[intrepidnomad]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

The only thing that could kill Las Vegas, IMO, would be a major terrorist attack. The terrorists are smart people...and they love to make a big impact.

Have you ever seen people walking through a casino and stopping to play some slots with a suitcase in tow? How about a nice big bag from shopping at The Fashion Mall? Can't any suitcase, bag be checked in at The Bell Desk...no info given? Any of these things can contain bombs...and anyone can be a suicide bomber.

How about the boys checking in for the Bachelor Party Weekend...20 to the penthouse suite. Many unchecked bags (at least 20!) could easily enter an area that size without suspicion...and all containing explosives.

And what about the 70's VW van entering the parking garage...loaded with explosives and parked...a la Oklahoma bombing. What about a concerted effort of hitting different rooms thoughout the hotel...with bombs in suitcases in different rooms, timed to go off simultaneously? Heck...that van (or hummer with the tinted windows) could be duplicated and parked in multiple parking garages...all timed to go off at once...up and down The Strip.

It never ceases to amaze me of the lack of security measures employed by the casino industry. Sure, there's "the eyes in the sky"...looking for cheaters and anything out of the ordinary...but before the bomb goes off, a suitcase in the casino, or a van parking in the garage appears to be a very ordinary occurrence. I'm sure the tapes (if they survive) will be combed through, after the fact, looking for the terrorists...but by then, it's way too late.

If something like this were to occur...not only in a Las Vegas casino...but any casino (or sets of casinos at once)...there would be many deaths...and that would strike fear of entering casinos. THAT would kill Las Vegas.

How to protect before it happens? Each car entering the parking garage should be searched like they do at a border crossing. Each bag...and each person entering, should be screened as they do at an airport. Will they do this?....absolutely not. At least, not before such an event happens. The casino industry doesn't want people scared to go into casinos...after all, you're supposed to enter a fantasy world, where we all exit as happy millionaires. Not to mention the cost to the casinos for providing such measures.

Just a crazy scenario...I know. An action movie, right? But truly feasible ones for terrorists, who will go to any length, to carry it out. Next time you're in a casino...just look for places that bombs could be disguised. Every woman's pocketbook could hold a small bomb...enough to take out a blackjack table...or more.

That, IMO, could kill Las Vegas...and the gambling industry...completely. It's not like The World Trade Towers...where people have to continue to work, live and commute. They get past it out of necessity. But no one HAS TO gamble at casinos after an event like that.

I remember when Tom Ridge (ex-governor, PA) was appointed as Secretary of Homeland Security after 9-11, he said something to the effect (not exact quote): To catch these terrorists, one has to not only think like them...but think of it before they do....and take action to prevent it.

Just food for thought.

And you know what else would kill Vegas? Constantly getting stopped and frisked and asked for ID and groped/manhandled by security under the guise of Homeland Security. All I can say is SH1t happens. Nobody wants to spend money in a place where they are certain to feel paranoid.

Live life, man. We all die. Some sooner than others.

BTW, I'm still waiting for someone to respond to this thread by blaming it on Obama...HA!

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by intrepidnomad

And you know what else would kill Vegas? Constantly getting stopped and frisked and asked for ID and groped/manhandled by security under the guise of Homeland Security. All I can say is SH1t happens. Nobody wants to spend money in a place where they are certain to feel paranoid.

Live life, man. We all die. Some sooner than others.

BTW, I'm still waiting for someone to respond to this thread by blaming it on Obama...HA!

So...whether the terrorists decide to attack LV...or LV tries to prevent it...LV would lose if it becomes their target. The terrorists would win again.

They say the house never loses...except to terrorism, that is.

[Spraynard Kruger]

Agreed, they would win again.

We would still come out the other end on top. Vegas will always be Vegas, no matter what.

[bkessack]

I have to believe that anyone doubting the future of Las Vegas hasn't been here recently. The streets (and stores, hotels, casinos, shows, etc.) are packed every day. I work in convention sales, and am struggling with keeping up with the pace of companies wanting to schedule meeting/conventions here. We are seeing occupancy rates that would thrill any hotel in the world amidst the highest concentration of hotel rooms anywhere. It certainly isn't 2003 or 2004 anymore, but we are seeing significant improvement from 2009 already.

