Las Vegas' dozens of resorts, along with hotel-casinos throughout Nevada, can reopen June 4, Gov. Steve Sisolak said Tuesday evening.
"We will certainly be welcoming visitors back to Nevada on June 4," Sisolak said in a telephone news conference from the governor's mansion in Carson City, where he is in quarantine after potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. "We've taken every precaution possible. I don't think you're going to find a safer place to come than Las Vegas."
The green light came after a day of consultations among resort operators, health experts and the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which regulates the casinos. Sisolak sought reassurances from board members that safety measures could be in place by June 4 before he would approve the reopening.
Along the Las Vegas Strip, about one-third of the 35 or so resorts have shifted into high gear as they prepare to welcome guests next week, including Southern Californians, who last year made up 19% of visitors to the city.
Many of those visitors drove. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported an average of nearly 45,000 vehicles crossing the California/Nevada line on Interstate 15 each day in 2019.
* Caesars Palace and Flamingo, two of Caesars Entertainment's 11 resorts on or near the Strip. Once the number of visitors can sustain growth, Harrah's and the casino at the Linq resort will reopen, although no timetable has been set. Parts of the Linq Promenade, including the High Roller observation wheel, also will welcome guests starting June 4.
* Wynn Las Vegas, which includes Encore. Wynn's Allegro, Jardin, Lakeside, Mizumi and SW Steakhouse restaurants will reopen Friday. Reservations are required.
* The Venetian, which includes Palazzo.
"We've been working hard for opening whenever the governor and our regulatory body say it's OK to reopen," said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications for Las Vegas Sands, the Venetian's parent company. "We've been working at that for weeks," Reese said ahead of the governor's announcement.
"The other ... thing that makes us ready for opening is we haven't laid off one employee," he said. "It's ... easy to call people back to work when they weren't laid off or furloughed."
* The websites of the Cosmopolitan, Sahara, the Strat and Treasure Island, run by smaller gaming organizations, are accepting reservations beginning the night of June 4.
Room rates as of Tuesday varied for opening night. The Strat had rooms starting at $21 for June 4 but $94 the next night (excluding taxes and fees), when hotels are hoping for an influx of returning visitors, including many from Southern California.
Other prices, also excluding taxes and fees, for June 4 and June 5:
Flamingo Las Vegas: $35/$75
Caesars Palace: $99/$149
Bellagio: $249/$299
Most hotel-casinos will be waiving charges for self-parking. Because of health concerns, valet parking won't immediately be available.
Guests' temperatures will be checked at entrances to many resorts. Although face masks will be required for all employees, they are "encouraged" for visitors. Smokers can light up in public spaces, including casinos. Hand sanitizer will be available.
Walking through the various hotels just after they reopen, guests will find many bars, restaurants and shops still closed. Just as with the resorts themselves, visitor volume will dictate when each establishment will relaunch.
"How much we reopen and how many amenities we introduce is really a function of how much demand there is for the business," said Sean McBurney, general manager of Caesars Palace. "But we have to have a fun environment."
Sisolak said that if COVID-19 cases spike in the run-up to June 4, he is prepared to "pull back" from the scheduled reopening.
"The only sure thing we can do is have a vaccine," he said. "And until we have a vaccine, we have to focus on our technology intervening quickly if there's a problem.
"I'm confident Las Vegas is a safe place to come. And visitors are going to have a great time."
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