hit downtown or the Vegas Strip.

Driving the extra distance to visit a casino is only for special occasions. I was reminded that South Point has a lot to offer visitors.

It’s a huge casino with lots of slot machines and table games with very fair limits and rules. There are plenty of bars and dining options and the sportsbook has some of the best odds in Las Vegas.

Everything at South Point is fairly priced and there are plenty of deals and promotions throughout the year.

On the downside, South Point is crazy smoky. I didn’t walk ten steps into the casino before I was crushed with cigarette smoke at 8 am. It only gets worse as the place fills up.

I mention South Point since I started Vegas News, discussing different places off the beaten path to visit.

South Point it’s a great option for someone looking for good games at low limits with plenty to do other than gambling (GASP!). 

The casino is about 10-15 minutes from Mandalay Bay for anyone that wants to try something different close to the Vegas Strip. Lastly, the property has free watch parties for big sports events like the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the Kentucky Derby.

Visit South Point for more information on the property.

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

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• Boyd Gaming reported fourth-quarter and full-year earnings last week. The company seems to have had another great quarter and year. Unfortunately, the call was relatively uneventful for those of us looking for future plans.
• Once again Boyd’s Las Vegas locals and downtown casinos had great revenue quarters. Visitation from Hawaii was finally back to pre-pandemic levels.
• The company is seeing growth at Fremont casino with the new sportsbook, slot machines, food court, and renovated hotel rooms. 
• Read the Boyd earnings release for specifics here.  
• Penn Entertainment (formerly Penn National Gaming) owns M Resort and reported earnings last week as well. The company had nothing to say about the rumor that its selling M Resort. The earnings presentation has nothing about Las Vegas but you can read it here if you’re curious about the properties around the country.
• Hard Rock is testing the ground at The Mirage. This is preparation for construction that will eventually happen at the property. Read more here.   
• MGM Resorts has new tier-matching levels. For example, Caesars Rewards Diamond and Cosmopolitan Identity Gold are no longer matching to MGM Rewards Gold. You can see the tier-matching levels here.  
• I have thoughts but I’ll save them until my status is downgraded at Cosmopolitan.
• You can see the future of the Grand Bazaar Shops at Horseshoe Las Vegas here.
• Rumor: Harry Styles might do a residency or limited engagement at the MSG Sphere at The Venetian. Read more here.  
• The Oakland A’s are still messing with Las Vegas. Read more here.  
• We Bridge is a “two-day music festival event celebrating Asian entertainment and culture” coming to Mandalay Bay in April. Read more here.
• If all goes well, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place for 10 years instead of three as originally planned. Read more here.  
• In case you missed it, the F1 race will have an economic impact in Las Vegas of $1.3 billion. For comparison, that’s twice the impact the Super Bowl will have next year. Read more here.
• Aria has a new high-limit room. Read and see more here. 
• Aruze Gaming is filing for chapter 11 restructuring. The bubble craps games you love should remain in casinos. Read more here.  
• Cirque Du Soliel is celebrating 30 years of shows in Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Last week we mentioned Circus Circus is now part of Choice Hotels. The company now allows customers to exchange points with Radisson Rewards. Read more here.
• Not sure why I remember this but the last Radisson I visited was in Austin, TX.

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I try not to spend too much time focusing on credit cards, since there are plenty of sites for those. But the fact remains that credit card sign-up bonuses are one of the best ways to earn big points fast. They’re also one of the simplest. Right now, I’d recommend looking at two Chase credit cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Business Ink Unlimited. The latter comes with a best-ever bonus.

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.

What Can You Get from Chase Sign-Up Bonuses?

Credit card sign up bonuses are a great source of either points or cash.

What about 3-4 nights at a luxury hotel? In Las Vegas, that would include properties such as Bellagio, Aria and Delano. I’ll show you how below!

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 60,000 Chase Ultimate Reward (UR) points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. The card carries a $95 annual fee, which is a fraction of the bonus to get it. So what are the best uses of your points?

• Points transfer at the rate of a penny each, so your 60,000 UR points are worth $600.
• Get a 25% bonus if you use them to confirm travel through Chase. That’s $750 worth of travel!
• Possibly the best use: Transfer them to one of 11 airline partners or 3 hotel partners. Airline points tend to be more valuable, but hotels can work well, too. Since Hyatt is one of those partners, you can book MGM properties in Las Vegas with these points. Bellagio, Delano and Aria start at 21,000 points each. Want something a bit simpler? Excalibur starts at 9,000 points per night!

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

A business card? It might sound intimidating, but you don’t have to have millions in revenue to be eligible. Do you run a side hustle? A blog? Something else? You may be eligible and not know it.

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited card is offering its best sign-up bonus ever: 90,000 point sign up bonus when you spend $6,000 in the first three months. That’s $900 in value or 90,000 points* to transfer to an airline or hotel partner. Including the initial spending, that’s almost 5 nights at a luxury Las Vegas property! Or just keep the cash and blow it at the slots. There is no annual fee.

*Important: Unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Ink Business Unlimited points cannot be transferred to airline partners, unless you also have a qualifying card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Ink Business Preferred. Even if you don’t transfer them to a partner, $900 in cash is still a pretty good haul.

Additional Benefits for the Cards

These two Chase credit cards have great benefits for ongoing use. One benefit that comes with both cards, though, is primary rental card insurance. When using the Sapphire Preferred card or Ink Business Unlimited to pay for your rental car, you can waive collision and theft insurance. In other words, if you’re in an accident, your auto insurance company won’t have to be involved. Note: You’ll still need liability and the Ink card only provides primary coverage for business rentals.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

• 5X points for Airfare, Car rentals, Hotels, Lyft and other travel booked through the Chase travel portal
• 3X points for dining and streaming services
• 2X points on travel booked directly with a travel provider
• 1X points on all other purchase
• An annual $50 hotel credit
• A 10% anniversary bonus. Each year, on your card anniversary, you’ll earn a bonus equal to 10% of your previous year spending.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

• 1.5X points on all purchases. Easy to remember and these points can be exchanged for airline or hotel points, which are worth more than a penny each!
• 5X points on Lyft.
• Like the Sapphire preferred, there is no limit to the amount of points that you can earn

Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners — Chase Sapphire Preferred

The best use of points is to transfer them to an airline. Roundtrip domestic tickets in first class, or global business class tickets are all within reach if you’re starting off with over 90,000 points. Partners such as Singapore, Emirates and British Airways can get you almost anywhere you need to go.

