Vegas 2009: A Look Back

Hi Vegas fans,

Well, it's getting closer to New Year's. And I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past year and look ahead a little bit. It was a difficult time for Vegas in many ways, but in true Vegas fashion, the city endures. Here are some of the stories I wrote about this year:

• Folies Bergere closed in March after 50 years at the Trop. I saw it about 7 years ago and enjoyed it very much. It was a Vegas classic.
• Danny Gans, only 52 years old, died suddenly on May 1st. He was a talented impressionist and a Vegas headliner at the Mirage for years. He will be missed.
• The Hangover was released in June. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I mean, I could see myself in these guys. I hope one of my close buddies decides to get married soon so I can throw a bachelor party in Vegas. The movie is now out on DVD and Blue-ray.
• Lance Burton re-ups at Monte Carlo. This is one of those cases where you can't believe everything you read. Rumors floated for a while that once Lance's contract came to an end, contract negotiations would not work out and Lance would not return. Not true. Not only is Lance back, but his contract is for 6 years, and all parties seem happy with the deal.
• Mike Tyson marries at La Bella. Maybe he was reacting to the high coming off his part in The Hangover.
• Bob Stupak died at the age of 67 after a long illness. Bob epitomized the Vegas entrepreneurial spirit. I think of him every time I go to the Strat, which is a lot.
• Charo fell and put her show on hiatus. Just one of the many show closings for the struggling Riv this year, which is having financial trouble but still afloat. What will 2010 hold for it? I hope it hangs on.
• Wayne Newton is back! His Once Before I Go tour is at the Trop. See him now before he retires.
• Simplifying Las Vegas 2010 available on PDF and Kindle. And I got on the social media bandwagon with Facebook and Twitter. Who knew. And the website got a facelift, too. Hard work, good fun. Thanks for coming along with me!
  
• CityCenter opened in December, and wow is it big and upscale! You've got a lot of stuff going on in one space: Vdara, Aria, Harmon, Mandarin Oriental, and Crystals retail center. And you thought the economy was bad. And speaking of...

I also reported on the economy and its impact on Las Vegas, of course. And while the pundits predict, the oft-quoted Mark Twain bit rings in my head: "the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Indeed. Vegas is alive. It may not be well, but I think that's temporary, and it's certainly showing signs of rebounding.

Looking ahead to 2010

People work hard. Too hard. They need a break from reality. Vegas accomodates. It's really that simple. Casino execs look at all kinds of numbers (comp values, player averages, etc.) and focus on target markets (whales, promotions to high rollers, and so on) because they have to, but I think sometimes they miss the bigger picture.

People like to have fun on vacation. They like to be treated like royalty whether they are playing nickle slots or $1000/hand blackjack. Everyone likes to win, but most of us going to Vegas know that it's risky business. So, we take what we can afford to lose, and we want to be entertained while we're there. Vegas does a very good job of this overall, which is why I continue to return.

But sometimes the chain properties get very big for their britches, and when they expand, they try to squeeze every dime. 6:5 blackjack is a good example. Think about how many empty pits you have. Would you rather make a little bit of money from many 3:2 full tables, or a moderate amount from half-empty 6:5 tables. I'm just sayin'.

So, casino execs, I hope you take this into consideration in 2010. Make sure your dealers are fun and entertaining, cocktail waitresses are bringing drinks a-plenty, the casino is clean and has at least some games where the odds aren't terrible (i.e 3:2 blackjack), hotel rooms have fluffy towels, the buffet is freshened often, and the check-in line doesn't stretch to Henderson. That's pretty much it. The rest is details.

It's part of my philosophy: simplify, simplify, simplify. Well, that and diet & exercise.

Here's to a prosperous 2010 for all you Vegas nuts (like me) out there. Thank you so much for a wonderful year.

Viva,
Mike

Happy Holidays!

Last time I wrote about my Wish List for Las Vegas. Today, I am counting my blessings as we wrap up 2009. Yes, I know it's not New Year's yet, but I'm getting warmed up:

• First, thanks to all of you for supporting Simplifying Las Vegas. It's been a great year for the website and book, and 2010 is going to be even better! I have a lot of ideas for fun, informative stuff, so stay tuned and let me know if you have suggestions.

• I'm very grateful that I've had help from friends at the Las Vegas Advisor. Great site, even better people. If you are not a member and visit Vegas even once per year, you are missing out on some great coupons and information. Join (or rejoin) in 2010; it is well worth it.

• I'm happy that I've been able to publish my book via Kindle and as a PDF on my website. It is a lot of work, but it sure is fun and I'm proud of it. By the way... if you still haven't found a gift for the Vegas fan in your life, an electronic book is the perfect way to show you care. It's inexpensive, Eco-friendly, and you can wait till the last minute to order it!

• Mostly, I'm thankful for family and friends who have supported me in my many endeavors. This is a good time to take a moment to reflect on all the great opportunities I've had this year and how incredibly lucky I am in so many ways. Thank you!

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays!

Viva,

Mike

My Holiday Wish List

Hi Vegas Fans,

I'm very fortunate this year, and I really can't think of things that I need or want for the holidays. I realize how lucky I am.

So, I'm making a wish list for Las Vegas this year. If I had three wishes for my favorite city, here's what they would be:

1. CityCenter opens to great fanfare and thrives for years to come. I think this city within a city is going to be a lot of fun, create a lot of excitement, and be profitable for a long time. Best wishes!

