The Las Vegas Strip promises to be unusually quiet for the foreseeable future after both Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International announced the closure of their flagship properties to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Wynn revealed early Monday morning that it would shut down operations at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore from 6pm this Tuesday 17 March with the company to reevaluate the situation after two weeks.
A limited number of employees and management will remain at the resort to secure and maintain the facility, and all full-time employees will continue to be paid throughout.
Shortly after Wynn’s announcement, MGM issued a similar statement in which it confirmed it would also suspend operations at its Las Vegas properties effective Tuesday. The suspension impacts some of the Strip’s most iconic properties including MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Bellagio and Luxor.
“As the coronavirus pandemic has intensified in the United States over the past week, the people of MGM Resorts have worked to try to find a way to continue delivering high quality hospitality and entertainment experiences for our guests while keeping our employees doing the jobs they love in a safe environment,” said MGM Chairman and CEO Jim Murren.
“Welcoming people from around the world is what we do, and our employees have tremendous pride in their work.
Despite our commitment to dedicating additional resources for cleaning and promoting good health, while making difficult decisions to close certain aspects of our operations, it is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression.”
Murren offered no timeline for re-opening, adding only that normal operations would resume once safe to do so. The company won’t be taking any new hotel reservations for arrivals prior to 1 May 2020.
MGM has already closed a handful of its other US casinos in recent days, including MGM Northfield Park in Ohio, Empire City in New York, MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and MGM National Harbor in Washington DC.
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