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Posts Tagged ‘Las Vegas’

Two Companies Fighting for M Resort

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

The world of gambling is competitive and so far there are two big companies fighting it out for the M Resort. It is Penn National Gaming and Leonard Green & Partners that have submitted formal bids for the resort and are hoping they win out on the millions of dollars the move would bring in. Both parties are negotiating in private for the hotel. It is a 390-room facility with a state of the art casino. Originally it opened in the Las Vegas Valley in March of 2009. So far it has made a great name for itself in the market, though it was hit hard by the recession as were many other casinos in the area. The M Resort however is now rallying and coming to an even better potential market as things turn around.

There are some ownership problems though. If Penn National is the one that wins the bid, there could be a problem. M Resort is owned by Anthony Marnell III, who originated the hotel casino for $1 billion. The resort is on the market for a much smaller amount and reportedly owes over $700 million. This would leave Marnell with a considerable loss in investment. Whether or not he is going to be willing to take the revenue cut has yet to be seen. The market is unpredictable still though so he may be alright with the deal as is. Penn National comes with a great reputation for gaming and can easily handle the addition. Right now the company runs various racetracks and sixteen casinos in the US, in addition to some overseas. Overall this is a great business deal for the two companies. Only time will tell whether or not Penn National or Leonard Green & Partners win the bid in the end and what problems that means. It is a fact that whichever company does win-win no doubt have the chance to turn the business around and have millions of dollars in revenue at their disposal in coming years. It may take some time to turn things around, but with the growth in gambling, that shouldn’t be a problem for long.

Vdara Having Problems with Sun and Patio

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

The casinos on The Strip are widespread and exciting. If you visit Las Vegas no doubt you are a fan of the casino gambling world. Now a days there are a wider range of bonuses and specials to take advantage of. The numbers are down and that has been chronic to a lot of gaming areas so they are fighting hard to regain their pre-recessionary market shares. The world of gambling is expanding and that is creating a difficult financial time for Las Vegas. The city was once a mega-gambling center of the world. People came from worldwide locations to wager at the Nevada gaming center because they knew they would get some of the best games and greatest deals. There are some problems though. First of all, gaming centers in the city are losing revenue due to recessionary cut backs. People stopped gambling at the rates they did in former years due to unemployment, lowering house values and lack of credit. This made a lot of problems for the market. Second, there are outside elements that are affecting casinos’ revenue streams.

Take the Vdara Las Vegas Hotel in City Center. It is on the Strip and it’s one of the best gaming centers around. There is one problem though: the high-sun heat. The tower on the south side is an immediate problem because it bounces rays of sunlight onto the swimming pool area. That normally wouldn’t be a problem, but the hot Nevada heat combined with that scorching focus is creating a problem for those luxuriating on the casino poolside bar. It’s like a magnifying glass on the sun, where visitors are the ants. Right now the casino has employed a list of designers who are trying to work with the problem to rectify it. They are hoping to create some solution that will shield the sunbathers from the scorching heat and direct sunlight. The designers are considering installing high-tech film panes to lessen the direct sunlight by 70%. This is one of the most viable options, but only time will tell what the casino actually does to fix the problem.

Things to do In Las Vegas- Part 2

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

• Football tournaments. If sports betting is your thing, then check out the weekly contests. The M Resort is the location for gamers to pick their favorite NFL teams. You can participate every week and walk away with a great prize if you pick right. The first prize every week is $5,000. How about that? Get in on a free event and walk away with a great cash prize. Not only can you have gambling fun, but you can pay for your trip there! The M Resort hands out $30,000 in prizes every week so get in on the gaming.
• Rio Masquerade Show in the Sky. This is a great carnival show much like Cirque de Soliel. It features rides that come off the ceiling of the casino. These are some of the most affordable “rides” in the city and you can take part in them every hour between six at night until eleven. It’s great fun to watch acrobats perform way atop the casino gaming floor and throw prizes down to any viewer in need of something extra for their visit.
• Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand. This is one of the biggest shows around the Las Vegas area. Of course if you watch any MGM movie from way back you are used to seeing the lion greeting you from the beginning. The lions are the ones you see in this show—lions and their cubs. It is a 8-acre ranch that houses the animals and guests can visit and view them from the large glass walls. It’s a great way to get a close up view of the wild animals in their majesty, but without the danger of a live safari.
• The Mirage Volcano display. This is another free activity you can take part in. The Mirage erupts every night from eight at night until 12am. You can see a “live” volcano—complete with lava and fire and smoke. It’s a great visual and people like up every night to experience the “natural” disaster in all its splendor.

