oprah wrote on February 18, 2009 08:41 PM: Alot of these issues could have been avoided if this town had a decent assortment of industries. think about it: the primary employers in this town are casinos and when the discretionary income dries up you get massive unemployment. Our elected officials are bought and paid for by the casinos, so we have no hope of getting any new industries in here anytime soon.

Earl wrote on February 18, 2009 08:27 PM: Put the blame on politics, the economy, or whatever other cause you want, but the bottom line for Vegas failing is simply really tight slots. Sound too simple?

Gambling built all the golden towers there and slots are the biggest cash cow of the gambling industry. But after tighten them so tight that slot players finally understand, in Vegas you aren't gambling but just donating, and eventually quit going. The CEO for MGM once said they didn't really need the gambling. This guy is so simple minded to not know that other cities have nice hotels, fine restaurants, great shopping, nightclubs and entertainment. People go to Vegas to gamble...bottom line.
They alone have killed the golden egg that made Vegas work and until that is corrected it will continue to slide. And I don't know how they will ever convince the slot players in the rest of the country that Vegas is the place to go again.

Each time one of the nice hotels, fine restaurants, great shopping, nightclubs or entertainment doesn't show a profit they make up the difference by tightening the slots once more. To the point there is no possible way to win anything. It may have took the last two or three years for slot players to understand this, but they do now and Vegas is paying for it.

John wrote on February 17, 2009 09:43 AM: Vegas' problems have nothing to do with politics. ( I hate Harry Reed too).
To fly from Albany NY to Vegas is about $400. Add another $400 for 4 nights room cost(if lucky). Food and drinks another $200-$300.
Can drive to Turning Stone Casino in 1 1/2 hours. Bargain room and meals for under $500 total. Food is as good and people are less rude I have an extra $500 to gamble with on arrival.
It's all about the money.

Nick Stamoulis wrote on February 12, 2009 02:03 PM: As owner of the Las Vegas USA .org tourist blog, I have seen a significant decline in website visitors over the past 3 months as well.

Hopefully things will improve this year!

Nick
http://lasvegasusa.org

Jekil wrote on February 12, 2009 04:48 AM: "What do you expect, Obama has been in the office for a few months" Excuse me, President Obama has been in office for 4 weeks, not months.

Bill wrote on February 11, 2009 11:10 PM: It is wishful thinking, at best, to think volume will drop only another 4 or 5 %. I would think a 75% occupancy would be expected in this horriffic economy. When does City Center open?

Bill

bob wrote on February 11, 2009 10:57 PM: We used to love LV. but after getting a room at Caesars that would make the Motel 6 look like the Ritz and the general attitude all over the city, byebye.

Gary Ems wrote on February 11, 2009 09:27 PM: My wife and I used to come to Nevada every year. either Reno or Las Vegas. We are never coming again until you quit re-electing Harry Reed. You deserve to go broke.

Tim wrote on February 11, 2009 09:16 PM: Vegas no longer offers incentives. Comps are scarce and great deals (dinners, etc) are rare.

Michelle wrote on February 11, 2009 08:58 PM: Sorry to tell you. The economy was down before Obama got in. YOU HAVE BUSH TO THANK. What do you expect, Obama has been in the office for a few months and you think the economy would turn around in the blink of an eye.

A lot of you are in la la land.

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