Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas Strip prepares to usher in Chinese New Year

Casinos rolling out the red carpet for international guests

chinesenewyear

Las Vegas Sun

Views of the Bellagio Conservatory’s Chinese New Year exhibit Friday, January 29, 2010. This year is the Year of the Tiger.

Bellagio Conservatory Chinese New Year

Views of the Bellagio Conservatory's Chinese New Year exhibit Friday, January 29, 2010. This year is the Year of the Tiger. Launch slideshow »

Chinese New Year @The Venetian and Palazzo

The Venetian and Palazzo celebrate Chinese New Year. Launch slideshow »

Revelers who celebrated New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas have long recovered from their hangovers, tossed their party hats in the trash and made their way home.

Now, a month and a half later, Strip resorts will spend the weekend ushering in another new year and one of the most important periods for their business.

The Chinese New Year celebration begins Sunday, bringing thousands of international and domestic travelers and millions of dollars to Las Vegas.

This year, Chinese New Year will coincide with Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekend, potentially bringing in even more visitors to Las Vegas.

“We’re seeing a really strong Valentine’s Day weekend with volume up 10 to 11 percent (over last year), partially because it’s over the three-day weekend this year and it also includes Chinese New Year,” Vegas.com Marketing Director Dan Hippler said.

For weeks, casinos have been prepping their grounds with traditional Chinese New Year decorations such as red and gold lanterns, citrus trees and lush gardens. Chinese greetings scroll across resort marquees as they prepare to welcome guests celebrating the Year of the Tiger.

The holiday traditionally ranks among the busiest times on the Strip, along with Super Bowl weekend and New Year’s Eve.

Chinese New Year celebrations will last until the end of February, resulting in longer stays for many international guests with extended vacations.

“Clearly there is a financial importance to the event,” said Greg Shulman, vice president of international marketing for Bellagio. “One only needs to look at the Gaming Control Board’s baccarat numbers for the month to see that.”

The holiday typically attracts higher-end clientele that is more gambling-centric. Chinese New Year gives casino operators a chance to bring Asian VIPs familiar with Macau properties to Las Vegas.

Aside from the financial importance, the holiday gives MGM Mirage the opportunity to further the relationships the company has made overseas, Shulman said.

“If you look at us from purely a head point, the ethnic Asian customer base is mainly coming from Southern California, Texas and the East Coast,” Shulman said. “Our higher-end customers typically come from the Far East, mainly Hong Kong, Mainland China and we get some VIP guests from Taiwan as well.”

MGM Mirage properties will usher in the new year with ceremonial lion dances at five of its properties.

The dance is meant to evict the evil spirits of the previous year and bring good luck for the Year of the Tiger.

Las Vegas Sands and Harrah’s Entertainment have the traditional dance scheduled at their properties, too. Caesars Palace will mark 35 years of Chinese New Year celebrations this year.

The always-ornate Bellagio Conservatory is covered in bamboo and Chinese symbols and features a statue of Cai Shen, the Chinese god of prosperity.

This year’s display is guided by the ancient practice of Feng Sui — the art of using surroundings to create harmony, balance and positive energy.

MGM Mirage properties also have special menus planned at their Asian restaurants, a performance from Hong Kong pop and film star Sam Hui and a gala for 3,000 invited guests at Aria next week.

“For the first time in many years, we have a brand new facility to show off. We expect our volume to be up and I think the anticipation of Aria has a lot to do with that,” Shulman said.

Across CityCenter, the Asian-inspired Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas is expecting a busy weekend for its first Chinese New Year.

The hotel company was founded in Hong Kong in the 1960s but has grown to an international brand with a presence in the U.S. and Europe. The hotel was designed with Feng Shui in mind, with nuances of Asia throughout the property’s décor and amenities.

“In terms of business, we are absolutely full,” Mandarin Oriental General Manager Rajesh Jhingon said. “We have some very high-profile guests staying with us that we of course can’t discuss.”

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