Most Chase credit cards offer rewards in Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These points can be exchanged for cash (at a rate of 1 – 1.25 cents per point, depending on what you are buying). They can also be exchanged for miles at 11 airline or 3 hotel partners. They include:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue True Blue
• Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying club

• IHG One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

The Bottom Line for your Bottom Line — Don’t Pay Interest

Chase credit cards offer some great sign up bonuses as well as ongoing benefits. But don’t forget how they make their money. If you don’t pay your balance in full every month, the card company will charge extremely high interest rates. Your annual percentage rate could be 20% or more. The bottom line: There’s no rewards card that even comes close to the interest they charge. If you don’t pay your balances in full every month, get a low interest rate card.

The post Chase Credit Cards: Two Great Options For Huge Points Or Cash appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News February 2, 2023

My Trip Downtown – And I Loved It!

Last week, I made my first trip to downtown Las Vegas this year and loved it. This is somewhat monumental, as I regularly visited this part of town when I first moved to Las Vegas. Also, make a note of the fact that the Downtown Wildfire Casino is opening soon.

For whatever reason, my friends visiting Las Vegas since the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic prefers to keep their visits on or near the Vegas Strip. Since I spend less time in casinos today, I tend to hang out where I think my friends will visit so I can answer any questions they may have.

I can find similar gambling rules and odds closer to home so there’s little incentive to make the 15-20 minute drive downtown. Since I’ve visited so infrequently over the past couple of years, there are no casino offers that compel me to visit downtown.

Until last week there hasn’t been a reason to visit for work research. Before you skip ahead, I’m glad I made the trip. This visit sort of rekindled my feelings for the area. 

Nowadays, when I leave my part of Las Vegas I tend to visit a small part of the Vegas Strip from New York-New York to Bally’s…err Horseshoe. Obviously, my monthly visits to Cosmopolitan are influential but I try to keep up with the casino that the majority of people I know will stay and play. 

Most visitors I know want to return to their favorite places in the part of Las Vegas they fell in love with. The preference has been to enjoy a familiar experience or something new at a casino they’ve enjoyed in the past.

I can understand that. Having said that, I had a somewhat tingly feeling visiting The D, Fremont, and Downtown Grand last week. This is my typical circuit when I visit downtown since I enjoy the restaurants nearby. 

Since I can gamble anywhere, restaurants are often the catalyst for which casinos I visit. This is one reason I spend so much time at Aria, Cosmopolitan, and Park MGM, specifically. 

Research – New Sportsbook

Downtown can be sketchy and/or busy at night so the vast majority of my visits are when the sun is out. Being from the south Bronx, sketchy doesn’t bother me as much as large crowds. 

This mid-morning visit was mostly for work but I found time to relax with a Dunkin cold brew. I also played a few dollars in some different slot machines just to see what they were like. It’s great that work takes me to casinos and I always appreciate that.

This is a lot of words to say that this trip downtown made me realize how much I enjoy the area. It’s a good reminder that some of the things you used to enjoy in Las Vegas may be different and also as great as you remember. Sometimes we (I) just need a kick in the pants to remember this.

Oh yeah, my visit downtown was to check out the new sportsbooks at Downtown Grand and the Fremont. You can read about them here. 

Comp slushy drinks at the Fremont! Can also get at slot machines according to the bartender. pic.twitter.com/58A6FcjvQx

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) January 24, 2023

One thing I didn’t mention in the article about the sportsbooks is that Fremont offers complimentary boozy slushy drinks at the sportsbook bar. The bartender said you can order at the machines too.

That’s enough about my visit downtown. Let’s get to the news in and around Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• The sportsbook inside Virgin will finally be taking bets in time for the Super Bowl! After nearly two years, Betfred received a gaming license to operate Mohegan Sun’s sportsbook at Virgin. Read more here.  
• Betfred will not have mobile betting until the next football season at the soonest. Wagers can only be made at the counter or on a kiosk inside the Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
• Two weeks ago, Virgin released its Super Bowl party information. Read more here.  
• While we’re on the topic of Super Bowl watch parties, the LVCVA put together a generic list of where to watch the Big Game. There are no prices but the links to the venues should be useful for anyone looking for a party at the last minute. Read more here.
• Station Casinos Downtown Wildfire Casino is opening on February 10. Read more about the new non-hotel casino here.  Also, see the Station Casinos blog post about the Wildfire Casino.
• Caesars Entertainment, MGM, Treasure Island, and Wynn are part of a class action lawsuit about price-fixing hotel room rates. The inclusion of TI might be the most interesting part of this suit to me. Read more here. 
• Resorts World extended David Blaine’s residency. Read more here.
• The extension comes shortly after Danny Devito discussed his experience at the show on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. Enjoy.

• Circus Circus joins M Resort as part of Choice Hotel’s Ascend collection. Read more here.  
• MSG keeps releasing more information about the Sphere that’s still under construction behind The Venetian. The tech continues to impress. Read more here.  
• The new custard shop replacing the ice cream counter at Red Rock Casino will open on Feb. 3. Read more here.
• Jerry O’Connell (AKA Woody from Las Vegas) is appearing in Quick Hits slot ads! We love Quick Hits of all kinds! Sorry, Sam Marquez is not in any of the ads. Read more.  
• Virgin won the Gay Travel award for hotel casinos. Read more here.  
• Last but not least, Downtown Grand has $1 blackjack. It pays 6:5, and there should be at least two tables open. There might be a third available. The casino floor is being rearranged with a new Stadium Gaming pit. I’ve had some fun low-rolling nights at Downtown Grand. It’s a fun stop after Happy Hour at Pizza Rock.

Hello pic.twitter.com/weWV0zeaws

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) January 24, 2023

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So you’re in Las Vegas. Last night, you smoked, you drank and you ate too much at the buffet. So what now? Well, if you’re staying at Wynn, they have the answer with “Wynn Living Well.” Remember, this is the hotel that already brought you TB12 by Tom Brady. Now, they’re announcing their formal health and wellness program. According to the press release, Wynn Living Well is “a program that offers guests curated health and wellness experiences at the resort, ranging from Tom Brady and Alex Guerrero’s TB12 method and golf at Wynn Golf Club, the only course on the Las Vegas Strip, to custom IV therapies at NutriDrip by Clean Market, and bespoke in-room workout videos from Amanda Kloots. Designed with flexibility and fun in mind, Wynn Living Well provides a wide range of activities that inject a sense of well-being into each visit.”

