Mandalay Bay beefs up security
Guards added by elevators to reassure guests after Oct. 1 shooting
Mandalay Bay is increasing security as it seeks to reassure guests following the Oct. 1 shooting.
Thehotelrecentlysetuppermanentguardpostsbyelevatorbanks leading to rooms, two guards and a front desk employee said. The workers spoke on the condition of anonymity.
MGM Resorts, the parent company of Mandalay Bay, later confirmed the policy change at Mandalay Bay, saying in a statement that security ”continuestobeatoppriority”atits properties.
“Ourteamworksaroundtheclock toprotectthesafetyofourguests and facilities, and our procedures are always improving and evolving. To that end, we have determined that positioning 24-hour security at the elevator banks improves our surveillance capabilities and enhances security for all of our guests and facilities,” MGM Resorts said in the statement.
People seeking to get on the elevatorsmustnowshowtheirroomkey. The new policy applies to the Delano as well.
Mandalay Bay had previously postedguardsbytheelevatorsonly during major events, the guards said Thursday.
Las Vegas hotels and casinos are being forced to revisit their security procedures and staff numbers after agunmanopenedfirefromthe32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay, killing 58 and injuring more than 500.
Boyd Gaming has recently begun informing guests that employees will enter their rooms if a Do Not Disturb sign has been left on the door for more than 48 hours. The Mandalay Bay shooter used the sign to kept housekeeping out of his suite for severaldays.
Other security efforts
Several major hotels on the Strip already had similar practices of checking guests hotel keys in place before the shooting. MGM Grand currently only places a guard near its West Tower entrance during major events, a security guard at the propertysaid.
Mandalay Bay will need to boost its security image to attract customers to its property, said industry experts.
“Wheneveryouhaveatragedyat a property, your PR efforts are going to have to focus on reassuring guests they are safe,” said Mehmet Erdem, a professor of hospitality at UNLV.
“It is more prudent in this day in age tohaveguardsbytheelevators”to hinder not just a lone shooter, but theft and other crimes, he said.
Mandalay experienced a spike in cancellations following the shooting, MGM Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren said earlier this month. Hotel occupancy was also affected by a cut in its marketing following the shooting, he said.
That forced Mandalay Bay to cut workhoursforsomeofitsstaff. Mandalay Bay expects business to pick up again and add employee hours in January with the onset of the new convention season.
Contact Todd Prince at tprince@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0386. Follow @toddprincetv on Twitter.