If you are in Las Vegas take advantage of any of the above scenes to create an even more fulfilling vacation time. The attractions are all worthy of your time and you won’t be disappointed at their excitement.

Things to do In Las Vegas- Part 1

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

It is no secret that the gambling market in Las Vegas is struggling. Part of the problem is the lack of tourism in the area. There was a time when gambling in Nevada was a annual trip millions of people across the globe made. Now the problem is that the recession, hampered those visitors. No longer is Las Vegas the center of gambling either—with the consistent rise in casino gaming centers all over the world, now it is no longer an exclusive hotspot for winning money, entertainment or vacation. Still—that is not to say that Las Vegas doesn’t have things to offer. In fact, it still has a wide range of things to see. Now that it has suffered due to decreasing numbers, city officials have put more money into advertising and focused on promotions for gamers. Here are some things anyone can do in Las Vegas and have a great time at.

• Visit the Fountains of the Bellagio. We have all seen the Bellagio featured in films and movies. It is one of the best casinos in the Las Vegas area and it offers premiere gambling, entertainment, suites and fun. Visiting the fountains though can be exciting in itself. The water is programmed to showcase an actual performance so it would do any visitor to stop by and watch the “show.” The water is set to spray and lighting as interpreted by music from classical to rock and Broadway to blues. Namely whoever is headlining is featured at the lights and this is an opulent vision to see.
• Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. The display is a featured one that has a range of Chilean Flamingos to view. It isn’t the birds that draw, but rather their exotic place of origin. Let’s face it, it isn’t common to see flamingos wandering around. In addition to flamingos though, you can also see a range of koi, turtles, swans and ducks to enjoy. It’s a visually appealing sight and a highly relaxing one. If you love tranquility or taking time out from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas then visit the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat for a few minutes. It is sure to calm you down easily and quickly.

Part two coming next.

The Plaza Lays Off Workers

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

It is no secret that the Las Vegas gambling market is suffering. Since the recession the area, in fact the entire state, have been struggling with lowered revenue streams. The problem with the area is that it had no secondary market to rely on. It built easily 80% of its revenue stream on gambling. Once the recession happened, people lost their discretionary funds and quickly cut vacations and wagering out of their budgets. Millions of Americans lost their jobs and had no choice other than to cut back on non-necessities—they had to in an effort to make their monthly budgets. For this reason Las Vegas has had a difficult time managing throughout the recession. Now that the recession is over, the city is still having problems. People are returning to their old buying patterns but much slower than anticipated.

The Plaza recently announced that it is taking drastic measures to ensure its financial future. The organization is laying off about four-hundred employees and closing down about 1,000 hotel suites. In addition, they are putting that money saved into renovating the current gaming facility. The hope is that the money will do well to bring in a new customer base and call older customers to return to gaming. Part of the huge problem is the recession, but another problem is the market going on in Macau. Macau is growing by the day in revenue and becoming one of the biggest gaming hubs in the world. It is creating exotic get-a-way vacations for gamers and that is too much of a draw. People are opting for a Macau vacation, rather than a Las Vegas trip. Plus, the prices are about the same with the exception of the plane trip. Gamblers are willing to make the added expense with the hope of going to a far away location for extreme gambling fun. Hopefully the Plaza will be able to reinvigorate the market and bring in more customers. It may take some time but the market is shifting. Plaza owners have to do something now to bring a new notoriety to their gaming products or they may suffer more setbacks.