See also: Look like the GOAT with a workout. Introducing TB12 by Tom Brady at Wynn.

Wynn Living Well: Renew, Replenish and Re-energize

Wynn Living Well focuses on three pillars of health.

• Renew: According to Wynn Las Vegas, “Options range from a CBD-infused massage or skin-revitalizing facial at the Wynn or Encore spas, to a relaxing caviar-infused scalp treatment at the Wynn or Encore salons.” That’s in addition, of course, to luxury amenities and meant to provide a sense of “escapism.” I have to admit, I’m fascinated to know what a CBD-infused massage involves.
• Replenish: The Replenish pillar provides guests with nourishment to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Choices for replenishment include hydration and vitamin IV drip therapies from the leader in functional wellness, NutriDrip by Clean Market. Also available are aromatherapy massages and oxygen-infused facials at the Wynn and Encore spas. The resort’s renowned chefs have created special Wynn Living Well menus to highlight nutritious culinary offerings. In addition, Wynn’s acclaimed mixologist, Mariena Mercer Boarini, has created the “Drinking Well” program, offering guests non-alcoholic beverages throughout the resort. The customized beverage program highlights innovative ingredients such as reishi mushrooms, lion’s mane, ashwagandha, maca, and other healthful adaptogens that promote natural energy, happiness, clarity, and balance.
• Re-energize: Here’s where you get to be Tom Brady. Offerings include a SoulCycle class, a round of golf or a visit to the fitness center, where you can train with a TB12 body coach. Don’t feel like heading to the gym? No problem. You can take part in an in-room workout designed by Amanda Kloots.

Tom Brady to the Las Vegas Raiders?

Tom Brady is looking for a new home. Derek Carr probably is, as well. Is this not a match made in heaven? Tom Terrific can market himself locally and Raiders tickets can get even more expensive. As McDonald’s says, I’m lovin’ it. My only question is, given the rising real estate costs in Las Vegas, will Brady be able to afford to live there?

Looking to book your next trip to Wynn, or any number of other luxury properties? Visit TravelZork Travel to book. You’ll receive complimentary daily breakfast, a resort credit and, most importantly, personalized service.

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Goodbye Bally’s, hello Horseshoe Las Vegas. After changing Bally’s name in December, Caesars Entertainment wasted no time in starting the update. Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen will open at Horseshoe sometime this summer, expanding Fieri’s partnership with Caesar’s. Ah yes, another celebrity chef restaurant in Las Vegas.

The New Guy Fieri Flavortown Sports Kitchen

Regardless of your views on celebrity chefs, this new sports bar (excuse me, “kitchen”) looks pretty swanky. It’s going to be enormous. According to Caesars, Horseshoe Las Vegas was “designed by Aria Group Architects, the funky and inviting interior boasts relaxed seating and vividly colored murals. Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen spans 6,540 square feet and will seat up to 279 throughout the bar, main dining area and rotunda. The restaurant will feature a colossal, 360-degree island bar with decorative liquor displays and enough LED screens to satisfy any sports fanatic. For a unique viewing experience or a private event, guests may enjoy a more intimate space in the MVP lounge on game day or for a special occasion.”

I have to admit, though, that 360-degree bar does sound pretty cool (or, as my kids would say, “slay.”).

Book at the Upgraded Horseshoe Las Vegas

Guests can now book the “new” hotel at the Horseshoe Las Vegas website or directly through Caesars. There is still plenty to do on the existing property, of course, even if some of your favorites have been renamed. Options include Jack Binion’s Steak, the ARCADE at Horseshoe and the World Series of Poker Hall of Fame^® Poker Room. But I would anticipate that there will be new additions Horseshoe evolves. Caesars knows how powerful the name “Horseshoe Las Vegas” is and doesn’t simply want it to be an updated version of Bally’s.

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 Horseshoe Las Vegas directly via the Horseshoe Las Vegas website.

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Vegas News January 24, 2023

New Casino Revenue Report

The 2022 Nevada Gaming Abstract was released last week. This report from the Nevada Gaming Control Board includes all income and expenses for Las Vegas casinos from the last fiscal year. The report covers July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.

You can see the massive report here and the official press release here. 

The report is chock full of revenue information for casinos throughout Nevada. However, the vast majority of casino revenue comes from Las Vegas – specifically the Vegas Strip.

This is an interesting part of this report since that’s where most visitors stay, play, drink, dine and see shows.

Gaming – Nevada Saw Huge Revenue Increases

Overall, Nevada saw huge revenue increases. The Vegas Strip accounted for more than 80% of the gains. As Las Vegas returns closer to normal visitation after the peak of Covid-19, the money spent in casinos also returned to a typical pattern.

Non-gaming revenue from food, drink, hotel rooms, etc. accounted for almost 70% of overall gaming revenue at casinos on the Vegas Strip. In fact, hotel rooms generated more revenue than casinos won from players during the previous fiscal year (page 44). 

Gambling revenue was also closer to normal with slot machines at the top spot followed by traditional table games. Sports betting accounted for less than 3% of gaming revenue on the Vegas Strip. This number was slightly higher in downtown Las Vegas.

Easy To Consume Report

I recommend skimming the full report if you’re curious about the numbers. You can find an easy-to-consume overview of the info here.  

I’ll probably dive deeper into the report to see if I can uncover anything surprising over the weekend. Let’s get to the rest of the news in and around Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• You thought the day would never come but it looks like the sportsbook could finally be opening at Virgin/Mohegan. Read about Betfred here.
• Downtown Grand opened a new Caesars Sportsbook this week. The previous operator was William Hill. Caesars now owns that company. I’ll have more information on the new space next week.
• Down the street from Downtown Grand, Fremont Casino recently opened a new sportsbook. It’s operated by Boyd and is branded with FanDuel, which operates Boyd sportsbooks outside of Nevada. This is a retail-only sportsbook so don’t look for a FanDuel NV app.
• Guy Fieri’s Flavortown is replacing the old Burger Brasserie from Paris Las Vegas. This part of the hallway is now part of Horseshoe Las Vegas. The restaurant is located next to the new sports betting counter. Horseshoe dumped its sportsbook for an arcade last year. Read about the Fieri joint here and see the sports betting counter here. 
• Artisan is being reinvented as Lexi. Read more here.
• Lexi says it will be cannabis-friendly but that may not happen. Read more here. 
• Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is bringing his rock music collection to downtown Las Vegas. I’m told this traveling memorabilia show is excellent. Read more here.  
• Blake Shelton’s Ole Red broke ground outside of Horseshoe. It should be open by November. Read more here.  

