Tourism industry analysts say it will be difficult to get the ghost back in the bottle when it comes to revising health and safety regulations for COVID-19.
But at least one resort requires employees to wear masks indoors regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
When the Los Angeles County’s Health District recommended that county’s residents avoid travel to destinations with rising infections and stagnating vaccination rates, such as Nevada, it put local resorts in a health and safety no-man’s-land.
“No industry has invested more in the health and safety of its guests and employees than the gaming and hospitality industries,” said Brendan Bussmann, director of government affairs at Las Vegas-based Global Market Advisors.
“In a very delicate place”
“Since the federal mask mandate was lifted in May, it has been about the honor system, and I think that needs to be pushed further,” he said. “Vaccines and other precautions are key to getting this under control and continuing the economic recovery.”
“We are in a very difficult spot,” added Amanda Belarmino, Assistant Professor at UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality.
“On the one hand, our properties follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by not requiring masks for them to follow science. Additionally, the data we saw on the Delta variant showed that those who are fully vaccinated will not develop COVID-19, “she said. “However, as the number of cases increases, it makes sense that there should be some return to masks.”
However, Belarmino admitted that it would be difficult for tourists and local residents to revert to previous face covering guidelines.
“I would recommend a middle ground with staff wearing masks again, masks available for customers, in guest rooms and at the entrance, and considering a return to more visible standards of cleaning,” she said. “I would love to see commercials with vaccinated casino staff encouraging others in the community to get vaccinated and contact their doctors with any concerns so we can help prevent a new surge in cases.”
Venetian employees are said to wear masks indoors
Keith Salwoski, a spokesman for The Venetian, said that in response to revised recommendations from the Southern Nevada Health District, the company will now require that all employees, whether vaccinated or not, work indoors and in the indoor areas where they work , face masks issued by the company, people gather.
“We’ve also redesigned our signs at public entrances to reflect this new SNHD recommendation,” he said. “Free face masks are available to our guests at the reception desks, grace counters and concierge counters.”
MGM Resorts International has not made any changes to its current mask policy, which states that employees and guests who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks.
“Masks continue to be available in all MGM properties and we remain vigilant about our health and safety protocols. We are closely monitoring the situation and continuously evaluating the guidelines based on the latest information and circumstances, ”said company spokesman Brian Ahern.
Josh Swissman, founding partner of the Las Vegas-based Strategy Organization, said that since the health district is only making recommendations, not mandates, at this point, customers may find some differences in mask guidelines from company to company.
“Wherever we are with the information we know, this is the best approach for every operator to assess their own situation,” said Swissman.
“It really comes down to what the customers are comfortable with,” he added.
“Vaccination Remains Our Best Defense”
But Swissman agreed with other analysts who beat the drum for those who haven’t received the vaccine to stave off any mask requirements or capacity constraints in the face of worsening COVID infection rates.
“I think the bigger concern out there is that we have to go back to those recommendations in the first place. The main message that should be shouted from the rooftops is that anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated should do so, ”said Swissman.
Nevada Resort Association President Virginia Valentine said the health district’s new guidelines are “an important reminder that masks are effective at reducing spread.”
“Vaccination remains our best defense, and companies in Nevada, including resorts, are working very hard to get their employees vaccinated. The resort industry will continue to comply with CDC guidelines and all state and local health and safety regulations, ”she added.
Bussmann said that while there are no mask requirements so far, resorts would be forced to obey all announced, as they would likely be enforced by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and companies would not want to take disciplinary action.
“We will have to see whether any government mandates come into play due to the increasing number of cases, but there must be a healthy balance between maintaining the economy and not turning back,” said Bussmann. This includes allowing the industry to continue to focus on the health and safety of guests and employees and “make their own decisions in their own businesses. “
“We are still at the beginning of the recovery and a potential setback with rising cases would limit our current path,” he said. “The meeting, incentive, congress and trade fair business is only just recovering and we still have to bring the international segment back. At this point it’s about personal responsibility to drive this recovery. “
The review journal is owned by the family of Dr. Miriam Adelson, the majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Las Vegas Sands owns and operates The Venetian and Palazzo.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter. Contact Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @ColtonLochhead on Twitter.
