The severity of the Covid-19 Pandemic has taken a stranglehold on our personal life and life as we know it. It has changed our definition of “normal” and how we live our daily lives, it’s left much of the world jobless and forced people to self-quarantine; sporting events, schools, and social gatherings have come to a screeching halt; it’s kept us from our friends and family, and it turned “The Entertainment Capital of the World” dark and deserted.
Las Vegas is a city that depends heavily on tourist dollars to support its economy and it is one of the hardest hit cities in the country due to unemployment caused by Covid-19. On March 11, 2020, Las Vegas, and the world, were forever changed when the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus outbreak as a “pandemic”. President Trump addressed the nation saying that to protect the health and well-being of All Americans, and to prevent new cases of the virus from entering our shores, he would suspend all travel from Europe to the U.S. until further notice. The following day, Nevada Governor, Steve Sisolak, declared a state of emergency.
On March 17, 2020, Governor Sisolak ordered a statewide shutdown of all casinos and non-essential businesses for 30 days and urged residents to implement social-distancing measures to reduce spreading COVID-19. One by one, nightclubs, shows, restaurants, and all non-essential businesses began shutting their doors.
The daylife and nightlife entertainment industry in Las Vegas was hit especially hard. As the week progressed, deposits had to be refunded on many of our deals and packages and by the time Saturday and Sunday rolled around, there were only two major clubs left open to the public. On March 23, 2020, by all accounts, it was “black Monday” for us as an avalanche of cancelation texts and emails flooded our phones confirming that this devastating virus would not only squelch all of our upcoming plans but had ripped apart our business to its very core.
For someone who operated this business while living on the Las Vegas Strip for the past two years, the next 78 days were indescribable as the lockdown that followed effectively crippled every business and every living person who worked on The Strip, and so many others in the surrounding areas of the city and the state. At times there was not one soul to be found in the streets, even during one of the busiest weekends of the year, Memorial Day, The Strip was dark and desolate and resembled a movie set in a post-apocalyptic world. This was and continues to be a mentally challenging and stressful time and you run the gamut of so many emotions from sadness, shock, and anger to worry, depression, and anxiety. It affects the way we sleep, eat, feel, and think, and it’s hard to process the information coming in from all the news outlets and the health experts when it changes daily and throughout the day.
On April 1, 2020, Sisolak issued a stay-at-home order and extended the closure of schools, casinos, and other non-essential businesses until the end of the month.
On May 9, 2020, as part of his “Roadmap to Recovery”, Sisolak authorized restaurants, barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, and most retail businesses to reopen with certain restrictions. Thus, began Nevada’s slow emergence from Phase 0 to Phase 1.
On June 4, 2020, Phase 2 of Nevada’s reopening was put into motion and within 24 hours, a good part of the Las Vegas Strip reopened to the public with access to hotels, restaurants, shops, and pools. But nothing was quite the same. Casino protocols and safety precautions were put into place with social distancing signs and markers, hand sanitizer dispensers were placed strategically throughout the venues, and masks were made available to customers who wanted them. Some properties, like the Wynn/Encore and the Venetian/Palazzo, introduced thermal temperature scans for each guest at the entrance to determine if a fever was present.
On June 24, 2020, Governor Sisolak issued a mandatory face-covering policy for all Nevadans and visitors stating that the directive is “our opportunity to limit our risk for exposure and infection and to keep our businesses open and our economy moving. For Nevada to stay safe and stay open, we must make face coverings a routine part of our daily life”. In other words, no one is allowed to go into casinos, or any business, and restaurants without a mask: “No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service!” This statewide mandate has met with a great deal of controversy on both sides of the mask-wearing debate. According to CDC Director, Dr. Robert R. Redfield, “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.” Many agree while others believe it is a violation of their civil and constitutional rights and as a results, several protests have been held around the City.
Even though the virus is still wreaking havoc worldwide, and we try to adopt to a new normal and a different pace of life, with rules and restrictions on socializing, the demand for and interest in Las Vegas continues to say strong. Tourists, eager to flee their locked down states and escape from their reality, came in droves to party in Sin City like it was 2019. As time progressed, the demand increased and more properties up and down The Strip began opening. Aria Hotel & Casino, within the CityCenter Complex, where I reside, along with Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and Delano Las Vegas were the last major properties to open on July 2, 2020. The Palms and The Tropicana have not yet reopened at the time of this writing.
As for Vegas’ legendary nightclubs and beach clubs, there is a handful that has adapted to these regulatory mandates. In other words, they bent the rules so they could reopen. Marquee, Encore, Daylight, and Wet Republic have all reopened as “socially distant lounges” with no dance floors, general admission, or guest list in place. What this means is that to gain entry, only 8 people are allowed per reservation for a table with VIP Bottle Service.