• The Lovers & Friends festival with Mariah, Pitbull, Missy, Luda, and a million more rap and R&B performers is coming to Las Vegas in May. Read more here.  
• Wynn is now offering “curated health and wellness experiences.” I’m surprised there hasn’t been more of this over the past few years. Read more here.  
• I see people complaining about the lack of free entertainment in Las Vegas nowadays. There’s actually plenty, you just have to know where to look. The Mob Museum offers free entertainment every month. Here’s the list for Jan. but you’ll probably be able to find Feb here too in a few days. 
• Vital Vegas has some pics from inside Fontainebleau. Check them out here.  
• The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority put together a list of Year of the Rabbit celebrations. Read more here.  
• Here’s a video from a band called Year of the Rabbit. Enjoy!

• I was scrolling through Las Vegas press releases and saw that there’s a new Frank Sinatra mob book. Read more about the book here.   
• Last week I saw a commercial for Zouk at Resorts World for the first time. The club has a massive list of resident performers including rappers and DJs. Check out the full list here. 
• Dropicana roadwork on the I-15 is underway. You can see the timeline here.  
• This “VIP” thread was making rounds on Twitter last week. There isn’t much to it. The one takeaway here is how much the person spent to gain status.  Check it out here.  
• Bono from U2 said words about a Las Vegas residency without actually saying anything. Read it here.  
• Golden Gate has a high-limit slot machine that doesn’t jam winners with tax forms. Read more here.
• This isn’t exactly news as tickets have been on sale for a while but I just learned that Chris Hansen from “To Catch A Predator” is doing a one-man show at South Point in Feb. File under something different to do. Read more here.

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Vegas News January 19, 2023

Cosmo Las Vegas Comp – Work and Play

Last week I enjoyed a couple of complimentary nights at the Cosmopolitan. This is my monthly work/play casino trip and my first for 2023.

I had a great time as always but the experience was different. I notice that MGM Resorts started inserting its corporate claws into this formerly independently operated casino.

The first thing I noticed was a bank of MGM Riches slot machines near my favorite Gold Standard game. When I went to cash my losing ticket, I noticed the only charity option available was the MGM Fund (not to be confused with the Human Fund) instead of four different local charities.

The machines print out vouchers for change if someone prefers. These have to be redeemed at the cashier and can’t be used in a machine. I saw a few tickets placed at Buddha near the Boulevard tower elevators.

New Comp Drink Policy At Cosmo

Later that day, I saw MGM upgrading the bartop video poker/slot machines at the Chandelier and sportsbook bars. I like the new Peak bartop machines as they reduce glare.

The new machines also mark MGM’s switch from a comp drink ticketing system to a red/yellow/green light system used at other properties. This wasn’t much of a big deal for my night as I still received a few complimentary Angel’s Envy poured from the bottle. 

The red light means a player isn’t playing enough money ($1) per game or is moving too slowly for a comp drink. A green light (above) means the bartender can serve the player a drink. Yellow is a limited number of drinks for not playing fast enough.

Cosmo – Comp Signature Cocktails? Comp Drink Upgrades?

It appears as though signature cocktails other than the Verbena are no longer offered as comps. Since there are no longer tickets, upgrades to a Macallan for two tickets or a bottle of wine for four tickets are no longer possible.

More Changes To Come?

Since I visited on the first days of the new machines, there could be more changes coming. I’m assuming MGM will reduce the comp drinks in some way. I wouldn’t be surprised if only well drinks are complimentary in the future – but that’s just a guess. 

Cosmo Las Vegas – Table Minimums – Good News

On a good note, I noticed some table minimums at the Cosmopolitan were lower. There was almost always a $15 craps game during the three days I was at the property. It looked as though there were more $15 (6/5) blackjack games too. Pai Gow fluctuated between $25 and $50 all night as usual.

Lastly, it felt like there was a masseuse or cigarette person passing by the Pai Gow Poker table every minute I played for four hours. I’m sure this is an exaggeration but this is how it felt.

This was the most annoying part of the visit. I’ve never noticed this many people hustling items for sale this often at MGM properties before. It could happen at other MGM properties but I’ve just never noticed.

As I said, I had a great time overall. The gambling, dining, and drinking were all good. I just noticed more MGM this time.

Some things were annoying others weren’t. This could mean that Cosmopolitan will become an MGM Rewards property sooner than later. I asked – nobody knew when the changeover will be completed.

Enough about me, let’s get to the news in and around Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• The Lunar New Year display is up in the Conservatory and Botanical Garden at Bellagio. Read about the display and see more pics here.
• Another comedian is bailing on Aces of Comedy at the Mirage. Gabriel Iglesias AKA Fluffy is taking his talents to the Cosmopolitan. Read more here.  
• Universal Studios is opening a scary experience in Las Vegas. Read more here. 
• The new food court at the Fremont is officially open. Read more here.  
• I’m told the sportsbook renovations at Paris Las Vegas should be completed by the Super Bowl. I’m told there’s a temporary place to bet on sports but I didn’t see it. Here’s a pic of its current status. 

Sportsbook @ParisVegas getting a refresh pic.twitter.com/XkxTuaFQiE

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) January 10, 2023

• The (Dixie) Chicks are doing a limited engagement at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort in May. Read more here.  
• The NFL announced the competitions for the Pro Bowl Games. Events like dodgeball and longest drive are being recorded for TV only. You can watch the Flag football game, Best Catch, and other events at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 5. Read more here.
• Super Bowl parties are announced almost daily. Here’s some info on the Super Bowl party at the Sahara pool.
• One more for Super Bowl in Las Vegas people. Nevada sports betting apps are entirely different and not connected to those in other states. Additionally, you have to visit a casino to open an account. Read more here.
• Golden Gate is 117 years old! Read more here.  
• The lounge formerly known as Crimson at Red Rock Casino will become Rouge. Read more here.  
• The WNBA All-Star Weekend is coming to Mandalay Bay in July. Read more here. 
• Downtown Las Vegas has a new marketing campaign. Read and see more here.
• WWE Smackdown is coming to MGM Grand in March. Read more here.
• In case you missed it, someone finally hit the massive Caesars Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker progressive at Flamingo Las Vegas. He’ll take home $6.4 million before taxes.  

