Employees remain loyal to Lady Luck after sale

Monday, July 22, 2002 | 10:51 a.m.

Maribel Minero, a guest room attendant at the Lady Luck hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas, has lived through ownership changes before.

That's why she's not preturbed about last week's announcement that the downtown property will change hands for the second time in less than two years, this time handed over to a partnership of real estate investors with plans to convert the hotel tower into timeshares.

Minero says she will show her loyalty to the Lady Luck by staying on, no matter who owns the building.

"I have good co-workers and good supervisors. I have the opportunity to improve," said Minero, who has worked there for the past 10 years.

Thursday, casino operator Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. announced plans to sell the money-losing, 792-room hotel-casino to AMX Nevada LLC. The Biloxi, Miss., company in March said it might sell the property, which didn't fit the company's strategy of running primarily riverboat casinos outside major gambling markets.

AMX Nevada has said it intends to retain the property's 650 or so employees, and expects to hire as many as 120 additional workers to staff the new timeshare complex.

Employees at the Lady Luck appeared upbeat Friday after the news. Workers won't likely jump ship at the property, known for the longevity of its employees, one executive said.

"This is a blip for these employees," said senior vice president of marketing Maria Richardson. "This is home."

Some have been with the Lady Luck for the past 20 years, she said.

"The competition is across the street. They could have gone to work somewhere else ... but they must be happy in their environment not to leave."

Change has been good to the property in years past, employees say.

When Isle of Capri bought the casino in 2000, it had financial muscle the previous owner lacked.

The company replaced carpeting throughout the property and renovated its rooms and restaurants.

"It was a real shot in the arm," said Robert Dumond, a front desk agent. "We're hoping (the new owner) continues that progress."

Mike Flaherty, a dice dealer in the casino, said he also hopes the new owner will further improve the property's prospects.

"We have high hopes there will be a positive impact," he said. "We're all looking forward to staying."

Isle of Capri may have underestimated the fierce competition among downtown casinos, but Flaherty said it also was "short-sighted" for not fully capitalizing on the casino's location and reputation.

"On the Strip you're a nameless face in the crowd," he said. "You get more personal treatment here. I think we have a very good opportunity here that just needs to be fine-tuned."

Minero says she wants to be a part of the new company, whatever may come.

"I think this is the best place to work (downtown)," she said. "Some (customers) really like to be here in downtown. And they're still coming here."