Ramifications of the MC fire on hotel $$

[beckw925]

Now that everyone is safe, what do you all think the ramifications of the MC fire will be on hotel prices?
As I see it, could be couple of things:
1 problems with the smoke alarms and decision to not evacuate the whole hotel could remind folks of the old MGM and people could:
a cancel MC bookings (MC prices down, others up)
b cancel Vegas bookings (prices down)

2 People book elsewhere and prices go up everywhere

WHat do you all think?

[arm53]

WHat do you all think?


I think there will be NO change at all for us. Vegas can stand the temporary hit.

I think MGM is on this RIGHT NOW.

The Authority says COMPLETE REPAIR before they can reopen. That includes the casino.

Just the roof and some water damage. Won't take long.

[GREGRIO]

And I think the timing couldn't be better what with the Harrah's remodeling
scandal still smoldering on the back burner.
(so far) the Monte Carlo (seems) to have done everything right during the emergency. All systems worked as they should have and everyone came out
OK for the most part. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANY PROPERTY...we stay at.

Short cuts during new construction, the remodeling of older properties,
sheer neglect/greed for not keeping systems up and working properly...
WE'LL NEVER KNOW whats up to par and whats not unless someone blows
the whistle like in the case of the Harrah's electrition at the RIO or the
carpenter at the Flamingo who was asked to cannibalize equipment on one
guest floors that controls door closures during a fire.

The Monte Carlo fire looks like it was just a bad accident, but other potential
problems could very well be out there...

Inspections of 3 of their (Harrah's) hotels since fall have yielded evidence of fire hazzards, malfunctioning sprinkler heads in certain rooms, unapproved changes in electrical wiring, and defects in fire dampers.

The Clark County Fire Dept. just sent its fire inspection findings and recommendations of Harrah's to THE CRIMINAL DIVISION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. Harrah's has been screwing up BIG TIME and we've been staying at their properties for a long, long time... all the other properties
in town too ???

NO, I don't think the Monte Carlo fire will increase room rates around town,
or anything else. What I do hope it does is increase the procedures on safety
inspections and upgrading systems through out the industry.
WE'LL NEVER KNOW. Shortcuts could be happening right now at City Center,
Palazzo, Encore...we hope not but gaming is a big powerful monster and can almost get away with anything in wants unless someone reports something
that just...(remember from the TravelChannel specials)... 'JDLR'?
JUST DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT.

KUDOS TO THE MONTE CARLO, THE TWO HARRAH'S WHISTLE BLOWING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, AND THE LAS VEGAS FIRE DEPARTMENT!

Guess we'll keep goin' to Vegas anyway though huh...having fun, seeing Shows, eating/drinking, and all the while...at any time of the day or night, awake or asleep.................GAMBLING!, lol.

[corinne]

Hi all, thank goodness everyone was safe, that's the main thing and the systems in place actually worked.

My thoughts are now that people will actually want the lower floors in the high rises and not the high ones as they will be thinking of all those flights of stairs they may have to go down in case of a fire alarm and the lifts not working!

I don't think it will make any difference to people going to Las Vegas, there are hotel fires in all Countries and although people may initially cancel their Monte Carlo booking and go elsewhere, most people's memories are short and we all soon forget.

Corinne

[sonntex]

Guess we'll keep goin' to Vegas anyway though huh...having fun, seeing Shows, eating/drinking, and all the while...at any time of the day or night, awake or asleep.................GAMBLING!, lol.

And that's exactly why I carry a flashlight with me at all times and put it by my bed at night AND have my robe and houseshoes handy with my meds and some money in the pocket - you just never know when you might be rushed out of your room.

Case in point: One night I was playing slots at Harrahs and the alarms kept going off and a voice came over saying "no problem, just a malfuction", then the lights went off. They only stayed off a few seconds but I already had my little black bag open reaching for my flashlight. (There was thunderstorm outside.)

Another case: We have some friends who were in LV during 9/11. They couldn't get home because no flights were allowed to leave. He has heart problems and had enough meds for his stay but no extras. It took a local pharmacy 2 days to get thru to his pharmacy back home to get his prescription okayed. Needless to say, he and his wife were in a panic. (Moral to this story: If you're on medications, take some extras along.)

[GREGRIO]

Speaking of the alarms going off...haven't you all been in a property
when you've heard them sound? Do you perk up, listen...head for the
doors or just keep doin' what you were doin'.