The #HeartofTheStrip just got 6 million times more fab Congrats to Las Vegas local Thomas Z. on hitting the biggest Pai Gow Progressive for a win of $6,443,401

+21 Gambling Problem? Call 800-522-4700 pic.twitter.com/seFexFiKCp

— Flamingo Las Vegas (@FlamingoVegas) January 8, 2023

• Evidently, Adele is using seat fillers at her Caesars Palace Las Vegas shows. Read more here.
• If you like shows and don’t necessarily need to see the biggest new performances, House Seats might be a good way for you to fill some empty seats. There’s a fee but it might be a good deal for those who plan to see multiple shows per visit to Las Vegas. See more here. 
• Boring is very excited about how the Vegas Loop performed during CES. See some stats here.
• At its current pace of one station per year, all 55 Vegas Loop stations will be open by 2077. Maybe the company will pick up the pace this year and we can adjust that date to happen in our lifetime. 
• Circa is hosting a celebrity poker tournament in April. Read more here.
• Look for more esports betting in Las Vegas as new regulations are set for approval later this month.  Read more here. 
• The Nevada Gaming Control Board has a new chairman. Read more here.  
• There’s a new “experience” coming to Resorts World. I have no idea what it is but it’s interactive and immersive. Read more here.

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Looking for an all-inclusive* vacation that doesn’t stay in one place? A cruise could be a great option for you. Pay up front and you’ll have your choice of several restaurants, a place on the sun deck and as many trivia games as you can handle. The one problem is that the cabins can be somewhat “cozy.” Need some more room? If so, you should investigate a cruise suite.

What Benefits Does a Cruise Suite Offer?

It’s important to know that every cruise line offers different suite benefits. In fact, even on the same ship, the benefits from a suite will vary.

Take this article as a general guide. If you want more details on a particular cruise, or cruising in general, please visit TravelZork Travel. We can check prices, offer additional benefits and more.

Although size is the biggest factor that people associate with suites, it’s not necessarily a huge upgrade. A typical cabin may be ~200 square feet, but suites start at 300-350 square feet. Think “studio suite” at a hotel, which is just a large room. Of course, there are others that exceed 2,000 square feet and have private hot tubs. It’s just a matter of how much you want to pay.

One of the biggest advantages to a suite is the ability to accommodate a 3rd and 4th person more easily. Obviously, the more space you have, the more comfortable it will be. But if you’re at the smaller end of the range, it’s still going to be tight with more than two people.

If a bigger cabin was the only cruise suite benefit, the cruise line wouldn’t generate much of a premium. That’s why ships are increasingly offering additional perks for their highest-paying customers. It’s not quite Rose versus Jack, but you get the point.

Not every cruise line offers the same benefits in a suite, but here is a bit of what you can look forward to.**

Your Suite’s Cabin Benefits

Regardless of size, your suite is going to come with additional benefits that aren’t available in regular cabins. They will be a mix of hard and soft benefits.

Obviously, more room means nicer amenities. You’ll have a much larger bathroom, possibly with a separate shower area. You’ll also likely have a bigger balcony with nicer furniture. The nicest suites on some ships, such as the Pinnacle Suite on Holland America, will have a private hot tub on the verandah. The bed may have premium linens and allow you your choice of pillows.

You won’t need to leave your cabin to eat, also. An increasing number of cruise lines are charging for minibars and room service, but you’ll probably get some freebies. It might be as simple as a one-time minibar setup, possibly with complimentary refills. You’ll likely get evening canapes or a fruit basket or two along the way. You won’t need to ask, since you’ll likely have a butler to take care of everything.

Forget room service charges. In fact, you’ll probably get additional options. Tea on your balcony? No problem. A delivery meal from the dining room, instead of the standard menu? Just ask.

Your Private Dining Room

Feel like leaving the cabin? I don’t blame you. But meal time, particularly dinner, can be chaotic in the main dining room. Most lines allow you to choose a fixed time or just show up. But even a fixed dining time can result in a long wait if the people before you are taking their time.

If you are staying in a suite, however, lines may never be a problem. You’ll probably have priority reservations, a separate dining area or possibly even your own separate dining room. For example, suite guests on Celebrity ships can eat at Luminae, an upscale restaurant, for any meal. There are never lines and the menu is more upscale. Service is personalized, and if what you want isn’t on the menu, they’ll find it for you. Princess isn’t quite as elegant, but suite guests get a private section of a main dining room. Again, there are enough tables to make sure that you’ll never need to wait in line. If you want a nice breakfast, you can take yours in a specialty restaurant.

But no matter what line you’re on, a cruise suite means that your dining will be much more flexible.

Need a Break from Crowds? Head to your own Deck

Sometimes, vacationing with a couple of thousand of your closest friends can be a bit stifling. So if you need a little time to yourself, you’ll have the opportunity. Or at least something close to it.

Private lounges have been so popular at hotels that the cruise lines have picked up on the concept. Virtually all mass brands have created lounges, which are usually open exclusively to suite guests. You’ll generally find lots of comfortable seating, snacks and concierges who can make various reservations for you. They can be a nice place to escape if you need some peace and quiet outside of your room.

Some cruise lines have taken the privacy concept to the next level with exclusive decks. For instance, Celebrity has “The Retreat,” open only to suite guests. You’ll have plenty of space, drink service where you’re sitting and can even get food delivered. Norwegian has an entire section of the ship available only to its “The Haven” guests. You’ll never have to leave your private area, with pools, bar service and even meal delivery available to these guests. On certain Norwegian ships, you’ll have a restaurant right in The Haven itself.

Norwegian’s The Haven is the most exclusive, and largest, of the “ship within a ship” concepts, but never having to worry about finding a deck chair is a huge perk on any ship.

