A year later, Caesars Entertainment was purchased by Harrah’s Entertainment and apparently they like the Caesars name a lot too, because Harrah’s is going to be replaced by the Roman moniker as well.

The name change is seen as a move to capitalize on a more recognizable (and upscale) brand, however for now only a casino in Canada will be affected as it gets the Caesars name on its marquee. The Las Vegas hotels in the company’s portfolio (Caesars, Rio, Paris, Bally’s, Flamingo, Harrah’s, and Imperial Palace) will keep their names for now. Future development in Vegas could mean a name change for one or more of the properties as the company makes long-rumored moves to redo or even tear down and rebuild some of their Sin City hotels.

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In addition to the Vegas casino, the company operates 15 other casinos across the country including the three at the California-Nevada border in Primm. Those casinos cost the company a lot of money and may not be quite the good investment they thought they would be. Increased competition from Indian gaming in other areas is contributing to the Terrible financial malaise.

But one of the biggest problems hitting the company is the dramatic drop in revenue from slot machines the company runs at convenience stores, bars, and restaurants around Nevada. The cash cow has been hit hard by the statewide smoking ban that went into effect last year, which may have driven many customers to the larger casinos where they could still light up. Revenue from the slot routes was down by 20% after the ban went into effect, equating to about $70 million less in the company’s coffers.

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Guggen-Goodbye
The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at The Venetian is closing its doors in May, putting yet another nail in the coffin of the theory that Vegas visitors want something resembling culture. The artistic era in Las Vegas began in 1998 with the opening of the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, a pet project of then owner Steve Wynn. The Venetian later opened two Guggenheim museums. The larger of the two spaces barely made a year before being converted into a showroom and now the smaller shuts down next month. Steve Wynn’s gallery at Wynn Las Vegas also closed its doors not long after the hotel opened.

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Vegas4Visitors Weekly Awards
The Best Wishes of the Week Award goes to singer Toni Braxton who was rushed to the hospital last week with chest pains after a show at the Flamingo Las Vegas. The 40-year-old singer, who is the middle of a multi-year headlining stint at the hotel, reportedly did not have a heart attack but the exact cause of the chest pains was not released. Braxton is recovering at home and for now her shows have been cancelled but they are expecting to her to make a full recovery and be back on stage in May.

The Yeah, That’s Just What the City Needs Award goes to Steve Wynn and his plan to put in a massive new nightclub in the upcoming Encore hotel and casino. Just how massive? Published rumors this week indicate somewhere in the neighborhood of 40,000 square-feet, which just for reference is about the same size as the casino they are planning. Granted that’s small for a casino but it’s huge for a nightclub and will rival Pure at Caesars Palace for the “Biggest in Vegas” crown. The new club will open with the hotel late this year and will be called XS.

The Welcome Back Award this week is being bestowed upon Rio’s Village Seafood Buffet, which reopened last week after an extensive remodeling. The new buffet features more than 13,000 feet of fresh seafood spectaculars with a more modern, upscale décor, fresh sushi prepared tableside, and their very own sommelier who will pair wines with your fishy selections. Along with the new look comes a new price: $38 per person, making it the most expensive regularly scheduled buffet in town.

And finally, The Job of the Week Award goes to whomever got hired after the open call auditions this past weekend for the Las Vegas Pussycat Dolls. A call went out for singers and dancers with “style and sex appeal” to come down and strut their stuff for the popular burlesque act, whose brand reach extends beyond mere booty shaking to the top of the music charts. Expect to see the new hires on stage at the Pussycat Dolls Lounge inside Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace.

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