‘All-Inclusives’ Catching On In Vegas, Sign Of A City Responding To Shifting Economic Winds

Over the weekend, The Nevada Independent published a 3,400-word deep dive titled “What’s killing Las Vegas? The shrinking middle class is a prime suspect.”

Whether or not “killing” is a bit of hyperbole when it comes to possible outcomes for Sin City, the article calls appropriate attention to the general situation in Vegas: Many who used to frequent the city now feel priced out (at least on the Strip), and a troubling economic outlook has many Americans hesitant to overspend on a vacation. (Never mind international travel complications amid the current political climate.)

In the last couple of weeks, three noteworthy operators in Vegas have made moves that suggest they are very much aware of these problems and looking to address them. One is a novelty, two could be a coincidence, but three is a trend, and MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, and Resorts World are now trying to make the “all-inclusive” approach take hold in Las Vegas.

MGM was first to make its announcement, on March 25, when it introduced two-night bundled packages at Luxor and Excalibur — two of the company’s lower-end Strip properties. Resorts World Las Vegas followed at the end of the month with a package called The Conrad Complete. And last Thursday, Caesars announced an all-inclusive deal available at three of its less luxurious properties, Harrah’s, The LINQ, and Flamingo.

“I think there’s a general consensus in the C-suites in the resort industry that ‘Maybe we pushed it a little bit too far in pricing,’ and now they’re adjusting,” Vegas-based economist John Restrepo told The Nevada Independent. 

What you get for your money

MGM’s package covers a two-night stay for two costing $330 per night plus tax, including a room, all resort fees, three meals per day per guest at selected restaurants (including at some MGM properties beyond Luxor and Excalibur), two tickets to a show, two rides on The Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York, and self-parking for one vehicle.

Resorts World’s package is priced in the same range, at $150 per person per night with a two-guest minimum, covering valet service and access to the Club 66 private lounge, Zouk Nightclub, and the property’s pool complex, along with meals on a prix-fixe menu at any of five restaurants.

Caesars is using similar pricing, at $200 per night for one guest and $100 for each additional guest in the room, covering two meals per person per day at select restaurants, bottomless well drinks at certain property bars, self-parking for one vehicle, and two tickets to the LINQ High Roller Observation Wheel — plus a 20% off deal on cabanas and daybeds at The LINQ Pool.

Said Caesars Entertainment Senior VP and General Manager Dan Walsh in a release, “As travelers look for more value options, we are proud to introduce an incredible offer in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The Inclusive Summer Package bundles our accommodations, dining, drinks, and attractions together, creating a more affordable way to enjoy some of our most iconic resorts.”

These modified approaches are a throwback to the business strategy that long ruled Las Vegas: Get ‘em in the door any way you can, then make your money on the casino floor.

If a couple visiting Las Vegas is on a budget where they can afford to spend $1,000 a day, and the combination of a hotel room, food, drinks, and fees are costing them $800 a day, that doesn’t leave much for a gambling budget. But cover the basics for around $300 a day, and now they’re left with plenty to spend in the casino — and the property may ultimately make just as much money from that couple in the end.