Las Vegas Hilton - What's Next?

There are some changes to the lineup of shows at the Las Vegas Hilton. Namely, Voices and Sin City Bad Girls are out. This is not a huge surprise. The Hilton has been shopping for an identity for a while. Barry Manilow left to go to Paris earlier this year. So they have been trying to usher in new shows and capture a younger, hipper crowd from the Strip. This might prove difficult.

The Hilton is just far enough off the Strip that it's going to take some nifty advertising to get the usual Strip crowd over there. Think of it this way: if I'm staying at TI or Caesars, and I have all of these great clubs, restaurants, casinos, and shows within walking distance, why would I want to go to the Hilton? If I'm booking a trip to Vegas, why would I stay there?

They basically have two options to try to draw people away from mid-Strip: price or unique atmosphere. Because Las Vegas is suffering from a down economy, the Hilton probably won't attract people based on price. Places like the Flamingo or the Imperial Palace will be able to match them and maybe beat them. As far as a unique experience, that's also a tough sell when the Strip continually ups the ante with more fun and excitement than you can shake a stick at.

So the Hilton seems to be in the same limbo as many North Strip hotels. The Riviera filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. The Stardust is gone. The Frontier is gone.

Now there are exceptions. The Sahara is holding on, but they have a few things going for them. One, they are on the Monorail path. Two, they have good gambling promotions (dollar blackjack, affordable poker, etc.). Circus Circus is part of MGM, and they have the whole circus thing going on, so they are different.

But what's to become of these properties? I don't know. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that some will be purchased, possibly razed, and re-opened as new, hip casinos to look like their mid-Strip counterparts. Here's the thing that baffles me. It doesn't have to be this way. These properties north of Sahara Avenue could be a haven for the average Joe and Jane traveler to Vegas. Here's how I think it could work for them:

1. Use the Sahara as a model and offer inexpensive gaming with good rules. You'll beat Harrah's properties every time.
2. Don't try to beat mid-Strip properties at their own game. You're not about clubs, fancy-pants restaurants, and giant suites. You're about affordable rooms, good gaming, fun, and Las Vegas class. Bring back some old Vegas because people still want to see that. Nostalgia is a powerful drug, even for people who didn't experience it the first time around.
3. Join forces. This worked for downtown when they built the Fremont Street Experience. It could work for you, too. Put your heads together and offer something that nobody else has.

The first two times I visited Las Vegas, I stayed at the Riviera and the Hilton, respectively. I had so much fun that I continued to return to Las Vegas. Going on 18 years now, as a matter of fact. I stay at different places these days, depending on deals, who I'm going with, and so on. I would love to see these properties return to their former glory. Or even a new glory.

As dealers say to me when they push the chips to me, good luck!

Viva,

Mike

Downtown Las Vegas - Hip, a trip, or a blip?

Hi Vegas fans,

Trends come and go. One thing is constant in Vegas - change. Twenty years ago, it was the Mirage and the themed resorts. Mom and dad brought the kids, and casinos built theme parks. Then casino execs figured out that Junior couldn't gamble. Down went the theme parks, and up went the upscale joints. Wynn, Palazzo, Encore. Then, condos. That was the wave of the future. But, the economic downturn hit, and everyone stopped building.

In the mean time, there's downtown Las Vegas. A quirky "what do we do with this" kind of place. It's not on the same level as the Strip in terms of upscale adventures, but it's also not down in the dumps. There are some great properties here, including the Golden Nugget, but visitors just don't seem to know what to do with it.

Here's what I've been saying for years... downtown just needs a fresh coat of paint, a few promotions, and a little love. It's like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree - give it a little attention, and it will grow.

Especially now. Look at all of the stalled projects on the Strip. There's no better time to show visitors that 1) this is a great place to gamble/stay/play and 2) it won't cost you an arm and a leg... like some places.

I've pointed this out before with support from other publications. Here's a snippet from Vegas Today and Tomorrow, a good barometer for Vegas projects:

"Even though there's an economic slowdown, the downtown area is becoming a sustainable, modern, urban city. Transportation projects, public facilities, high-rise condo and loft residences are being built among new markets, galleries, shops, clubs and bistros. Yes, Downtown Vegas is becoming hip and livable."

Yep. Downtown has a lot of potential. Best wishes and keep up the good work. Let's see what happens next.

Viva,
Mike

Preparation and Pacing in Vegas

Hi Vegas fans,

When I go to Vegas, I always pack light, but one of the things I take with me is a ziploc bag with a few vitamins, some ibuprofen and antacids. I'm going to add theraflu and zicam to that list. Why? Well, it seems that when I get to Vegas, I tend to hit the town pretty hard. I like to hit the tables right away, which means I start having a few drinks right away. Then I get hungry and eat too much.

