Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleLOOKING IN ON: GAMING:
Hotels rein in risque advertising campaigns
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
Before the recession, ads for Las Vegas resorts appealed to a desire for frivolity and conspicuous consumption with taglines such as, “Some fantasies just don’t work anywhere else,” “Everything in moderation? Yeah, right,” and “Parents gone wild.”
Though ads from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority still remind thrill-seekers that “What Happens Here, Stays Here,” Las Vegas hotels have toned down their advertising in recent months to reflect a new era of caution.
Take online ads for Bellagio, including “Escape to the ultimate relaxation” and “Bellagio will transport you into another world of elegance you so richly deserve.”
Marketers are choosing their words carefully, mindful that travelers can either less afford a getaway or that they are affluent but feel guilty about spending money during the recession. In fact, some hotels in Las Vegas have turned warm and fuzzy, turning to images of embracing couples instead of tourists brandishing a cocktail in one hand and a pair of dice in the other.
At the casino industry’s premier convention and trade show this week, casino marketers traded notes on how to position their hotels at a time when Vegas’ traditionally hedonistic schtick doesn’t fly.
•••
Still smarting from the fallout of President Obama’s comments about how bailout recipients should avoid trips to Las Vegas, the leaders of various casino giants met with more than 50 members of Congress and Obama Administration officials in September to impress upon political leaders the message that casinos are good corporate citizens that create jobs and generate much-needed state and local taxes.
High on their list of talking points, besides green energy and immigration reform, was the industry’s unified opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill supported by organized labor that would allow employees to form a union if a majority sign cards in support.
This so-called card check process, which companies may now reject in favor of a secret ballot election that unions say hampers efforts to organize, has enabled the Culinary Union to organize most of the hotels on the Strip over the years. That’s not the source of the gaming industry’s concern.
Members of the American Gaming Association, which organized the two-day meet-and-greet, primarily object to a provision in the bill that would force companies into binding arbitration to reach a contract. (Gaming companies have since declared the the meetings with political leaders a success.)
Without this provision, unions say, companies can delay the process of negotiating a contract until demoralized employees give up and vote to decertify the union before an agreement can be reached.
•••
Competing legislation in Congress to legalize and regulate Internet gambling in the United States probably won’t be voted on this year or next as Congress wades through health care reform and other issues, experts said during this week’s Global Gaming Expo.
Some form of legalization may simply be a matter of time, if only because governments are cash-strapped and some online casinos are eager to be taxed in exchange for regulatory approval. Yet observers wonder whether efforts to reap tax revenue from Web casinos will be in vain.
Though Britain legalized online casinos a few years ago, gambling Web sites remain concentrated elsewhere, in exotic, low-tax locales such as Alderney, Isle of Man and Costa Rica, for example.
U.S. casino giants or offshore companies may choose not to operate here because of higher taxes, Internet gambling advocates said. Offshore gambling sites — especially those that continue to allow Americans to gamble in spite of the Justice Department’s view that Internet gambling by Americans is illegal, or refuse to be licensed here once regulations are passed — might then have a competitive advantage over U.S. companies that pay taxes here.
Also, online gamblers don’t want Uncle Sam knowing about their winnings and might choose offshore sites rather than regulated sites that would track player winnings for tax reporting purposes, they said.
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- Chinese company agrees to finance proposed Henderson arena
- Romney says he prevented Massachusetts from becoming ‘the Las Vegas of gay marriage’
- South Point owner Michael Gaughan’s take on ‘Vegas Stripped’: ‘I’ll give it an 8’
- See mug shots of 16 arrested in stolen-property police sting
- UNLV basketball anxious to get on the court for big game against San Diego State
- Coolican: Henderson officials out of loop on police brutality case, raising red flags
- Criss Angel denies allegations of fight with fired employee
- Lumberjacks — ‘Where the Big Boys Eat’ — hiring for North Las Vegas location
- Conceptual design unveiled for Henderson Space and Science Center
- UNLV basketball opens as a 9.5-point favorite against No. 13 San Diego State
Blogs
The Kats Report
South Point owner Michael Gaughan's take on 'Vegas Stripped': 'I'll give it an 8' (2 Comments)
Author relishes writing the life story of ‘larger-than-life’ Oscar Goodman (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Landowner: All roads could lead to Uxbridge casino
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Kats Report
A sophisticated look at line-moving and dog-show handicapping from Wynn's Johnny Avello
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Contrary to popular belief, Alderney (and the Isle of Man) are neither exotic nor shifty: what I mean by that is that Alderney has a Gambling Control Commission who bring in rules they feel to be appropriate. Money is then reviewed by them to check for fraud and money laundering e.t.c., and the entire system is very stringent.
Alderney is a island of minisule proportion: 3.5 miles long and 1.5 wide at its biggest, and only 2400 people live there. Everyone knows everyone. Crime is minimal: the island is idyll; not what it is portrayed to be by those trying to expose fraud. Not the island of lies and deceit that some people want it to be.
vegas needs to be MORE adult-oriented right now.
this town is over.
