The coronavirus state-mandated shutdown devastated Las Vegas and led to some of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Now good news is finally on the horizon as Las Vegas plans to begin reopening on June 4, 2020.
Visitors planning a visit to post-pandemic Las Vegas should be prepared for a different experience than ever before.
Temperature Checks
In perhaps the most dramatic change to Las Vegas hotel-casino occasions, all guests must have their temperatures taken upon arrival. Every Las Vegas Strip and strip-adjacent property is required to have medical crews on site at all times, along with designated areas where visitors can be tested for COVID-19 and wait for results.
Masks Strongly Recommended
Most casino companies, including Wynn Resorts, MGM, and Caesars Entertainment, have announced they will require employees to wear masks at all times. The Gaming Control Board now also requires all properties to have masks available to guests and strongly encourage guests to wear those masks at all times.
Occupancy Limitations in Casinos
Just like beaches, parks, and office buildings are doing, casinos will also implement occupancy limits to cut the crowds in gaming areas by 50%. Chairs, stools, tables, and tape will be used to block access to every other gaming machine. Crowd police will be in place at all times to prohibit group gatherings and ensure guests don’t bunch together.
Any gaming machines, chairs, and equipment that are used must be disinfected regularly. Dealers will even offer card players a pump of hand sanitizer between rounds.
The Clubs Remain Closed (For Now)
While gambling and dining have been adjusted in the COVID-19 area, dance clubs are still off limits and will remain closed until further notice. The same goes for shows like Cirque du Soleil, which are closed until at least July 1.
However, to balance out the sources of entertainment, most hotel-casinos will reopen their salons, fitness centers, pools, tennis courts, golf courses, restaurants, and bars. A variety of retail shops will also reopen to the public.
Once-In-A-Lifetime Travel Deals
Desperate for tourists to pour back into the Vegas Strip, Las Vegas hotels and casinos are offering deals that may never come around again.
On May 27, for example, the CEO of the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas announced he was giving away 2,000 free flights to Las Vegas. Not surprisingly, the tickets were snatched up within hours.
“Whether people decide to visit my casinos or explore other parts of the city, this is a strong indicator of how Las Vegas can quickly be restored to its former glory,” Stevens said in a statement.
Hotel and casino room rates are also at rock bottom right now, as low as $30 per night at some of the best resorts in the city. Marriot’s Bonvoy rewards program is even allowing members to gift or purchase points toward free nights at Vegas properties with a 60% bonus. Most reports are also allowing free parking, a savings of at least $18 to $20 a day.
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