Is Vegas really hurting?
 

I'm going this weekend for a work/family trip.

I called XS Night Club at the Encore and they want $450/bottle and only three persons on a bottle. (If you go with 10 people, it's at least $1500 for a table without tip)..

If Vegas is hurting as bad as everyone is saying, how come nightclub bottle prices are still so high? I would think they would be reducing to try to entice more patrons???

(though I did get two free weekend nights at the Wynn :))

I got a penthouse suite at the Bellagio this weekend for $500 a night. I saved (or they lost) $1500 from the normal rate of $1000 per night. I'd say 50% off is a sign they are hurting. Now we'll see what they can do on ticket prices to O.

Sadly one of the few areas you can't really get a big break on is bottle service at the most desirable clubs. XS is still "new" so they're still pretty ridiculous/inflexible on prices. They are better about room night however which you found out. Wynn is one of the few places that I actually ever have any desire to stay when I go out.

On a side note, I am good friends with a few senior casino hosts for MGM/NYNY and the Venetian/Palazzo. Let me know if you want a table or any stuff at those properties because those guys are always able to help me out! The weather is perfect right now here so have a great time this weekend!

I've a sister-in-law who is a major "wheel" with Coach USA and they usually have business "come-hell-or-high water" as they say 4 their Laughlin, Vegas trips. She tells me business is off "dramatically" although I cannot quote you a percentage.

Not to be a jerk, (though easily done by me), but what the hell is the attraction in a "club"
that charges $5 Bens for "bottle", other than to see who else is crazy enough to pay that
kind of cover? I must really be close to Geezerville, :rolleyes:.
BR,mD

CheapDrinks&[email protected]

PS: Rhetorical question I persume, BLine...yes, LV along with every econ/biz on the planet
is under pressure and/or "hurting", imo.

I'll field this one :rofl: Although I don't disagree it sounds a little absurd to pay those kinds of prices, I think there are a couple of reasons for it.

The first is that it's a lifestyle choice. What about the guy who lives with his wife in a 6,000 sq ft house and has 6 cars in the garage? Do they need the space and the cars? Would they still be able to live a quality lifestyle in a 2,000 sq ft house with 2 cars? Absolutely - but it's his prerogative to indulge if he pleases. The kind of clubs we're talking about here are not just some bar with a generic, classless crowd. Often times, you'll be surrounded by pro atheletes, movie stars, musicians, etc as well some of the most beautiful women in the world. To some (many) paying a little more to get in is worth the ability to rub elbows with people like that. I also think there's some value in having a monetary barrier to entry for the sake of keeping some undesirables out of the club. If these ultra high end clubs were free, just imagine the kind of people that would stumble in.

The second is one of economics (insert laughter here). Think about it this way - I had bottle service not long ago at another high end club. We were allowed 5 people to enter for the bottle price of $350. It included all the mixers and a gorgeous female to serve the drinks. If we did just one bottle and split it, we'd each pay $70 (w/o tip). There are roughly 17 normal size shots in a bottle (750ml/44.36ml/shot). That means we'd each get roughly 3 decent drinks from the bottle shared equally. If we each had to pay $40 to get in the door (not highly unusual), we'd be essentially paying $10 per drink. With bottle service however, you normally get treated very well, you are able to sit down and have a place to put your stuff, and you generally are able to enjoy the experience much much more. You also don't have to stand in a long line to get in like a bunch of cattle! If you think about it from that angle, it's much more easily justified.

I think it's like any other expensive hobby (BMWs or Pcars for example) or form of entertainment (cruises to Antartica or trips to space) - if you don't do it, you don't get it. :D

Some undesirables have lots of money so on that point I don't agree.

OT...

I hear you Vegas, and don't necessarily disagree...for me, at this age and econ situ, (mostly age :rofl:), it seemed a tad
over the top. But, then again I haven't been in a "club" since Studio 54 daze, on the old exp. acct.

And, having done a cruise to Antarctica in Jan. '08, I cannot really pass judgement on anyone's different strokes for entertainment, :thumbup:.
BR,mD

You know it's funny, because after I posted that comment about a trip to Antarctica, I thought to myself, "I remember a member went there on a trip and posted pics from that trip here... uh oh, I think it was mD! I hope he doesn't think I'm calling him out!!" :rofl: I seriously thought that right after I posted it so I apologize for using a specific example like that. BTW - there's still a Studio 54 here so you can still come on down and enjoy it! :thumbup:

No prob...I am fortunate to have gone there, and I figured you were just tossing a dart at an example of semi-over
the top ways to spend dough, lol! Sorta like those 5 Ben blts, even with the good looking wait staff.

Last time I was at St54, NYC version, was only because some out of town clients had to go there, to say they had been. I had a contact, and we waltzed in. It was hugely overrated, imo. Been to Vegas a couple dozen times, mostly for biz, from '75 to '01, and then again for my son's wedding in '02. I remain a Fremont St guy for the bang for the buck, esp. on my own nickel!
BR,mD