Soft Benefits around the Ship

This is the area where suite benefits vary the most. Service will always be excellent and you’ll usually get the most experienced cabin stewards. But you’ll also get many of the following, as well:

• Priority embarkation and disembarkation. With the advent of e-ticketing, getting on and off the ship is no longer the multi-hour nightmare that it once was, but you’ll still save yourself some time on both ends. At disembarkation, you’ll likely have a private lounge to wait in.
• Priority tender. If the ship is too big to dock directly at the port, you’ll need to take a smaller boat in, known as a tender. Lines for these can get long, but suite guests often get to jump right to the front.
• Added in-suite amenities, such as a bathrobe or tote bag. Don’t take the bathrobe home with you unless you like added charges.
• Priority access at the customer service desk. This is a huge benefit on the last night, when everyone is arguing about their bills.
• Priority reservations for shows, private dining, shore excursions and anything else that requires a reservation.
• Upgraded bedding and bathroom amenities.

How Much Extra Will I Pay for a Cruise Suite?

Well, a lot, is the obvious answer. A suite is going to be multiples of what a standard inside or outside cabin would cost. Several cruise lines have tried to soften the blow by introducing “Concierge Class,” or something similar, but that generally comes with a few soft perks.

The price difference is going to depend on several factors, such as when you are cruising, the type of suite that you want and the amenities that are offered. But you should expected to pay a few thousand dollars more for the entry level suite. And remember, that’s per person, not per cabin. The 3rd and 4th person in a cabin are generally heavily discounted, but you’ll likely pay something.

Suite amenities will play the largest role. For instance, a Celebrity suite offers far more perks than a comparable suite on Princess. Thus, the price difference is going to be greater on Celebrity. You can look at it as a multiple of the cheapest cabin for easy math, but remember that inside cabins are often really cheap.

Where and when you go obviously matter as well although, for a popular cruise, every cabin will price at a premium, not just suites. In fact, certain suite classes can be the first to sell out. There are rarely more than a few largest suites on the ship, and you’ll pay ridiculous fares for those. Likewise, during school vacations, families often gobble up suites.

The Bottom Line to Suites on a Cruise

It’s no secret that the suites are the most expensive cabin on a ship. So what you need to determine is, are the extra perks worth it? One could argue that, on a cruise, not only is time equal to money, but so are convenience and space. If you want to spread out a bit and not have to worry about lines, fees and where you will eat, then a suite is a great option for you. There’s something to be said for not needing to fight for a beach chair.

*Cruise companies market their vacations as “all-inclusive” and, technically, you probably could take a cruise without any additional charges, outside of gratuities. But the industry has consolidated, and there are fewer freebies than ever. Drinks, specialty restaurants and even certain activities onboard will cost extra. A cruise suite can include many extras, but you’re still paying for them. It’s just folded into the price of the cruise.

**I’m going to focus on the mass market, e.g., Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity and Holland America. If you’re sailing on an ultra-luxury line, you’ll receive most of these perks in your ticket price.

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Vegas News January 11, 2023

Enjoying Las Vegas

It’s a new year, and I’m stoked to finally get back to enjoying Las Vegas. I usually shut down my visits to casinos after Thanksgiving because I hate crowds.

I broke this rule last year when I visited a few casinos early in the day. I stopped off a Cosmopolitan and Aria one morning to check out the Proper Eats Food Hall. I also stopped at the Mirage to pick up my rewards card. However, I barely gambled during these visits. GASP!

This year I held out on visiting a casino until my monthly stay at the Cosmopolitan. The Identity Rewards offers are still the same, so I’m going to enjoy them until they dry up.

If my estimate is on target, the Cosmopolitan will become an MGM Rewards property in June. I highly doubt the corporate machine will respect my modest bankroll the way the independent casino operator does.

Comp Nights At Cosmo

For the time being, I’ll enjoy a couple of complimentary nights at the Cosmopolitan each month as well as weekly food and slot/video poker credits.

I have to say, it was nice to get back to playing Pai Gow Poker, random slot machines, and video poker for money. I like video poker, but practicing can get boring no matter how many 666 hands I have. I use the WinPoker app for video poker practice. It’s paid for itself 1,000,000 times over the years.

Haven’t played video poker since November. Sharpening the skills for 2023. #666 pic.twitter.com/qh5UqYnZwm

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) January 2, 2023

It was also great to have someone cook for me for a change. I’ve been eating way too much food at home and I’m not a good cook. The Cosmopolitan has delicious food and drink options.

My 2023 is finally underway! (And A Personal Request)

Personal request: I usually keep tabs on new products at CES that we may see in casinos someday. I didn’t see all that many interesting products. Please drop a comment if you saw something awesome that we might see used in a casino someday.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• The land where Riviera once stood was going to be sold to a person who planned to build a new casino. They backed out of the deal so that’s not going to happen. Read more here.  
• Station Casinos sold land across the street from land it purchased on Las Vegas Blvd. last year to a hospital company. Read more here.  
• There are no plans for the land today. How do we feel about a hospital with gambling?
• We alerted you that Resorts World would begin charging non-rewards club members for parking. Well, that started last week. Read more here. You can sign up for Genting Rewards here.
• Signing up for rewards programs has always been useful to an extent. This might become even more important as companies offer deals only for members. Delta will be offering free wifi if you’re a Skymiles member. Read more here.