4 times at RIO I've had the alarms go off. Twice in my room...twice on
the gaming floor.
Remember my last TR and the story about me getting stuck in the elevator
with the Chinese folks in the one next to me?
I was leaving that morning and before it hit the elevator, I was playing in
Masquerade Village. The alarms and announcements went off and kept up
for over 20min. before they stopped. Everyone, including the 'Change' and
'Cocktail' just went about their business like nothing was going on...
Guess ya gotta smell smoke and see flames to get those damn gamblers off
the machines and away from the tables.

I also have a light with me at all times...money, plane ticket and car keys in a ready to go bag thats handy to grab (in the dark) if ya had to get out of the room quick...
Lots of folks like a room by the elevators. Mine is at the end of the hallway,
right next to the fire escape.

Its so easy to get caught up in all the fun of vacation in Las Veags but don't forget
your emergency procedures either.............you wanna go back to Vegas don't you?

[kassa]

We were at the Mirage about 10 days after 9/11 and during our stay one night at 3 am a fire alarm came on, along with a request to stay in the room while it was being investigated. We sure got dressed and got our things together in a hurry! We decided then to go down anyway, but just as we entered the hallway they gave the all clear. Nobody else even opened a door.

I too always keep at least my key and small wallet with id and money ready to grab and run at a moment's notice. I also always leave clothing out and ready to throw on.

[misterKeno]

Random thought - i had the original MC construction plans in my hands on monday. Okay, enough on boring you.

mK is home sick today

[YSinAppleton]

Some very good advice. I had never thought about keeping license, keys, money, cc, plane tickets together and ready to grab. Will certainly do that now. Also, we always try to stay on the highest floor we can for the view etc. May re-think that too. I do always check where the closest fire exit is though. I do one thing right anyway.

[Steve]

I moved this question to the Topic Of The Week forum so we should be getting a lot of replies.

If you have any thoughts for a Topic Of The Week question, just email it to me.

Steve

[Nancy from Indiana]

I always carry a large handbag, could stuff meds & husband's wallet &
plane tickets in it, but didn't think about a flashlight. Thank you, sonntex, we have small ones that would fit very nicely in my bag.

[acolton]

I don't think that there were any problems with the smoke detectors. I think that the MC did not evacuate the people and stop the gambling quick enoufgh. I don't think that they took the situation as serious as they should have. I also don't think that another MGM fire will ever happen again because of the fire codes, because back when that fire occured things were much different than today and the building codes and fire codes.

If I were coming to Vegas in the next few weeks I would want to stay at the MC to see the damage, because right now after the fire that is the safest Hotel / Casino in Vegas because of the drama. Prices may go down for a bit but over all people are curious and want to see the damage and be lookie loos and nozy nancy's and see the damage and go to the MC. I sure would. I have never stayed at the MC but it's on my list to stay at in the future!

[OpieLuv]

As a travel agent with clients scheduled to stay at MC very soon, I am finding they are doing a great job. They are honoring everyone's rate and moving them to a sister property and all we have to do is enquire about where to send people for check-in. The Monte Carlo is making this amazingly easy and I will have no hestitation whatsoever to send someone back there when they reopen once again!!

Rates in Vegas are down anyways because airfare is so expensive and people are worried about the economy. This is a long overdue trend we have been waiting to see in Las Vegas!!! I found $89 per night at Mandalay Bay! That is almost unheard of anymore!

[mrhonesty]

This reminds me of when The Rio first opened..We arrived and it was very "un-Crowded" We just sat down to play when alarms went off and then announcements started ..Almost like The Wizard of Oz routine..Pay no attention to those alarms (or the man behind the curtain)..hahaha Nothing is wrong,since we were playing near the front door we continued and they were correct ther was no problem..But What If????????:eek:

[rnassa]

I had a reservation for this week, I called and was given a penthouse suite at the Mandalay for the MC rate, lost enough so they came ahead anyway!

[pennyslots717]

Hi all, thank goodness everyone was safe, that's the main thing and the systems in place actually worked.

My thoughts are now that people will actually want the lower floors in the high rises and not the high ones as they will be thinking of all those flights of stairs they may have to go down in case of a fire alarm and the lifts not working!

I don't think it will make any difference to people going to Las Vegas, there are hotel fires in all Countries and although people may initially cancel their Monte Carlo booking and go elsewhere, most people's memories are short and we all soon forget.