2. Harrah's sets an example for excellence in hotel/casino properties. They certainly have the potential. They have a lot of real estate in the city. Right now, I don't find them particularly appealing (see my Open Letter in the SLV Forums). Now I've stayed at the Flamingo, and I think it's a nice property at a good price, especially considering it is mid-Strip. However, if they want to be world-class, they can do much more for their guests. Think customer service. Think hard. And, finally, please bring back 3-2 blackjack. Please.

3. Property owners realize that Las Vegas is a mix of old school, new school, and hip cool, and they embrace these differences. There's no need to continually rebuild a resort to look like everyone else's. Now pulling up the old carpets and refurbishing the hotel rooms is fine. But don't put a nightclub in your joint that resembles the one down the block, especially if that's not your style.

For example, the Riv is a great old place with good rooms and low-minimum gambling. If they put in a rooftop bar or a fancy-shmancy restaurant, it wouldn't look right. What if instead they did something like an old saloon (think swinging bar doors, player piano, bar tenders with the old West costumes, etc.). Or an old saloon with a new twist (think swinging bar doors and gas lamp lights, but hot bartenders, a big dance floor, etc.). How about an elegant restaurant with black-and-white pictures of the Strip and good steaks instead of an ultra-modern eatery with Pan-Asian cuisine?

Embrace who you are and your clientele will respect that.

Only 10 more shopping days till Christmas, so get hopping, Las Vegas!
Viva,
Mike

Nook Review

The Nook (Barnes & Noble electronic book reader) received a poor review from the New York Times. Looks like Amazon's Kindle is still the tops in readers. Good news for Simplifying Las Vegas!

Vegas Economy

Recent activity in Vegas makes me wonder. When will it turn around? Or will it turn around at all? Just in the past week, here are some closing/closed victims, from Las Vegas Advisor news:

- Steve Wyrick Theater in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood
- Bill's Lake Tahoe
- Ice at Riviera
- Aqua Lounge and Aqua Pit at the Plaza
- Rub BBQ and other barbecue restaurants

In addition, many Vegas numbers are not encouraging. Housing and gaming revenues continue to decline.

What's a gambler to do? Well, aside from going to Vegas (when I go, I make frequent deposits at the craps and blackjack tables), I'd say don't panic, don't spread rumors, think positive, and wait it out. Here are some signs that all hope is not lost:

- City Center: this huge project is built on the shoulders of MGM, folks who know a thing or two about the hotel/casino biz. And this is in the Big New Vegas style - an expensive, high-end combination of hotels, shopping and gaming.

- Visitors: Numbers are starting to inch up every-so-slightly. A lot of bargain hunters are going to Vegas right now, and I think they will start encouraging others to go, too.

- Creative Promotion: Vegas is constantly reinventing itself. And when the chips look like they are down, the Convention and Visitors Authority kicks it up a notch.

Vegas also understands the market. I've been wondering for years if Vegas (specifically the Strip) is pricing itself out of the low and mid-range gambler market. Think about the last few completed projects: Encore, Palazzo, and City Center are not built for the average Joe. These joints are not getting rich from the grinds playing $5 blackjack or nickle slots. They need whales with deep pockets (think Larry Flint) who can change the bottom line for a whole financial quarter.

Does this mean that us weekend six packers are out of luck? No - there's still plenty of opportunities for us and always will be, even when the economy picks up.

First of all, there are still places on the Strip that you can find good low-minimum games and entertainment, such as the Stratosphere, Riviera, Circus Circus, and Sahara on the North end of town and the Excalibur and Tropicana on the South Strip. For a few more dollars, you can spend some time at Luxor, MGM Grand, and NY NY. These last three properties are all owned by MGM - a solid corporation that will be in Vegas for along time, catering to everyone from the high end to the spendthrift (that's me) travelers.

Then there's downtown and surrounding areas. Now while the Plaza, Binion's and some of the other carpet joints are suffering, it's not because there's not a market for lower-minimum clientele. The places that are cutting back and closing have razor-thin margins and can't afford it when the competition offers good deals. In the long run, this will either help them, provided they can afford to make more of an investment in their properties, or it will shut their doors and open opportunities for someone else.

Either way, the economy traveler will still have a place to call home. Of course, I'll still peak in to City Center to see how the other half lives. Looking is still free.

Viva,
Mike

Vegas and New Year's

Hi Vegas fans,

Recently, a friend asked me about going to Las Vegas for New Year's Eve. While I've never hit the Strip on NYE, I have heard and read about how crowded and nuts it is during the whole holiday weekend. I typically don't mind people crowds, but car traffic tends to get my blood pressure way up there, so I would avoid driving in Vegas during this holiday.

Speaking of "way up there," rates tend to be higher during the holidays, but considering they've dropped significantly due to the economy, you can probably still find a reasonable room rate. Word of advice? Book now if you haven't already! Rates will only increase the longer you wait, and even last-minute deals won't be discounted.

The Strip is closed to traffic on NYE, and the hotels put on quite a fireworks display. Typically properties will also be closed during this time to everyone but registered guests, so make sure you have your room key with you.

If you don't want to deal with the Strip, there are plenty of great off-Strip hotels where you can enjoy a great Vegas vacation. Consider somewhere like the Rio or the Palms. Downtown is also an option, but Fremont Street will be crazy packed - one of the only drawbacks of having all of the properties centrally located.

Be patient and plan to wait - either in traffic, in line for the buffet, or at a club. This may be one time to visit Vegas with less of an itinerary and more of a "go with the flow" concept. If you're flexible, you will still have a good time, but you may not get to do everything on your list.

Overall, is it worth going to Vegas during New Year's? Well, you know my motto... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.

Viva,
Mike