Tourists certainly have plenty of options worldwide, but there is nothing quite like Vegas. In my short time here, I have been surprised to see how this town is regarded around the world. International companies go to great effort to bring events here - realizing better turnouts than they have in other destinations. I've personally spoken with a firm out of Australia that is experiencing a smaller response to their Hawaii meeting so participants can save up for their Vegas trip next year.

[maharlika]

The streets (on the Strip) are as packed as when we came to visit in the August of 2007 - before the "fall." We were driving along the strip a month ago: the sidewalks were so packed full of people walking in different directions that some were actually resorting to walking on the street (NOT the sidewalk) to try to avoid what looked like a heard of sheep being corralled. Absolutely worse than Times Square in NYC during summer. This was along Las Vegas Blvd near Harmon, with the little stores/restaurants next to Harley Davidson. It was a Monday, after dusk. From what I'm hearing it's just that people aren't as gambling as much.

[Bluefox]

Based on the 8hrs I spent in traffic coming back to San Diego from Vegas last Sunday, I'd say no!

[volfanga]

What has really killed the Vegas economy is the loss of convention business.
Once the economy turns around so will this as long as Obama keeps his mouth
shut about Vegas. I think the high paying business traveller on expense account
was a major profit center for all the hotels, restaurants and casinos. There are only
a few places nationwide that can hold the really large conventions once they return
the bottom line will be much better.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by maharlika

The streets (on the Strip) are as packed as when we came to visit in the August of 2007 - before the "fall." We were driving along the strip a month ago: the sidewalks were so packed full of people walking in different directions that some were actually resorting to walking on the street (NOT the sidewalk) to try to avoid what looked like a heard of sheep being corralled. Absolutely worse than Times Square in NYC during summer. This was along Las Vegas Blvd near Harmon, with the little stores/restaurants next to Harley Davidson. It was a Monday, after dusk. From what I'm hearing it's just that people aren't as gambling as much.

Yes...but if people continue not to gamble as much, and casinos continue losing revenue, how long can fountains keep dancing and volcanos keep blowing? And once fountains dry up and volcanos go back to sleep, will tourists still keep coming? Gambling is what keeps it all going. And if that continues declining, and the gaming corporations keep losing money...LV would be in serious trouble.

One big problem I'm noticing in the casinos...is that the generation that is now becoming the legal age of gambling, are not gamblers. Yes, they show up at casinos for drinking and the clubs, and the concerts and the party scene...but they look at gambling like a waste of money. Future gamblers are a dying breed. This would be akin to the tobacco industry losing future smokers.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by volfanga

What has really killed the Vegas economy is the loss of convention business.
Once the economy turns around so will this as long as Obama keeps his mouth
shut about Vegas. I think the high paying business traveller on expense account
was a major profit center for all the hotels, restaurants and casinos. There are only
a few places nationwide that can hold the really large conventions once they return
the bottom line will be much better.

And what convention business there is right now comes at a great discount.

I was approving expense reports last week and noticed that several employees stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton for ... $49 per night. Two years ago, it was closer to $249.

[maharlika]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Yes...but if people continue not to gamble as much, and casinos continue losing revenue, how long can fountains keep dancing and volcanos keep blowing? And once fountains dry up and volcanos go back to sleep, will tourists still keep coming? Gambling is what keeps it all going. And if that continues declining, and the gaming corporations keep losing money...LV would be in serious trouble.

One big problem I'm noticing in the casinos...is that the generation that is now becoming the legal age of gambling, are not gamblers. Yes, they show up at casinos for drinking and the clubs, and the concerts and the party scene...but they look at gambling like a waste of money. Future gamblers are a dying breed. This would be akin to the tobacco industry losing future smokers.

That's a pretty plausible scenario. Eventually I guess that will be the case. But right now Vegas hasn't yet lost its tourist appeal, which was what the OP asked.

2nd paragraph: Very true. Right before I turned 21 everyone was excited for me to go and play on my first slot machine - except for me. I was just excited about being able to drink/buy alcohol... and not being turned away in the slot machine areas whenever I accompanied relatives.