Corinne
Our family tries to get on the lowest floor possible, as fire ladders don't go beyond 6th or 7th floor. It's also hard for a person with a disability to have to evacuate from high floors.:eek:

[cathyr59]

personally, i don't think anything will stop people from going to vegas!!! :)

[CassidyDiva]

My friend & I were at the MGM Grand about 2 or 3 months before it burned (just passing through by bus on the way to LA)We stayed at the Royal, walked to the Stardust for the Buffet, took the bus to Caesars, then walked back. When I was re-reading my diary of that year, I couldn't understand how I could walk from the Grand to Desert Inn (we cut through there as a short-cut back to the Royal). I'd forgotten MGM was where the Bally's is now. I can't believe how the strip has changed.
At least I hope all the new resorts have followed the examples of the past.;)

[beach3993]

I don't think there will be any problem first off MC belongs to MGM and MGM will just re-locate people if need. I don't think the Casino was hurt or is closed I believe it is only certain floors that are closed. As for Harrah's problem well good timing in some ways. I do believe from someone who works for a City that the Hotels need to get their ACT together and stop trying to run around the bush and try to get away with not having permits, right work done and so on. All that does is slow things up and could be a downfall for the Hotel market.

It is called get your ACT TOGETHER that includes Harrahs, Boyd, MGM and rest of them no one is exempt.

[ASTIDIXIE]

I don't believe it will change the prices at all for any of the hotels.
Unfortunatly, not much is going to make those hotel rooms affordable to the common person who works all year for ONE vacation away from it all......
The hotels are making it harder and harder to have a good time when you know the hotel bill is going to cost you a bundle.

[parisbill]

I take the threat of hotel fires very seriously.

I was almost a victim of a hotel fire in Jeddah Saudi Arabia.

It was total incompetence on the part of hotel management and staff.

I responded by getting our QUICKLY as smoke is the real killer.

Every time I head to my hotel room after checking in I look for exits and read the fire information listed on the room exit door.

I also try to book rooms 10 floors and under.

The Clark County Fire Department did a great job as seen on TV.

As in NYC they do practice fighting hi-rise structures.

Fire Alarm goes off... take your valuables. feel the exit door for excessive heat, WALK downstairs and do not feel foolish

REMEMBER THE MGM FIRE!!

parisbill

[sawsman]

I feel that, given time, the whole thing will blow over, and it will be back to business at usual at the MC.
Sounds like they are already nearly back on track, but it's interesting to note that with the HUGE construction going on just to the north of the MC, things could chage overnite.
My $.02

[billfarr]

Ok I'm a Safety Rep. and I never gave a thought to having a grab and go bag in my LV hotel room. I know where my 'stuff' is but never gave a thought to an emergency exit from a hotel with only what I could grab to wear. I wouldn't think of going on a boat without a light, knife and a life jacket and I always carry a flashlight of some kind in my carry-on. Now you can bet that my stuff will be in a grab and go bag wherever and whenever I travel. I'm probably better prepared for an emergency when I get on my motorcycle to go to work. Told my face was red:0:)
Bill

[jlawrence01]

Another case: We have some friends who were in LV during 9/11. They couldn't get home because no flights were allowed to leave. He has heart problems and had enough meds for his stay but no extras. It took a local pharmacy 2 days to get thru to his pharmacy back home to get his prescription okayed. Needless to say, he and his wife were in a panic. (Moral to this story: If you're on medications, take some extras along.)

Or use a NATIONAL pharmacy like WalMart or Walgreen's. I have been in a similar situation on two or three occasions and they have been able to access my prescriptions in their computer and provide me with enough meds to get through the rest of my trip.

[sonntex]

Or use a NATIONAL pharmacy like WalMart or Walgreen's. I have been in a similar situation on two or three occasions and they have been able to access my prescriptions in their computer and provide me with enough meds to get through the rest of my trip.

Great advice, but I think in my friend's case, the phone lines were jammed and the computers weren't working and couldn't get the information up. 9/11 had everything stopped.

Fires, earth quakes, terrorist attacks.......anything can happen.

BE PREPARED!!!!! But don't stop living your life.

[vegasbabe]

It's a good thing they are getting everything done quickly. I've spoken with several MC employees, and they're nervous. They are going to be paid for 30 days, but what happens after that? I just hope MGM takes care of them until they are back to their regular job duties. I think they'll continue to do the right thing.

Prices shouldn't go up at other hotels. If anything, prices should go down due to the ever weakening economy. Mid-weeknights, almost looks like a ghost town on the strip right now. Although, that may also be because of the weather being colder here than in NYC and Philly and DC! Very strange winter this year.

