In March 2020, Las Vegas closed its iconic neon-lit stretch for the first time since the funeral of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The usual tourist tides and traffic jams saw an unprecedented emptiness due to the pandemic.
Sin City missed its visitors during its peak time of the year from March to May in 2021. The weather in Las Vegas provides a little respite to the visitors from the scorching heat of the Mojave desert sun during this phase. You will find July to be the hottest month for Las vegas when you check the historic weather conditions online.
The good news is the city started operating as normal from first June 2021, similar to the pre-pandemic era. There are of course restrictions for those who are partially vaccinated. However, fully vaccinated visitors can let go of their masks in public areas. What can you expect on your next visit?
Casinos and Hotels
Precautionary Measures
Nevada Gaming Board permitted resuming operations to many casinos from May 2021. It was primarily because of the high workforce vaccination rates. The rest saw the seizure of the social distancing and eighty percent occupancy mandate from 1st June.
Some of the prominent properties like MGM Resorts and the Wyn are allowing their fully vaccinated employees to forgo the mask. It is also worth mentioning that some of the casinos' offer of COVID-19 tests to tourists is still in place. They are continuing employee vaccination clinics on-site.
New Addition
The development of the new resorts continued even in the pandemic. Circa is the city's first adults-only premium casino to open in October 2020. The resort has a swanky vintage decor with seven hundred and seventy-seven rooms. It also has the largest sports booking stadium in the world.
The old Hard Rock Hotel got a new replacement in the form of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The mammoth three thousand and five hundred rooms Resorts World Las Vegas opened in June 2021. It has an Asian-themed food hall that spans over twenty-four thousand square feet.
Bars and Restaurants
Precautionary Measures
The bars and restaurants went back to the pre-pandemic operational procedures from 1st June 2021. Although the mask rule may vary, the diners who are not fully vaccinated may need to wear it while walking around.
The digital menus and the touchless services are still prevalent that the hospitality sector took up during the pandemic. The first poolside ordering system via mobile of Sin City saw the daylight due to the MGM Resorts Las Vegas. You can order for delivery to your daybed or lounge too.
New Addition
The classic Las Vegas buffets are back. This time they are even bigger and better. Cosmopolitan Las Vegas saw the reopening of Wicked Spoon in March 2021. South Point had the reopening of Garden Buffet shortly after.
A redesign worth a few million dollars took place at the venue of the Caesars Palace's iconic Bacchanal Buffet. The menu also saw an upgrade with the addition of thirty new dishes. Circus Buffet and the MGM Grand Buffet are open too.
The party season will kick back again to full throttle with the return of the Cromwell' Drai's Nightclub. The gripping lineup of DJs will surely grab your attention at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino's Daylight Beach.
You can also enjoy the industry night parties again at Caesars Palace's Omnia Nightclub and MGM Grand's Hakkasan Nightclub.
Entertainment
Precautionary Measures
The Las Vegas entertainment industry resumed operations in October 2020 with a few names. It is primarily because of the capacity restrictions which were in play till June 2021.
The Venetian Las Vegas's Australian vocal quartet Human Nature, Wynn Las Vegas's Le Rêve, and the Rio's Chippendales are long-running productions that are planning to resume. Some have even started teasing with a few return posters.
New Addition
There are new food offerings at Area 15 and emoji pool, an upside-down room at the Museum of Selfies at the Linq Promenade. With the addition of new virtual reality games and in-demand crane machines at the iconic midway, Circus Circus debuted in the space.
Hence, as you can see, Las Vegas is offering many new things as it preps for the new season. You can check out the above before you make your plans to Sin City after the pandemic. Although most of the places are adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC's guidelines, you should be cautious during your trip.
