MGM Resorts International has come up with a unique series of hotel packages aimed at enticing visitors to bring their virtual offices to the Las Vegas Strip.
“Viva Las Office,” as the program is called, seeks to tackle the coronavirus’ impact on the convention trade, the disappearance of which is killing midweek business citywide, with packages at Bellagio and Aria that start at $100 a night for a three-night stay and include flexible check-in and check-out times, an executive assistant who handles reservations and experiences, food and beverage credits, discounts on activities such as helicopter and Jeep tours and discounted airfare through a hop-on jet service flying from private terminals in Seattle, Phoenix, Dallas and a number of cities in California.
“These packages are designed to offer the best of both worlds,” said MGM’s President of Commercial and Growth Atif Rafiq. “A safe, spacious work setting while still allowing guests to enjoy the amenities and experiences Las Vegas is known for through a single offering.”
As outlined in reports in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Reno Gazette-Journal, it appears to be an idea inspired in part by Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air, which announced plans last month for partnering with casino hotel operators so people to fly to Sin City and telecommute while enjoying themselves at a resort.
“This is an innovative marketing strategy that we’ve recently seen from some other travel destinations like Barbados, and I think it will work well in Las Vegas,” said Jordan Salmon, a principal and chief marketing officer for Calistoga Group, a hospitality consultancy based in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson.
Experts believe it could catch on, too.
Sonya Grier, a marketing professor at American University’s Kogod School of Business, said remote work offerings at resorts may resonate with people who have “quarantine fatigue.”
“From a marketing perspective, (the resorts) are addressing people’s needs,” she said. “People would like to go away, but they also want to feel safe and that they aren’t putting themselves or their family at risk.”
Jonathan Day, an associate professor of hospitality and tourism management at Purdue University, said, “I think we’ll see a range of offers to attract visitors in the midweek period while conditions remain depressed𑁋and perhaps after as well. These packages add value and are much better strategy than just competing on price.”
Allegiant hasn’t publicized all the details of its “Fly, Stay, Work, Play” program yet but said it’s prepared to incorporate packages from any of the carrier’s 58 non-stop destinations to Las Vegas
“I believe many consumers will take advantage of a change in scenery if they are comfortable with the safety and cleaning protocols in place,” Salmon said. “Who wouldn’t want to trade in their makeshift work from home setup for a private ‘office’ overlooking the fountains of Bellagio?”