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark,
Four little islands all in the dark,
If you pass them please say hello,
'Cause they're lonely, ho, ho, ho.
Gee, I always thought that the Convention Authority, by virtue of its dollars coming from the hotel room tax, worked in concert with the casino resorts...it should take the lead from the advertising the casinos are now doing...trying to portray Las Vegas in more subtle terms...and, show we are serious about meetings, trade shows, and business. I wonder if the Economic Development people feel that Vegas ads (what happens here...)hinder their sales efforts. In reality the Convention Authority dances to whatever R&R dictates...In other cities and states, R&R would be subject to competitive reviews and competitive bidding...but I guess what happens here really does stay here...R&R stands for Rogich and Rogich in case anyone is curious!
stevem : You are absolutely right, also I would like to add that Vegas needs to remember how to treat their customers, with loose slots, generous comps, free food and cheap rooms. This above ANYTHING else will bring the tourists back.
"Stevem," your repetitive "this town is over" comment is T-I-R-E-D.
How about I buy you a one-way plane ticket to anywhere if you promise to never return?
james_P_Reza : Stevem is only speaking the truth of the current condition of this city. If you disagree, then you obviously haven't been living here very long, because those of us who have, experienced an entirely different and fantastic, exciting place than what it has become.. too bad for you..
Add me to the list...Vegas needs to be MORE adult oriented to stay ahead of the curve. There is now casino gaming everywhere. If LV wants to continue to be a desirable destination, it must evolve and offer more than just gambling and food.
Mayor Goodman, for example, wants a true, European style "red light district" in downtown. Great idea. Maybe add to that a "don't ask don't tell" policy toward recreational drug use in that same district, a la Amsterdam.
Without genuine reasons for people to get on a plane, this town will, quite literally, turn to dust!!
Yes, it would be better if the casinos gave us all loose slots/free rooms/unlimited meal plans/discount on hookers/free cars/free or cheap everything. That will surely turn the dilemma of the casinos/Las Vegas around...oh that's right, you don't care if this city succeeds. As long as it looks like it did in 1950 and you have the opportunity to relive your past - even just for one day before Las Vegas goes bankrupt following your inane opinion for "recovery".
I just spent four days at the Mirage, and I have to say that particular resort is as good as it ever was.
The rooms were fabulously remodeled and the spa was first class.
They have plenty of staff that have been there for many years, so it has a very nice, homelike feel to it.
I was surprised how unimpressed I was with Encore. I like the Wynn, but Encore felt like a big red box that had zero energy and I had no sense of direction once I got inside.
As for the town, IMO it has definitely gone downhill, from being overpriced and overbuilt.
The stretch of sidewalk from the Flamingo to Harrah's and in front of Planet Hollywood must be among the tackiest pieces of real estate on earth. Why must these resorts have blaring speakers blasting at us walking by? They have a carnival atmosphere that is very uninviting.
I admit I do miss the western, yet cosmopolitan and luxurious days of the fifties.
newman2 : you are obviously very young and used to getting fleeced in today's world. Sounds like it's perfectly O.K. by you which is fine by me. But don't judge that which you know nothing about. We are not talking about how the town looks, we are talking about how the town treats us, and that does not require time travel, just common sense.
even with super low rates for rooms and dining, this does not bring the tourists back right now. There may be some more in town if they get these comps, but do they really make up for it and gamble their share? I think not. If there's no money around, you can get the customers in town, but not the money they don't have...
Each casino needs a stripper mobile parked in the front entrance.
Stevem is right..we lived in Vegas 98'-04' have been back just once since then, OMG....what a total mess...we won't be back..in fact, Vegas actaully reminds me of LA, now...looks like the Hispanics have taken over, that town, too.While I do not have anything against Hispanics, per say..but, lets put it this way, if I wanted to see Mexico, I would visit Mexico..this is sooo sad...
this town is over? c'mon, that's a little extreme. seems like people are still showing up.
Well, the town is not over, but what used to be Vegas is over..people are still coming, but not as many as before. Years ago, when the economy was bad, you could still get a deal to Vegas, spend a couple of days..play, drink, enjoy the sun,it was a cheap get away. Not no more!!! This town has catered to the high rollers for way too long, now those high rollers can go to many other venues, and the big shoppers, lol....the everyday visitor, the consistant visitor..they were the ones that made this town, and they were the ones that were pushed aside and treated like crap..now, what is left? A lot of empty buildings, a lot of hoyty toyty casinos...and no one inside..again, it is sad..but thats what happens when you forget the little guy.
777irish is exactly right. When an industry neglects their cutomers-those customers don't forget & they won't come back. What goes around-comes around.
777irish is exactly right. When an industry neglects their cutomers-those customers don't forget & they won't come back. What goes around-comes around.
*****************************************************
I agree 100%. Then again, America will never be the same. Money that is spent anywhere will be watched much more carefully and if a customer feels they're not getting the best bang for their buck...
When the mega-corporations find out to give quality at ecomonical prices then it will still be 5 years too late. A smaller Hotel/Casinos or a new outside takeover will show us the way out of this mess of overpriced and underserviced quagmire.