[vegasbabe]

and as far as alarms go----they go off all the time at Sam's Town, and nobody budges--because they go off all the time! Tourists may look up and ask the change people what's going on, but the locals never think of heading toward the doors. Maybe they will now!

[pateboo]

I think the Monte Carlo "can stand the heat". I stayed there a couple of times before I became a regular at Excalibur. I'd stay there again too. It's like the best airline to take is one that had a recent problem, because then they are super careful, at least for a while anyway. My late mother got me into packing a flashlight and checking out the exits. I also keep a little, but powerful flashlight on my keyring and at work(we've had many power outages) and keep all my important things to grab on a corner of my desk like my car keys, purse, coat in case we aren't allowed back in. One of my friends worked somewhere that caught on fire and she couldn't get back in to get her stuff right away. My night vision isn't good even in the best of conditions, so I started counting the number of stairs in places like my house and work a long time ago. That way I know for sure when I've reached the bottom and don't take a misstep and fall flat on my face. Back to Monte Carlo, what are the odds that something that bad will happen to that place twice. I'll take my chances and continue to go there.:p

[Big Bad Bob]

Back in 1985, my wife and I stayed on the 15th (top floor) at Circus Circus. My parents were in the next room. They were constructing the Skyrise Tower. Early one morning, we heard what sounded like a drill, then a pop and then the fire alarm. We quickly got dressed, grabbed car keys and wallet and banged on my parents room next door. "Dad! Bonnie! (his wife) We gotta go. The fire alarm is going off!" "We'll be out in a minute! Your father's peeing!"
We then ran down 15 flights of stairs along with three other floors of people. The casino and ground floor were operating normally. We forgot our room key and the front desk was unaware that the fire alarm had even gone off.

Now we keep room keys, cash, and valuables bedside.

I read that they had no problem relocating the MC guests which means that there were many empty hotel rooms within the MGM corporation. The article said that this exposure of empty hotel rooms should lower the price of rooms. I hope they're right.

[planetbass]

I can only speak for myself because I understand some of the market forces at work, but certainly not all of them.

If I'm typical of visitors to Vegas, I don't see any fall in visitor numbers though we'd all do well to adopt some of the safety/quick exit advice in some of the posts here.

There may be temporary blip in prices if the Monte has to wholly or partially shut its doors for work to be carried out but I think it will be very temporary. There seem to have been some lessons learned around permits for hot work (I think that's how I've seen it described) and the sort of materials used on building facades that can catch easily.

By all accounts the Clark County Fire Department seem to have done a good job dealing with the fire and its consequences.

If I were planning a trip to Vegas right now, the only thing that would put me off the Monte would be the noise going on next door on the City Center construction site.

[BOBNDEE]

Stayed at MC twice, the last being in October. I actually feel they handled the whole situation ok. Made me feel like they know what they are doing.
I too will bring a flashlight and keep my wallet handy.
Hope that they will bring the rates down maybe the others will follow.
bobndee

[wa8ckt]

As with the MGM fire this could have been very bad. We stayed at the MGM several times before their fire and after. Only changed when Bally's took over and "tackiness" arrived and the old MGM "class" was removed. We have been staying at IP and always on the 2nd floor. Usually can walk to the pool or parking garage from the room. There have been several times when the alarms went off in the middle of the night and they do have verbal instructions in the rooms. Always ended up telling us some idiot (they call them "inconsiderate individuals") pulled an alarm somewhere. This, of course, would be a serious crime if caught. I am sure the hotels would not want to empty 3 or 4 thousand rooms if not needed with the possibility of injuries doing that. Very tough call to make. It sounds like MC did it right. John in Caro

[jolo777]

I don't think there will be any ramifications from the MC fire. It will be business as usual. In fact I've seen some very good deals advertised on many of the hotel web sites lately. The fire dept. and MC did a great job with the evacuation. Anyway it don't look like any of us are changing our planned trips to Las Vegas. Maybe some changes in what we take with us and where we would like our room located, but we will all be there. Viva Las Vegas :D

[flamingofun]

I agree with most, that fire won't change a thing for us tourists. Business as ususal in Vegas!! High Vegas prices & weakening economy are the threat. All those empty MGM rooms?? hummm. Thanks all for the tips, we'll be more prepared for sure. When in Vegas, I'm in la la land & don't even think of anything going wrong! VIVA

[Boston_Bill]

I think business will be booming at MC next weekend. If anything it will be more safe and people will want to check it out.

