Promoted feature: Vegas casinos and hotels reopening plan

Like much of the country, Las Vegas shut down in mid-March. After more than 70 days of lockdown, Sin City officials announced a strategy to crawl back to a sense of normality with a multiple-phase Vegas reopening plan, titled “Roadmap to Recovery”.

“We’re welcoming visitors back, and we are taking every precaution possible,” said Steve Sisolak, Nevada’s governor, in early June. The city then had just entered phase two of the plan. Nevertheless, no one doubted that Vegas with no gambling would look very different. Many joked that online slots are still available.

Bars, gyms, spas, movie theaters, tattoo parlors, and other businesses resumed limited operations from May 29. Reopening of casinos started on June 4, while reopening clubs and adult entertainment establishments is not on the cards, yet. They are penciled-in for later phases of the plan.

New advertising campaigns alert visitors that things may remain unfamiliar for the foreseeable future. “Certain aspects won’t be what you’re used to, but you’ll absolutely be able to have a terrific time,” said Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Many are eagerly waiting for the city to move out of the second of the multiple Vegas reopening phases. For things to begin to resemble what they were at the start of the year. However, that is not to say that you cannot currently enjoy many fantastic attractions right now.

Reopening pools was a slow process in phase two. Most hotels opened pool-access on reduced schedules, starting with 50% of operating capacity, closed locker rooms, and mandatory temperature checks. Water parks, such as the Wet’N’Wild park, drew massive crowds, even though it followed the same measures. Before the fourth of July, day clubs like the Liquid Pool Lounge at Aria and Wet Republic Ultra Pool at MGM Grand started accepting guests, reservation-only.

Starting from July 10, free parking is on hand at many Strip casinos, such as NYNY, Bellagio, Wynn, MGM, and the Cosmopolitan. Retail shops along the Linq Promenade are back in business, as well as those inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and the Cosmopolitan.

The Bellagio reopening started with the casino, and its fountains are back up and running. Now it’s Conservatory is taking visitors too, dazzling them with a new garden called Japan Journey: Magic of Kansai.

The NYNY rollercoaster and arcade are operational and so is the Eiffel Tower at Paris Vegas, and the Fly Linq zip line. The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is open, one of the most popular field trip destinations in the state, as is the popular Excalibur castle-themed resort.

The reopening of the Wynn Las Vegas, the world’s largest five-star resort, began with both Wynn and Encore hotel towers. It followed up with the Sportsbook, 18-hole championship golf course, three retail esplanades, its list of restaurants and retail stores, beauty shops, fitness centers, and nightly entertainment at the Lake of Dreams.

As far as restaurants go, many of those are open too. At the Shoppes, the Minus5 Ice Experience always provides that extra chill as summer temperatures rise, located on a skywalk linking Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Paris Las Vegas opened its many dining options, such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurant and Gordon Ramsay Steak. Speaking of Gordon Ramsay, his Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace is available for dining.

However, if you need more variety, perhaps you can grab a seat at the Elio at Wynn, Spago at the Bellagio, The Buffet at Wynn, Oscar’s Steakhouse, at downtown’s Plaza Hotel & Casino, and many more terrific options that are now open.

Several Las Vegas Strip hotel properties reopened to the public at the start of July. The Mandalay Bay, The Delano, the Waldorf Astoria, Aria and the Four Seasons welcomed back guests. The Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace also reopened.

Deals and discounts in Las Vegas during 2020

Customer interest in visiting Las Vegas continues to increase and many tourists are on the lookout for terrific reopening deals. Due to low occupancy rates, many hotels are obliging demand by providing such fantastic offers.

Stay for three nights midweek before September at Caesars Palace, Nobu, Paris Las Vegas, the Flamingo or Harrah’s using the code STAY3 to get a discounted room. Guests at the Cosmopolitan can get 20% off for a two-night minimum midweek stay, Sunday-Thursday, until September 3. The Venetian is offering visitors 25% off and a complimentary night for essential workers. Though, you must book a room before August 31 and stay before December 29.

At the Plaza Hotel & Casino, guests can reserve a stay at the lowest available rates, with a $25 daily food and beverage credit and free parking. They must book by August 31 and stay before the end of the year. The Sahara is giving away a VIP dinner for two at Bazaar Meat and it has decided to waive its resort fee for a Friday/Saturday booking. These summer travel deals come with some restrictions, including blackout dates, and are subject to availability.

Even though it may seem that the city is coming back to life, on the road to attaining its former glory, everyone is treading carefully. “Flexibility is one of the core principles in our Roadmap to Recovery,” said Governor Sisolak in a written statement. According to new regulations, starting from June 25, masks are now mandatory in many business establishments. “Now, everyone must wear face coverings to help slow the spread of the virus. We can only stay open if we all stay safe.”

The strip may not be as busy as it once was, but the Nevada Gaming Control Board still laid out strict guidelines aiming to mitigate the situation and lower possible infections. These safety requirements include everything from occupancy restrictions to cleaning protocols.

Casinos reopening in Vegas

Casinos will have to facilitate social distancing rules and provide hand sanitizers on the casino floor in readily available and visible positions. Guests and employees can expect to get free masks and must pass non-invasive temperature screenings if they wish to enter a gaming venue. There is a 50% occupancy limit, and casinos are expanding their cleaning frequency, especially concerning areas where there is a lot of foot traffic. Some are even testing out clear acrylic screens that separate dealers and players, and many are offering antibody testing to employees on a voluntary basis.

It is a tightrope walk between reaching economic stability and containing the spread of the virus. Attempts to achieve this balance affect any gaming-related industries, who are at the mercy of infections statistics. Thus, it is of paramount importance to find an equilibrium, where safety will be on the forefront while allowing businesses to get back to where they were many months ago.

Bars are returning to phase one restrictions as of July 10. Meaning, all bar areas must close. Restaurants must shut bars down, even if they have tabletop gaming machines, and they cannot serve parties larger than six. They may serve alcohol but you cannot grab a drink while waiting for a table. Though, you can still have drinks while playing casino games at a gaming establishment.

“Before expanding our reopening and entering into phase three, we must evaluate medical information along with the impact of reopening to make sure we’re doing all we can to protect ourselves,” said Governor Sisolak.

As more and more people are not only starting to think about traveling again but doing so Vegas remains an enticing destination for many. The health and safety of all visitors are top-priority in Sin City, as tourism drives Nevada’s economy. No one can deny that the city’s luxurious resorts, food and entertainment venues are all doing their best to follow safety precautions and implement distancing rules. Officials are carefully monitoring the situation, coordinating with health institutions and are planning the best course of action. Crowds, traffic, and noise have all died down but many remain positive that Vegas will rekindle its relationship with tourists and the city will soon thrive again.

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