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U.S. NEWS Monday 16 october 2017

Las Vegas tourism sees changes in aftermath of shooting

ing, visitors found marked level of security, but she
police SUVs parked outside declined to provide details.
their hotels along the Strip. Las Vegas hotel operators
Security employees of the must make their guests feel
Wynn Las Vegas and En- valued and comfortable in
core casino-resorts used the aftermath of the shoot-
hand-held metal detec- ing, said Michael McCall,
tors to check bags. Guards Michigan State University
asked some visitors to pop professor of hospitality busi-
their trunks. ness. He suggested resorts
But those measures have offer room upgrades or dis-
since been scaled back. A counted tickets to custom-
tour of several major resorts ers as tokens of apprecia-
found no apparent new se- tion.
curity measures other than But he said many casinos
In this Oct. 13, 2017, photo, people wait to go through security at
the T-Mobile arena before an NHL hockey game in Las Vegas. guards checking room keys and hotels will tread lightly
The Las Vegas tourism sector is bracing for changes in the at Mandalay Bay. when it comes to airport-
aftermath of the massacre that killed 58 people at an outdoor Mandalay Bay’s parent style security in a city where
music festival. company, MGM Resorts people want to let loose.
(AP Photo/John Locher) International, owns more “You don’t want it to be-
By REGINA CANO tourists to the desert oasis, than a dozen properties, come a sort of ground zero
Associated Press convention-goers fill large including casinos, conven- military-type of operation,”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Ve- halls to discuss the latest in- tion space and arenas on McCall said. “People are
gas’ tourism sector is brac- dustry trends, and slot ma- the Las Vegas Strip. Spokes- going there largely for fun.”
ing for changes in the after- chines ring in the casinos. woman Debra DeShong MGM declined to comment
math of the massacre that But stock prices of the main said in a statement the on any hotel room or con-
killed 58 people at an out- Las Vegas casino compa- company has elevated its vention cancellations.q
door music festival. nies all took a minor tumble
Analysts who closely track after the shooting, in an
the finances of the city’s indication the attack will
casino companies say Las have some effect on the
Vegas will see a short-term industry.
dip in visitors in response to Analysts with investment
the shooting. bank Morgan Stanley fore-
Casinos and police may cast the shooting will de-
have to impose new secu- crease demand for the Las
rity measures after gunman Vegas market for about six
Stephen Paddock brought months and have a 4 per-
more than 20 rifles into his cent to 6 percent econom-
hotel room and drove a ic effect.
car filled with explosives The analysts looked into the
into the parking garage. effect of terrorist attacks
The “What Happens in Ve- on “revenue per available
gas Stays in Vegas” slogan room,” a key gauge of a
has been put on hold, as lodging company’s per-
has one unveiled in the formance, across different
weeks before the shooting markets to measure the
by the owner of Manda- shooting’s potential im-
lay Bay that said, “We are pact. The report said not all
not in the hotel business ... markets are alike, but the
we are in the holy s--- busi- effects on tourism of events
ness.” such as the Orlando, Flori-
Electronic billboards that da, nightclub attack have
typically promote restau- gradually become less pro-
rants, concerts, a topless nounced and shorter.
pool and other entertain- On Oct. 1, Paddock, a
ment are now showing a 64-year-old professional
dedicated phone line for video poker player, shat-
victims and their families, tered windows of his hotel
along with words of appre- suite on the 32nd floor of
ciation for first responders the Mandalay Bay hotel
and casino employees. casino and unleashed with-
“We’ve been there for you ering gunfire at the Route
during the good times. 91 Harvest country music
Thank you for being there festival below before kill-
for us now,” reads a black- ing himself. His vehicle was
and-white billboard mes- found at the hotel’s mas-
sage with the city skyline sive parking garage with a
and “#VegasStrong.” potentially deadly cargo of
It’s hard to quantify the ef- 1,600 rounds of ammunition
fect the shooting will have and 90 pounds of chemical
on Las Vegas tourism. Air- explosives.
planes still carry loads of In the days after the shoot-