[zman14]

I really don't see anything changing with the MC fire. People will still come to Vegas and stay at the MC. Prices will remain the same (ridiculous) and all of us Vegas goers will plan our vacations just like we always do. Viva Las Vegas !:)

[Pooch01_99]

And I think the timing couldn't be better what with the Harrah's remodeling
scandal still smoldering on the back burner.
(so far) the Monte Carlo (seems) to have done everything right during the emergency. All systems worked as they should have and everyone came out
OK for the most part. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANY PROPERTY...we stay at.

Short cuts during new construction, the remodeling of older properties,
sheer neglect/greed for not keeping systems up and working properly...
WE'LL NEVER KNOW whats up to par and whats not unless someone blows
the whistle like in the case of the Harrah's electrition at the RIO or the
carpenter at the Flamingo who was asked to cannibalize equipment on one
guest floors that controls door closures during a fire.

The Monte Carlo fire looks like it was just a bad accident, but other potential
problems could very well be out there...

Inspections of 3 of their (Harrah's) hotels since fall have yielded evidence of fire hazzards, malfunctioning sprinkler heads in certain rooms, unapproved changes in electrical wiring, and defects in fire dampers.

The Clark County Fire Dept. just sent its fire inspection findings and recommendations of Harrah's to THE CRIMINAL DIVISION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. Harrah's has been screwing up BIG TIME and we've been staying at their properties for a long, long time... all the other properties
in town too ???

NO, I don't think the Monte Carlo fire will increase room rates around town,
or anything else. What I do hope it does is increase the procedures on safety
inspections and upgrading systems through out the industry.
WE'LL NEVER KNOW. Shortcuts could be happening right now at City Center,
Palazzo, Encore...we hope not but gaming is a big powerful monster and can almost get away with anything in wants unless someone reports something
that just...(remember from the TravelChannel specials)... 'JDLR'?
JUST DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT.

KUDOS TO THE MONTE CARLO, THE TWO HARRAH'S WHISTLE BLOWING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, AND THE LAS VEGAS FIRE DEPARTMENT!

Guess we'll keep goin' to Vegas anyway though huh...having fun, seeing Shows, eating/drinking, and all the while...at any time of the day or night, awake or asleep.................GAMBLING!, lol.

The fire system worked! That's the good news. The bad news is that there so many corporate bean counters out there trying to tell the casinos to cut costs, cut corners, so the projects can be done on time or ahead of schedule,(ie.e. Palazzo), so they can make a profit, and not just a profit, but, a really huge profit! There's a sort of race on to build, that, eventually someone might have a huge diseaster.

[trackman]

I don't think anything will happen that will change the Vegas horizon in the long run. Short term, maybe with the people being sent to sister properties, the demand for rooms may go up, thus the rates may go up as well. But, hopefully, that is only short term, cause to me, room rates are high enough as is!! But, time will only tell, my friends!!

[LadySkinArt]

Here's something interesting. I just received an email from Monte Carlo for a special running from Feb. 15 to June 6th. Now it says it's a Spring special, but truthfully I think that $69.95 a night plus $25 dining, $10 slot play, $5 Starbucks AND if you book with them online it's an additional $10 off the room rate, plus other various food court coupons, is a lower rate than what they used to send me, which now that I think of it, they didn't send these out much often to me in the first place.
I'm thinking maybe they just might be hurting for business somewhat or enough to decide to toss out a "woohoo, come hither and stay with us" sort of offer. IMHO.

[YSinAppleton]

I got the same offer yesterday. Sounds very good. Checked into it and four of the nights we would be there are that price, others are higher but they are weekend nights too. We are going to stay with Ballys this trip in April though, but might be worth checking out for others.

[krisfarnsworth]

Maybe they'll get rid of the f words etched into the windows we stayed there last year in April and we were in 4 rooms 3 had the fu carved into the coating on the windows we were very disappointed:(

[Deb]

I did not expect anything other than the usual offers from MC, but today in the mail was a letter apologizing for the inconvenience (heck, they sent us to Bellagio) and 3 free nights and $500 freeplay. My take is they are trying to get players to return, JMO.

[VegasBride]

I heard from a very reliable source that the Monte Carlo treated their employees very well while they were off work, but once they returned, the jobs they had were not available. Some are looking for jobs elsewhere.

I would love to see all price reduced in Vegas; food, hotels, shows and flights.