With the dollar low they should target more foreign visitors.
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The problem with that is that cities like Macau are targeting the Asian base. Asian travelers always spend the most $$ in gambling revenue and are the highest of the high rollers.
Cheap rooms
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Rooms now are cheaper than ever. I'm a local here, and my wife and I got a suite at the Palazzo plus dining certificates, spa passes, etc...for $125. It can't get much cheaper.
allow smoking
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Smoking was never banned in casinos and strip clubs. The only place that smoking isn't possible is in restaurants, and that is far from what hurt business.
hot chicks bringin' free drinks all the time
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The free drinks have never disappeared and never will. There are promos galore, they held free shows at Hard Rock all last summer and clubs have done away with covers for the most part.
The last years Vegas is a bit "dull" compared to earlier years.
Too much shows, overpriced food & magic and just too much attention on "whales" that now lost most their wallstreet stocks and stay away.
John Doe must be targetted these days.
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The funny thing is that originally, stage shows were what Vegas was built on if we want to get back to the real "old days". Think of the Rat Pack, Tony Bennett, Dean martin, Tom Jones, etc. Shows are what get the older market into the casinos and they are the ones that are spending the money.
John Doe does need to be targeted, but the problem is that John Doe isn't spending money on anything. Vegas is trying to have a classy image while escaping cheesiness. If they ditch the classier image now, than when the economy rebounds, we will be stuck with budget travelers once again.
The real solution is for Vegas to develop smaller but classier properties, bring in a professional sports team and develop bullet train transportation between cities like Las vegas, LA, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, etc. If this happens, travelers can come here, have a nice getaway and still provide jobs. Once the jobs can be distributed amongst the locals, the housing market can rebound and the city can get out of turmoil.