Las Vegas Still Trying to Repair Market

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

There was a time when Las Vegas officials believed that their market was so secure major changes would not affect them. They saw how many people came in every given year to the casinos to wager billions of dollars. Casinos were built left and right within the city limits and all pushed the boundaries of what good gaming was. It seemed as if the money would never subside and people would be able to continue benefiting from the city’s popularity forever. Unfortuately that wasn’t the case. Since the recession, Las Vegas suffered just like the rest of the country but the aftermath is proving to be even more difficult.

One of the biggest dangers in the overall business market is to build an entire economy on one industry. If that industry fails, the market is doomed. Recovery isn’t easy. That is exactly what Las Vegas did. The city relied almost solely on tourism and gambling as a means of bringing in revenue. Though the revenue was huge, so were the expenses. When that stopped during the recession, it put the entire state in a difficult financial position. With no secondary market to rely on, it made recovery even harder. New studies have shown that within the state of Nevada almost 60% of residents are either in foreclosure or defaulting on their home loans. People are still having serious problems with their own personal financial recovery. Tourism is down due to the US economy. No one has the funds yet to take a vacation or to go gambling in Las Vegas. Recall that record numbers of people were in the unemployment lines throughout the recession. They lost their nest eggs, home value and assets. Now, they are focused on building those things up again and not on having fun at a casino. It is proving to be difficult for the Las Vegas community. It is trying though to reinvigorate itself. City officials are creating specials and bonuses for people to return. They are focusing on deep discounts for entire families and hoping that it helps to bring people back to the market. Hopefully it won’t be long until people start responding and Las Vegas is able to return to its old revenue numbers.

Nevada Still Struggling Financially

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

There is more bad news for Nevada. Over the past three years the state has seen a notable decline in revenue and that is meaning more and more problems for the state. Since the recession, all states have had problems financially, but Nevada has seen them since a year before the recession. It has been since 2007 that Las Vegas’ economy has been on the decline. Part of the issue can be attributed to the fact that gambling is becoming more popular. At one time Las Vegas was considered to be the hub of US gambling. If you wanted to spend an exciting weekend of entertainment, wagering, drinking, shows and hotel stays, then Las Vegas was the nearest place to head off to. Now, things are quickly changing. Gambling centers are cropping up around the US and they are spreading the gambling market thinner and thinner among the world. That is bad news for casinos that once held a strong market share. Now they are having to share that with neighboring competitors.

Las Vegas’ problems stem partially from having one main economy. In a lot of ways Las Vegas is like Detroit Michigan. Detroit built is financial future on one main economy: auto manufacturing. It housed a number of large companies and manufacturing plants that were heavily reliant on the auto industry. One of the primary causes of the recession was the auto manufacturing bust. Dealerships were closing down and there were a wide range of problems for companies to deal with. When the auto manufacturing industry took its huge hit, Detroit plants closed down. That left millions of dollars missing from the state and local governments and it also left millions of residents without jobs. It was a hard time for everyone involved and experts are saying one of the biggest issues is that those jobs will never be replaced. It has caused the Detroit area to be a wasteland in a lot of ways and waiting for the next move to change its economic state. Las Vegas is the same in that it built its economy on one industry: gambling. That is making it difficult for the city to find recovery because it has no secondary market to rely on for a turn around. It has to revive the gambling market one way or another or face future disaster financially.

Las Vegas Revenues Still on the Decline

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Poor Las Vegas is still suffering financially. The numbers are in the Las Vegas has still not gained as much revenue as needed to return to pre-recessionary revenue. A few short years ago Las Vegas was considered to be the number one gambling location in the US. For years it held that reputation. Of course Atlantic City came in to challenge it, but together those two locations traded off the number one spot time and time again. Unfortunately Las Vegas isn’t hitting the same amount of profit it did in past years and it scrambling to change its package deals and promotions to try to increase customers. The thing about gambling today is that there are so many options, that customers are spreading themselves thin. No longer is Las Vegas the only option for gambling. Now, there are more and more land-based casinos being built and online casinos are a viable option for outstanding gambling. Customers know this and are using these additional options to bring in the dollars they need. It’s splitting the market and entities that had a substantial market share, no longer can rely on that to get them through their monthly budgets.

