The Massachusetts Gaming Commission at its August 27 meeting noted how the Encore Boston Harbor in Everett dealt with what was described as an “egregious” health violation of an early morning suite party attended by more than 100 people.
The party, which occurred in a suite on August 16, violated Covid-19 regulations. It prompted hotel management in conjunction with the gaming enforcement staff of the MGC to take actions to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The MGC’s chief enforcement counsel Loretta Lillios, told commissioners “this kind of flouting of the safety measures is unacceptable.”
MGC Chairwoman Cathy Judd-Stein added that those attending didn’t only expose themselves, but everyone else in the hotel. She said “the stakes are too high for anything but full compliance with those safety standards.”
The breach occurred when two guests with keys were seen “frequently” bringing people in groups to the bash by elevator beginning around 6:30 p.m. Shortly after midnight a hotel butler spoke to a guest who said he had heard about the gathering on Instagram. The employee told management, which asked the guests to end the party. It took intervention by the State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit at 3 a.m. to end it. About 110 people, most not wearing masks, were removed. The state limits gatherings to 25. The guest who had the room was fined $500 and charged with disorderly conduct.
The MGC was concerned it took several hours for hotel management to take a notification by an employee seriously. Judd-Stein commented, “at least one employee, the butler, did exactly the right thing and went and notified his fellow employees to have action taken,” adding that all state casinos must “make sure they are hearing their employees when they hear reports of instances that put others at harm.”
In response to the incident, and to a notice of non-compliance from the MGC, the hotel has adopted a rule limiting four people to a room and eight to a suite. In future, Encore will fine guests $3,000 for such violations. Since the rule was adopted several reservations have been cancelled at the desk when guests were informed of them. Eight different rooms were evicted for breaking the rules and fined.
The hotel has also increased security and training of employees how to inform guests about room limit requirements both in person and in writing—and to spot “red flags” of a planned large gathering, such as alcoholic beverages being brought up to rooms.
Encore spokesman Eric Kraus issued this statement: “The safety and well-being of our guests and employees are paramount.” He added, “These enhanced measures will help ensure our registered guests are enjoying themselves in a safe and responsible environment.”
Like other casinos in the Bay State, Encore Boston Harbor reopened beginning in the middle of July after four months of being locked down by order of Governor Charlie Baker.
Besides the illegal party, the Encore Boston Harbor was also the scene of two violent incidents in August. One, a shooting, occurred the same night as the party. A man was shot after leaving the Encore. Four days later, on August 20, another man was arrested and charged with stabbing a guest.
In a separate but related development the Encore Boston Harbor announced it would lay off 385 employees. Wynn Resorts, which owns the $2.6 billion resort casino, doesn’t expect the employees will return this year due to having to operate at “significantly reduced capacity in all parts of our resort,” according to a statement by the resort.
For several weeks after the governor’s order closing all three casinos the Encore paid employees $220 million, while furloughing about 10 percent of its employees on June 1. About 2,700 are currently working with 915 furloughed.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry and small businesses in the state are battening down the hatches to deal with the unhappy fact that while expenses have increased, incomes have plummeted, some by half or more.
According to the Massachusetts Restaurant Association told the Republican that three or four restaurants a day are closing in the state because of the Covid pandemic.
This is hitting the Springfield, Massachusetts region particularly hard, according to a report by Develop Springfield, which notes that the number of small businesses in that city are higher than the national average.
In July Massachusetts had the highest unemployment rate in the region, 16 percent.
This can’t help but have effected one of the largest businesses in the region, the MGM Springfield. Last week it announced that it would be laying off 1,000 employees.
Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts International CEO and president sent this letter to employees: “For the protection of workers, federal law requires companies to provide a date of separation for furloughed employees who are not recalled within six months.” He added, “Regrettably, Aug. 31, marks the date of separation for thousands of MGM Resorts employees whom we have not yet been able to bring back.”
Those laid off will remain on the casino recall list and will be welcomed back as the property’s reopening plan progresses, business grows and the state eases regulatory restrictions.
In the meantime they “will be separated from MGM,” Chris Kelley President & COO wrote to employees. But, said Hornbuckle, “Separated employees remain eligible for financial support from the Grant Fund through November 29, 2020, and we recently expanded its resources to provide additional assistance.” He added, “We’ll also continue supporting current and former employees during these challenging times through the MGM Employee Emergency Grant Fund.”
Hornbuckle confidently predicted that MGM would return to its pre-Covid levels of business—and more. “Of that, we can all be certain,” he wrote.
