RSS 2.0 FeedVol. 3, No. 10, October 2007, Tumbling Dice
Hot pools keep Vegas cool
Because nothing successful actually stays in Las Vegas—regardless of the popular slogan—it would be a safe bet that debauch, poolside bacchanalia will be the next big trend in gaming resorts throughout the world.
Casino pool parties—where the young, generally late-night party crowd gears up for the night by spending the day guzzling heroic quantities of alcohol, soaking up the sun and staring at the “talent”—are all the rage in Las Vegas right now. Local industry experts agree that it’s about time.
“Casinos are turning swimming pools into clubs and leveraging what had been underutilized assets,” said David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
“Just like the night clubs, pool parties get guests loose and ready to gamble,” said Anthony Curtis. “It’s midday and they’re already in a full-on, damn-the-torpedoes Vegas mood. It’s what the casinos want, but it’s also what the people want.”
The idea is nothing new, Schwartz points out. The El Rancho built its pool facing the street to temp visitors. “The idea was that you’d be drawn by the refreshing pool and would check in at the El Rancho,” he said.
But Las Vegas has—as is usually the case—taken the idea to extremes, and Chad Pallas is largely to blame.
Pallas came up with the idea for the Sunday afternoon party at the Hard Rock called Rehab in 2004. Rehab brings in about $6 million a summer, according to Pallas.
“Before Rehab, the pool was generating $15,000 on a Sunday,” he said. “Now, we have cabanas going for $2,000 to $5,000 per day, and 40 people were on the waiting list. Plus there’s bottle service, a private waitress, a special wristband.”
Other casinos liked what they saw, and now pool parties are becoming just as commonplace as blackjack tables and slot machines.
Casino pool parties—where the young, generally late-night party crowd gears up for the night by spending the day guzzling heroic quantities of alcohol, soaking up the sun and staring at the “talent”—are all the rage in Las Vegas right now. Local industry experts agree that it’s about time.
“Casinos are turning swimming pools into clubs and leveraging what had been underutilized assets,” said David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
“Just like the night clubs, pool parties get guests loose and ready to gamble,” said Anthony Curtis. “It’s midday and they’re already in a full-on, damn-the-torpedoes Vegas mood. It’s what the casinos want, but it’s also what the people want.”
The idea is nothing new, Schwartz points out. The El Rancho built its pool facing the street to temp visitors. “The idea was that you’d be drawn by the refreshing pool and would check in at the El Rancho,” he said.
But Las Vegas has—as is usually the case—taken the idea to extremes, and Chad Pallas is largely to blame.
Pallas came up with the idea for the Sunday afternoon party at the Hard Rock called Rehab in 2004. Rehab brings in about $6 million a summer, according to Pallas.
“Before Rehab, the pool was generating $15,000 on a Sunday,” he said. “Now, we have cabanas going for $2,000 to $5,000 per day, and 40 people were on the waiting list. Plus there’s bottle service, a private waitress, a special wristband.”
Other casinos liked what they saw, and now pool parties are becoming just as commonplace as blackjack tables and slot machines.
Please login to post your comments.