While the experience has changed, partygoers are still spending money to enjoy their days and nights at these reimagined clubs. The atmosphere is tame compared to the past with just table service – no large crowds, no dancing, and no major DJs. For couples or guests who have mixed groups of guys and girls, a dayclub or nightclub experience can still be fun, but for those groups of guys looking to have a bachelor party experience hoping to meet girls, be aware, there won’t be any wandering around aimlessly inside these clubs.
One would think, due to the economic crisis, the diminished crowds, and the lack of DJ entertainment these clubs would alter pricing to be fair and commensurate with the experience they are offering but unfortunately, they are still charging full prices for bottles. A one-liter bottle of Grey Goose Vodka is still $795 plus taxes, tips, and fees. Wet Republic’s bottle pricing is slightly more affordable at $700-$750 plus taxes, tips, and fees.
While some clubs and venues are bending the rules to open to the public, other mega-clubs like Omnia, Hakkasan, and Drai’s remain shuttered and are likely to stay closed for the rest of 2020 and into 2021. Redefining the daylife and nightlife scene will likely be ongoing as the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise making it impossible for the city to open at full capacity. It’s difficult to forecast with any level of accuracy what the immediate future and beyond will hold for Las Vegas.
The other entertainment options in the city such as Cirque du Soleil and the Broadway-style shows, the male revues, and the Gentleman’s Clubs like Sapphire, Spearmint Rhino, and Crazy Horse 3 have also remained closed. These closures have made it extremely difficult me and my business to succeed during this crisis as well as the hundreds if not thousands of individual gig workers and performers to survive during this Covid crisis.
When traveling to Sin City, expect to see the unfamiliar. Las Vegas was not a city designed to be empty. This once thriving metropolis, filled with vibrant sights and sounds, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and the hustle and bustle of thousands of tourists and conventioneers, is now much more subdued, the pace is slower, it’s less crowded, and there are a bunch of restrictions from the socially distant tables at all of the restaurants and lounges to mandated masks. At the time of this writing, July 9, 2020, Governor Sisolak, on the advice from national and state medical experts, decided to revert to Phase One and close all bars in Clark County which includes the Las Vegas Strip. What this means is that establishments serving food cannot allow their customers to sit at the bar and order drinks but the establishments can still serve alcohol to diners who are seated at a table. Restaurant dining is now limited to parties of no more than six people. One step forward, ten steps back!
With massive venues like the Raider’s Allegiant Stadium, Resorts World Hotel & Casino, Circa Hotel & Casino, and the multibillion-dollar Las Vegas Convention Center, all currently under construction, but before the virus hit, were scheduled to open soon and the future of Las Vegas looked very bright but now, with things changing daily and Covid cases increasing, the possibility of visiting Vegas for a bachelor or bachelorette bash, to let loose of your inhibitions and unleash your wild side at the dayclubs and nightclubs with the thousands of party-goers from around the world, are diminishing, to say the least.
The future of Vegas is uncertain! Will we have another roll back and shut down of The Strip? When will the nightclubs and beach clubs open back to previous capacities without mandated masks and social distancing rules in place? Will shows and strip clubs return and if they do, will they ever be the same? What will happen if a vaccine is introduced, will guests be required to get one to enter a casino, restaurant, or show? At the moment, the are more questions than answers but one thing I do know is that Las Vegas is one of the most dynamic, uniquely designed destinations in the world, a city that profits from everything that goes against “Social Distancing”. The number of people who visit every year is staggering, and for it to run on all cylinders, the way people have come to know and love it for, then this COVID-19 virus needs to be irradiated and quickly!
Bottle Service & VIP Table Reservations
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What's included:- Limo transportation
- VIP hosted entry to the nightclub
- No line (includes cover)
- VIP table & Bottle Service
CALL +1 702-333-2323 for exclusive pricingREQUEST A QUOTE
What's included:- Limo transportation
- VIP hosted entry to the nightclub
- VIP hosted entry to a strip club
- VIP table & Bottle Service
CALL +1 702-333-2323 for exclusive pricingREQUEST A QUOTE
What's included:- Limo transportation
- VIP hosted entry to the nightclub
- No Line (includes cover)
- Nightclub Tour
CALL +1 702-333-2323 for exclusive pricingREQUEST A QUOTE - minimum of 6 people - customer must meet bottle minimum - packages subject to availability -Bachelor Vegas. All Rights Reserved.
