Rio Hotel Casino Reopening December 22, But Weekends Only After Holidays

Posted on: November 12, 2020, 09:19h. 

Last updated on: November 12, 2020, 09:28h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Caesars Entertainment’s Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will reopen its doors on December 22. But after the holidays, the resort will only welcome guests on the weekends.

Caesars Entertainment Rio Las Vegas
Rio Las Vegas will be the last Caesars Entertainment to get back to business following COVID-19 shutdowns. (Image: Caesars Entertainment)

Rio is the only remaining Caesars-owned casino resort in Las Vegas that remains dark. The off-Strip property closed its doors in mid-March on Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s (D) orders to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Beginning December 22 at 10 am Pacific Time through January 3, the hotel will be open seven days a week. After January 3, guestrooms will only be available Thursday through Monday. The casino floor will return 24/7, seven days a week, from December 22 onwards.

As the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino prepares to resume operations on December 22, this marks the final Caesars Entertainment resort to reopen in the US and Canada,” explained Caesars Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Anthony Carano.

“The past nine months have been filled with challenges, as well as opportunities, including the merging of our two gaming companies to form the new Caesars Entertainment. We recognize the incredible effort it has taken to reopen our resorts and get us to this important milestone, and we look forward to welcoming our Team Members and guests back to Rio with their health and safety still top of mind,” the executive added.

Along with its 2,522 rooms, Rio will reopen 10 bars and restaurants, its fitness center, and casino and sportsbook. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, weekend occupancy rates for Las Vegas were 66.1 percent in September. That number drops to just 38.5 percent through the week.

Back in Business

When Rio reopens, Caesars Entertainment will have all of its casino resorts open in North America. The casino operator’s portfolio, which is the combined entity of the previous Caesars and Eldorado Resorts, includes 54 properties in 16 states.

Eldorado Resorts acquired the former Caesars this year in a $17.3 billion deal. The new organization has retained the Caesars Entertainment name. Caesars brass are itching for a post-COVID-19 environment.

“When we get into a post-COVID world, the pent-up demand you’re going to see for gaming in general and Las Vegas is going to be beyond your wildest dreams,” Caesars CEO Tom Reeg opined to investors and analysts during the company’s third quarter call last week. He conceded, however, “I can’t tell you when that is going to happen.”

55+ Crowd Absent

Reeg revealed that people aged 55 and older continue to stay away from the company’s casino resorts. But he believes they will play a critical role in the gaming industry’s rebound once the coronavirus is under control.

These are people that are not going anywhere, and are not spending, and are going to come out of this with significant pent-up demand and spending power, and it’s going to be extremely powerful,” Reeg declared.

The chief executive said the 55 and older group is significantly lagging behind the rest of Caesars’ business throughout the country.