USA TODAY International Edition

3 Las Vegas hotels reopen 24/ 7

Mandalay Bay, Park MGM, The Mirage to see change March 3

- Ed Komenda

After reducing operations to match pandemicst­ricken demand on The Strip, MGM Resorts will soon have Mandalay Bay, Park MGM and The Mirage open seven days a week.

The Las Vegas Boulevard resorts will return to 24/ 7 operations on March 3, reports the Reno Gazette Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

“As we begin to see positive signs around the public’s sentiment about traveling, coupled with important progress on the vaccinatio­n front and decreasing COVID- 19 case numbers, bringing Mandalay Bay, Park MGM and The Mirage back to full- week operations is an important step for us,” Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts’ CEO and president, said in a statement Wednesday. “We remain optimistic about Las Vegas’ recovery and our ability to bring employees back to work as business volumes allow us to do so.”

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak recently announced he's rolling back COVID- 19 restrictio­ns set in November that limited casino capacity to 25%. On Monday, capacity limits began to roll back in phases.

Casino floors are now limited to 35% capacity. On March 15, businesses operating at 35% will be able to move to 50% capacity.

Indoor dining at restaurant­s and bars are capped at 35% capacity – but outdoor dining has no capacity limit. Reservatio­ns are no longer required, and the number of patrons allowed at a table has jumped from four to six.

In 2020, COVID- 19 travel fallout transforme­d Las Vegas from a global destinatio­n to a regional gambling hub dependent on drive- in business from California and Arizona.

The lack of demand led MGM Resorts to shut down hotel operations during the midweek at the Mirage, Mandalay Bay and Park MGM resorts.

“We are constantly evaluating occupancy levels and adjusting operations accordingl­y,” MGM Resorts said in a statement at the time.

Visitation is now down to levels the state hasn't seen since 1993. With concerts and convention­s canceled and hotel towers closed, Nevada will remain in financial trouble until COVID- 19 restrictio­ns are rolled back and travelers regain their confidence.

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 ?? ED KOMENDA/ RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL; AP FILE ?? Top: Police officers on bicycles patrol the empty Las Vegas Strip last April. At left, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM and The Mirage can increase casino capacity to 50%.
ED KOMENDA/ RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL; AP FILE Top: Police officers on bicycles patrol the empty Las Vegas Strip last April. At left, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM and The Mirage can increase casino capacity to 50%.
 ?? PROVIDED BY MGM RESORTS ?? The Mirage resort on the Las Vegas Strip will reopen 24/ 7 on March 3. Mandalay Bay and Park MGM will also return to that schedule.
PROVIDED BY MGM RESORTS The Mirage resort on the Las Vegas Strip will reopen 24/ 7 on March 3. Mandalay Bay and Park MGM will also return to that schedule.

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