I have been traveling to Las Vegas for the PPAI EXPO since 2003. I've seen Las Vegas grow like crazy through that time, building a new casino hotel every year; until 2010. Vegas was so exciting, so vibrant that it seemed to hum. You could see it on the confident faces of the residents and on the hopeful faces of those moving in to tap into the vibe. Well...
Las Vegas has gone from being a vibrant city with excited residents to what I see now; a depressed populace who seems to question their future here in the desert. From what the locals have told me, the casinos are losing money and the hotels are getting shabby. There is a feeling that Vegas is circling the drain.
Vegas is once again trying to re-invent itself, trying to make the transition from "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas." to more like "Vegas is Open for Business". The hotels are trying to not only stay the gambling Mecca they are but some are trying to make room for more business conventions and corporate meetings. Hotels are adding meeting rooms and the venues are becoming more Broadway than Hollywood.
Las Vegas is seeking to re-invent itself once again. Can they make a transition from Sodom & Gomorrah to something more respectful? Nothing is free in Vegas but everything is available, sounds like the right combination to attract corporate money. With the amount of money at stake, I wouldn't bet against them.
No comments:
Post a Comment