With the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Southern Nevada, Las Vegas is stepping up efforts to try to quell any potential health risk to tourists coming to the city. However, many are skeptical, and this has casino executives concerned that the virus may become a plague on their profits.
Casino operators like MGM Resorts International, which operates the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand, as well as several other hotels located on Las Vegas Boulevard, are installing additional hand sanitizers in high traffic areas and are boosting the frequency of “disinfectant procedures,” according to spokesman Brian Ahern.
In a recent report, two employees of the Wynn Hotel-Casino noted that there are twice as many people on the floor disinfecting slot machines now. At the majority of table games, hand sanitizers have now been installed for dealers, who are also required to wash down tables between games. Bartenders are wiping counters every 20-30 minutes.
At the Venetian and Palazzo, staff have been added at every bathroom to sanitize doors, handles, counters, and toilets. They are adding central sanitizers at table games and are shredding decks of cards on a more frequent basis. They are also sanitizing frequently touched areas, such as walls and escalator railings.
It is hoped that these measures will decrease tourists concern. On March 6, Red Rocks Resorts took a big hit, decreasing nearly 14% in value, closing at $16.53. Several other operators’ stocks took a hit as well, including MGM Resorts, Boyd Gaming, and Wynn Resorts.
According to Jonathan Day, an associate professor of hospitality and tourism management at Indiana’s Purdue University, this is a time when casinos would be wise to ensure that guests feel that the appropriate measures are being taken to protect their safety.
“People are looking for cues that show the companies are caring and they’re working on their behalf,” he said. “It’s a chance to show how much you care, and create a safe place for people to relax and enjoy.”