My everyday system is not used to this, so it tends to break down a bit. That's why I hit the vitamins, ibuprofen and antacids. But, I press on the next day, doing the same thing over again (I am a bit hard-headed). By the time I've been in Vegas for a few days, I sometimes catch a cold. Or as my friend Meg says, a touch of "the Irish flu." That's why I'll be packing theraflu and zicam from now on. It's no fun being in Vegas with a sore throat and head cold. Medication usually masks the symptoms, but that's all I really care about. I need some masking for a while to fend off the illness until I get home. Then when I get home, I can call in sick for a day or two to really rest.

As much as I tell myself that next time I will pace myself in Vegas, the truth is I'm so excited when I get there that it's hard to do. So, at the very least I can prepare and take care of myself if I happen to take in too much of the good life in Vegas all at once.

Viva,
Mike

Here Begins Something New

Hi Vegas Fans,

Starting today, you'll see a new feature on the Simplifying Las Vegas website. It's called the Vegas Reflection. The VR will be a news item, a quote, an image, something from a reader, or another cool tidbit.

I hope you enjoy it! If you have something you'd like to include in the VR, please email me.

Viva,
Mike

Money Matters in Vegas

Hi Vegas fans,

A few updates:

Inexpensive

The Las Vegas Advisor has a great deal on the Cirque Zumanity show for Mondays in July - check it out!

Crazy Expensive

For those of you who are more interested in big ticket items than low ticket prices, the LVA also posted this tidbit this week... "A Swarovski-crystal-encrusted glove worn by Michael Jackson fetched $192,000 at the Julien's Live auction that took place at Planet Hollywood over the weekend." Wow, that's a lot of Billie Jeans!

And I saved the best for last...

FREE

That's right. Nada. Nuthin'! That's the price you pay for surfing all of the great stuff on the Simplifying Las Vegas website. In addition to reader polls, trivia, and a free itinerary, you'll also see a great new feature coming soon. I don't want to give it away completely, but let me just say that you'll want to check out the site every day for something fun.

I hope you enjoy it. As always, I'm open to suggestions, comments and stories about your trips to Vegas.

Viva,

Mike

Practice makes perfect

Hi Vegas fans,

I've been gearing up for my next trip to the Strip. Although I've been playing blackjack for many years, I still like to set up my card shuffler, six decks, chips and play some hands at home. (This also means turning on some tunes and drinking a few beers. Just comes with the territory.) Now I know basic strategy, and when I forget a specific hand (do I split 2s against a dealer 2?) I look at my strategy card. But it's still good to run through the hands and try to see when I make money, when I lose money, etc. And I don't count cards, but if I did, this is where I'd practice that, too.

It's like everything else in Vegas. If you go into it with at least a basic understanding of what's what, you will have a good time and won't be surprised when you get there. Fine tune your Vegas experience by reading a good travel guide (I humbly suggest Simplifying Las Vegas), visit some websites (including SLV again, please), and watch some specials (the Travel Channel often has some good Vegas tidbits). Even if you've been there before, it's always good to brush up on your Vegas knowledge. Fun, too!

Viva,

Mike

Tropicana - Props to The Trop

Hi Vegas fans,

For years I have enjoyed gambling at the smaller, less fancy-shmancy places on the Strip. This includes the Tropicana. But when it first opened in 1957 as the 12th hotel on the Strip, the Trop was quite the exclusive property. The front of the joint boasted a unique, tulip-shaped fountain. Like the Flamingo and the Desert Inn, the Trop was classy in those days.

Fast-forward fifty years. The Trop fell on hard times, and mismanagement kept it from retaining its glory. The rooms got dingy, the carpets looked threadbare, and the once-dignified diamond-in-the rough was just... well, just rough. Folies Bergere closed, and all that remained of original class was the Tiffany ceiling in the casino. It was constantly on the Strip's list of "next to be imploded and archived on YouTube."

But, recent events have helped change the Trop's tune. New management is giving it a major Miami-beach themed upgrade, expected to be complete in 2011. The casino is going high-tech; gamblers will be able to place bets from their seats in the Sports Book with new eDeck devices. Even their website got a face lift.

I'll continue to gamble there. Why? Not because it will be the cool place on the Strip. Not because it will attract new fans with hip shows, fancy restaurants or a happening club. Those things are all great, but I like the Trop for the same reasons I like the Stratosphere and other "small" places: low-minimum games, easy parking, simple casino navigation, laid-back atmosphere, and strong drinks a-plenty. Makes it easy to stay there a while.

So, best wishes to the "newest" casino on the Strip. I like your style!

Viva,

Mike