New Cosmo Promo

• The Cosmopolitan has an interesting offer match available. It will match offers from other luxury properties. Bring your Wynn offers but not your Luxor or Circus Circus offers. Read the details here. 
• Freestyle Love Supreme at The Venetian is shutting down. Read more here.  
• The Vegas Vipers XFL team will play home games at Cashman Field in downtown Las Vegas. The season begins late Feb. Read more here.
• Here’s a fun bit about the Vegas Vipers. The team is in the North division of the XFL. Who knew?! See the divisions here.
• I hadn’t seen the Las Vegas Grand Prix schedule anywhere before last week. All race events will take place at night. See the tweet with the schedule here.
• Ellis Island has new reward program tiers. Read more here.
• Boyd Gaming will be the first casino corporation to report fourth-quarter and full-year earnings this year. Read more here.  
• MGM Resorts will report earnings on Feb. 8. Read more here.
• Caesars Entertainment will report earnings on Feb. 21. Read more here.  
• It’s so early in the year that I’m unsure what to expect from the calls but it’s on my mind so let’s take a guess at what we’ll see. Boyd should be much of the same. Maybe MGM will offer insight into when Cosmopolitan will become a full MGM Rewards property. Maybe Caesars will talk up how great Horseshoe will be for gamblers.
• The new slot machine version of Running Rich Reels was approved and will be placed at New York-New York and The Strat. Read more here.
• The creators of Absinthe purchased a town in CA to create a “Circus Town”. Read more here.  
• This is rare. Wynn Rewards has a slot promotion for locals. You can see the screengrab here and see the current promotions at the bottom of this page.  
• The I-15 Tropicana freeway construction is going to be a headache for drivers for a few years. You’ll find updates and details throughout the project here.  
• MSG may sell Tao Group. The company operates a slew of nightclubs and restaurants in Las Vegas and around the world. Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta may be the buyer, according to the newspaper. Read more here.  
• Speaking of the MSG Sphere, the company dropped a sweet hype reel. Check it out.

Our 2023 New Year’s Resolution?

Unveil #msgsphere, an entirely new medium that will allow audiences to see and feel entertainment like never before.

Come take a look… pic.twitter.com/1EhUdkvQxx

— MSG Sphere (@msgsphere) January 3, 2023

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Cosmopolitan Las Vegas is once again running one of its most popular annual events, Hoops and Hops. Cosmo describes it as the “ultimate college basketball viewing experience” and, while I’m not quite ready to declare that to be the case, it does sound like a lot of fun.

Hoops and Hops Details

The event will take place during the NCAA tournament, March 16-18. Tickets will be on sale at Cosmo’s website on Friday, January 13. According to Cosmopolitan, the Belmont Ballroom’s 40,000-square-foot space will transform into a reimagined basketball-lover’s dream featuring wall-to-wall high-definition projection screens, a dedicated on-site sports book along with 10 betting stations, a hardwood basketball court with regulation hoop, complimentary games including Golden Tee and Super Shot, an array of culinary offerings and more. Ticketed guests will also receive complimentary entry into Marquee Nightclub all weekend long with a valid Hoops & Hops wristband. I mean, the Golden Tee and Super Shot alone are worth the price of the ticket.

What You Can Do at Hoops and Hops

Doors open an hour before tip-off on Thursday. Hoops & Hops offers three distinct viewing experiences:

• Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17 Single Day Open Bar Pass l $300 per pass, per day (plus service fees) Enjoy open bar (includes well liquor, beer, wine, soda, & water – shots of Red Bull not included), interactive games, with round table and high-top bar seating available on a first come, first serve basis.
• Saturday, March 18 Single Day Open Bar Pass l $150 per pass (plus service fees) Enjoy open bar (includes well liquor, beer, wine, soda, & water – shots of Red Bull not included), interactive games, with round table and high-top bar seating available on a first come, first serve basis.
• Reserved Seating – For those looking to take the party to the next level, private lounge areas complete with plush leather sofas are available. All reservations include waitressed beverage service and a gourmet buffet featuring Chilled Shrimp Cocktail, Carving Station with Trip Tips served with chimichurri, blistered shishito peppers, horseradish mashed potatoes, Lobster Taquitos with chipotle crema and Avocado Toast with herb ricotta, pomegranate seed, pumpkin crunch on multigrain bread. Reservations can be made by emailing EntertainmentCabanaSales@cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or by calling 702.698.6797.

Tickets go on sale at the Cosmo-Vegas website on Friday, January 13, at 10 am PST.

If you need to make reservations for Cosmopolitan, whether it’s during the NCAA Tournament or not, TravelZork Travel can help. Be sure to visit to learn about the fantastic amenities that we can provide.

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Vegas News January 6, 2023

Happy New Year! – Las Vegas

I hope you had a happy and safe New Year’s Eve. I enjoyed a combination of football and the “Las Vegas” marathon on E! all weekend.

This is our first Vegas News of 2023, and it starts with late news and rumors from the last business day of 2022.

MGM Resorts Sells Land Across From Mandalay Bay

MGM Resorts announced the sale of land across the street from Mandalay Bay to ​​three affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The Tribe also owns just over 6 acres on the east side of this land. Read more here.

Plans have not been announced for the land yet. You can learn more about the tribes here.  

Possibly related: There’s a rumor that MGM Resorts is talking to Penn Entertainment about buying the operations of M Resort. Read more here.  

It seems like there are more failed Las Vegas rumors than those that come true. This will make a couple of earnings calls a bit more interesting if nothing else. 

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

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Las Vegas Quick Hits

• Last week we let you know that Fontainebleau acquired financing to finish the project. This week we can share that the company is staffing up. It’s interesting that the company has hired a few former employees at Cosmopolitan. Read more here.  
• I’d love to find a casino with the old, still current Cosmopolitan vibe. I’m expecting that Cosmo will lose some of that when MGM gets its rewards system integrated later this year. That seems like the timeframe when Cosmo will go corporate and lose that independent spirit. I’d like to be wrong about that.
• You may have heard about Southwest air’s problems last week. Leave it to a Las Vegas strip club to make stuck travelers an offer they can’t refuse. Read more about Hustler’s offer here.  
• Vital Vegas spotted some changes ahead for Boyd Rewards. See the tweet here.  
• For a few years, we’ve covered Boyd’s quest for increasing profit by focusing on high-margin customers. This is just another example of squeezing out low-margin customers. This is nothing new so carry on.
• Coincidentally, I visited Suncoast for the first time since June 4, 2020 (the day Las Vegas casinos re-opened after closing due to Covid-19). I had coffee, worked a bit, and didn’t gamble. The property has a slew of new slot machines and reduced the number of table games. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same as before Covid-19. See a few pics here.  
• Depending on when you read this, CES is in town. Here’s a preview of the tech.
• CES was requiring attendees from “China, Macao or Hong Kong and arriving in the US on Jan. 1-4 to provide at CES badge pick up a negative COVID-19 test, taken within the last 48 hours.” Read more here.
• Lunar New Year is on Jan. 22 and there could be some issues for casino operators courting some Asian high-rollers. The US is now requiring “travelers to the US from China, Hong Kong, and Macau will be required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test to their airline before boarding.” Read more here. 
• One of the questions I’m asked regularly is “why are midweek hotel rooms so expensive?” Usually checking a convention calendar will help answer the question. Keep this convention and event calendar on hand.   
• Another show just closed on the Vegas Strip. Legends at Tropicana is done after four years. Read more here.
• Bill Maher moved from the Mirage Aces of Comedy series to MGM Grand and he’s adding more shows. Read more here.   
• Las Vegas is a Pepsi town. I don’t drink much soda so it doesn’t matter much to me plenty of people care about this. Read more here.
• The LVCVA released its monthly Executive Summary with visitation and hotel room prices in November. Read more here.  
• Harry Reid International Airport reported a big increase in passengers during November compared to last year. Read more here.  
• According to the report, more than 50% of the arriving and departing passengers at LAS flew Spirit. I don’t pay close attention to this and never realized that number was so high. There’s lots of information if you dig through the report.
• While reading about M Resort rumors I came across some information about Royal Resort near the Las Vegas Convention Center. Here’s my takeaway: “GWP has assembled the consecutive lots to the east and west of the Royal Resort, which consists of a 43,470-square-foot shopping center on 3.7 acres and a 306,000-square-foot office building on 3.3 acres, for a total of 10.5 acres fronting on South Las Vegas Boulevard with plans to develop a future high rise resort and casino.”  Read more here.  
• Read about GWP here.  
• Speaking of Convention Center Drive hotels. You can find an “update” on Majestic here.
• The good news is that you’ll earn Starbucks Stars quicker in Las Vegas because of the elevated prices. Obviously, the bad news is that Starbucks devalued the Stars in its rewards program. Read more here.  