The numbers Las Vegas calculated showed that its revenues are still down by 7.6% from the same time last year. Most of the decline is attributed to the recession, but now that it is over, the area is looking how to revive its numbers. If you look at promotions in the city you are going to find a huge range of specials and bonuses. These package deals offered are set to attract a larger customer base and bring them in again to Las Vegas. Due to people still being on the verge of their own financial recovery though, it seems that it is taking time for people to get back into gambling or at least getting back to their old gambling habits. People are still being conservative with their money and holding off on jumping back into gambling at the rates they were gambling pre-recession. Las Vegas is hoping for a full recovery, but the signs are showing that it will take a few more months, maybe years for a full turnaround to happen.

Las Vegas Cites $400 Million Loss

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

The city of Las Vegas was hard hit by the recession. Not that numbers were doing well just prior to the recession’s official beginning; in fact, they were not. Numbers for Las Vegas’ casino industry have been down for over two years. The recession caused a drastic decline in revenues. The Strip used to be a money-generating location that relied on the gambling industry for its revenue. It was a sure-fire money maker that never let down the state’s economy. Due to the recession though, that is changing. New numbers showed that revenue for the Strip were down by 7.6% since the same time last year. This is particularly harrowing news because it was hoped that things would be turning around now that the recession is over.

With revenues down, Las Vegas organizers are reeling from a more than $400 million loss. Nevada’s Gaming Control Board is well aware of how difficult this is going to be to overcome, in particular if the decline in revenue is continued. Both Las Vegas and Atlantic City are fighting for their financial security. They are creating top-notch bonuses and specials, but they are at such a discounted price that unless huge numbers come into the cities to bring in the numbers needed, they will be all but useless. So what should the cities do for recovery? The best thing they can do according to experts is to push through the aftermath of the recession regardless of what the immediate problems are. Though it will take time to see if the promotions are going to work, there are many signs that other aspects of the economy are returning to normal. The unemployment rates are coming down, though slowly. Businesses are starting to hire again, though at minimum wage or close to it. These are small signs, but hopefully they are a small snippet of where the market is moving. People are hopeful for change, but it most likely won’t happen quickly. This means that Las Vegas and Atlantic City are going to have to rely on their former coffers to sustain themselves until the market truly changes for the better.

Las Vegas Working Hard to Spur Economy

Friday, August 13th, 2010

If you have been to Las Vegas then you know how much is available in the city. The number of casinos are just the tip of the iceberg with regards to the city. If you visited a few years ago, it would do you well to visit again. Over the past few years Las Vegas officials realized that it is not impervious to market changes. It was once thought that people would gamble no matter what. They would come in droves to places like Atlantic City and Las Vegas for their gambling needs and both cities would have no problems with revenue or tourist attractions as a result. Unfortunately the recession taught the officials a hard lesson.

It seems that officials didn’t bank on the fact that the 2008 and 2009 recession would cause their numbers to diminish greatly. People were rendered jobless throughout the recessionary months. They lost their jobs in record numbers. Unemployment rates soared and that caused people to cut back drastically on their spending. Consumers were hard pressed to find valid reasons why they needed to gamble and most people didn’t. They cut wagering out of their budgets altogether. This meant savings for them, but casinos started to feel the pinch. Though once they had millions to work with, the recession brought that number down considerably. Of course their expenses remained the same and that proved difficult for many to manage. Without the same revenues coming in, but the same expenses it was hard to manage.

In response to the problem, Las Vegas came up with City Center. This was a huge addition to the Vegas skyline and included a premiere billion-dollar development of retail outlets, entertainment/conference centers, casinos, condominium communities and attractions. It was hoped that this would spur a new market to the city and return the revenue numbers to what they were prior to the recession. Unfortunately, City Center thus far has underperformed, but that doesn’t mean it is out. The coming months are when analysts predict that things truly will begin to change to what the market was back in 2007. Hopefully Las Vegas won’t have to wait much longer for true change to come about.