Posted on: Nov 22, 2021 at 4:27 am
Last updated: November 22, 2021, 4:10 am.
Resorts World Las Vegas opened in June after Malaysia-based parent company Genting Group invested $ 4.1 billion in its creation.
Resorts World Las Vegas can be seen along the strip to the north. The casino is introducing valet fees starting November 24th. (Image: Getty)
At the opening, Resorts World said free self and valet parking would be a staple for the Strip’s first from scratch since the Cosmopolitan opened in late 2010. But just five months after the first guests were greeted with much fanfare, the North Strip Complex is doing away with a perk that was once granted Las Vegas casino guests every status for decades: free valet parking.
“Due to increased business and service requirements, Resorts World Las Vegas will be charging a daily valet parking fee starting Wednesday, November 24th,” said a press release from the casino. “Guests using the hotel service are charged a daily rate of USD 21 per vehicle per 24 hours.”
Self-parking remains free for all guests.
Value not received
Scott Roeben, who runs the popular Vital Vegas website and social media channels, says Resorts World’s removal of free parking is a clear sign that things are not going well at the new resort.
Resorts World faces challenges not just because of its location or the lack of convention business. The casino has some of the tightest slots on the Strip, ”Roeben told Casino.org. “Word spreads. People know that if they play they will likely lose, but they want to be entertained. “
Despite strong gambling revenues across Nevada when the pandemic emerged, many casino managers and analysts in the gambling industry cite an unprecedented backlog as the reason. Roeben is concerned that Las Vegas is ousting much of the public and becoming a VIP-centric city.
“Vegas must re-commit to creating value,” he continued. “The increased competition across the country would already be problematic. Vegas has no solutions [yet]. “
Pay to valet
Prior to 2016, Las Vegas visitors from all walks of life were treated like high rollers when they arrived at their strip casino resort of choice and were greeted by a friendly valet attendant. But MGM Resorts, the operator of most of the strip hotels, ditched that shared benefit when it decided this year to charge not just valet parking, but self-parking as well.
A snowball effect was created. Companies like Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts followed MGM’s lead. Wynn withdrew that decision in 2019 and restored free self-parking.
Free valet parking is available on the Strip today at the Tropicana, Treasure Island, Venetian and Palazzo, Sahara, and STRAT. Free self-parking is available at each of these casinos as well as Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, Resorts World and Circus Circus.
Scott Roeben, who runs the popular Vital Vegas social media account, believes parking fees hurt Las Vegas as a travel destination.
Big business parking fees
It may seem that casinos on the Las Vegas Strip that charge parking fees are simply a way for the resorts to discount their customers. But for a company the size of MGM Resorts, those daily rates add up quickly.
MGM announced its decision to charge parking fees in 2016. At the time, it was said that around 70 percent of its operating income came from outside the casino. For the past five years, MGM and other casino operators that have charged parking fees have simply viewed their garages as a source of income, much like their spas, retail stores, restaurants, clubs, and pools.
However, many wonder how not using free valet parking will affect the staff who actually park customers’ cars. Will guests keep tipping after being billed $ 21 per night?
$ 21 valet parking … means no tip. $ 21 to park a car is stupid.
– James Jordan (@ JamesJordan1977) November 20, 2021