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The post Vegas News | MGM Sells Land, Boyd Lowers Rewards Benefits And Vegas Is A Pepsi Town! appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News December 28, 2022

Proper Eats at Aria

I visited the new Proper Eats food hall at Aria last week. The fancy food court occupies space old buffet space on the second floor of the casino. 

The layout is similar to the Aria buffet with new food stations and seating. I went for lunch on the eve of Christmas Eve since I knew it wouldn’t be swamped with holiday visitors.

Visited proper eats food hall @AriaLV today. pic.twitter.com/exz0b07kKi

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) December 22, 2022

I didn’t notice signage for Proper Eats on my way to lunch. Similar to the food hall at Cosmopolitan, I expect this will be crowded once people realize it’s open.

I arrived a little before my meeting time so I could check it out. The smell of a toasted everything bagel greeted me at Wexler’s. It was music to my nose. I definitely stood around enjoying the smell for a bit.

Ordering and paying for food is similar to the Resorts World food court. Most orders are done via mobile phone or kiosk. Temaki Bar (sushi) Egghead (fake Eggslut) must be ordered in person. 

I used the kiosk since it wasn’t too busy. There aren’t many kiosks, so there might be a line to order when more people are visiting.

MGM Rewards Points – Earn Points at the Kiosk

You can use your MGM Rewards account at the kiosk to earn points. I’m not sure ordering on a mobile phone offers this. I didn’t see a place to enter a number.

As I previously mentioned, I went to Seoul Bird for Korean Fried Chicken. The food tasted like tempura chicken fingers with Korean-flavored dipping sauces. 

A Side Of Tots – Seoul Bird

I added a side of tots because I love tots. The food itself was fine, but it wasn’t what I expected.

The tots were crisp but not seasoned at all. The chicken was not bad but it was so unmemorable that I probably won’t have it again.

Early reviews I’ve seen for the food at Proper Eats are mixed from bad to good depending on the food stall. My chicken, tots, and cold brew all fall under the category of “fine.” Nothing was awful or special. On the upside, I was so full I didn’t eat dinner.

Food courts are rarely destination dining spots. They serve the purpose of quick and relatively inexpensive meals. Proper Eats falls in that category. 

It seems like it will fill a void for someone at Aria who doesn’t want to go elsewhere for a quick meal. It’s probably not a place people are going to flock to for a specific meal. 

I’ll likely be back because I’m at Aria fairly often. I’ll keep my eyes out for reviews for the next time. Read more about Proper Eats here.  

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

Las Vegas Quick Hits

• Hard Rock is now operating the Mirage. You can read the press release from Hard Rock here. You can see the MGM press release here.   
• The rewards program desk is open inside the casino but the Unity website has no information about benefits for the Mirage. You can reference it here.
• The Mirage is matching Hard Rock Unity status to MGM Rewards status and giving away slot dollars for all tier matches. Read more here.  
• I received the Hard Rock Icon level for MGM Rewards Gold. There should also be enough comp dollars for $100 to be used at the Mirage. I’ll check that out next year.
• MGM Rewards is extending 2x Tier Rewards until Jan. 21. Check current promotions here. (Note: MGM Rewards has been changing and rearranging a lot lately. Be sure to review and also “screenshot” your promotions. Of course, most promotions are subject to change per terms&conditions.)
• One more on the topic of casino rewards benefits. Resorts World will charge for self-parking next year unless you’re a rewards club member. Read more here.  
• Randy’s is taking over the donut spot inside Suns Out Buns Out at Resorts World. Read more here.
• There was a BetMGM security breach. Read more here.  
• The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority put together a list of what’s happening in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. Read it here.
• Fontainebleau secured the money to finish construction. The property says it will open in the fourth quarter of next year. Read more here.  
• Peppermill is 50! Read more here.   
• The Punk Rock Museum opening date has been pushed back. Read more here.  
• CES is expecting 100,000 people to attend the expo in January. That’s a big step forward but still only a little more than half of the number at the conference before Covid-19. Read more here.
• Caesars Entertainment has a $5 million F1 package. Read more here.  
• Bad news: Herbs & Rye caught fire last week. Read more here.
• Good news: Herbs & Rye should be open by the time you read this. 
• Adele is the most in-demand show ticket in Nevada. You can see the same for every state here.  
• The Meatloaf show at Paris is closing. Read more here.  
• Extravaganza at Bally’s/Horseshoe is closing. Read more here.
• John Mull BBQ is now a historic site in Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Treasure Island’s owner Phil Ruffin says the guitar tower at the Mirage won’t hurt business. Read more here.
• Mohegan Gaming reported earnings last week. There’s no information about Las Vegas as usual, but you can read more here.

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