Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

I'm glad you posted this Detroit - there's more on Steve's blog:

http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2007/10/breaking-mgm-mirage-reservation-system.html

Personally, I find this stuff very interesting since I'm a computer nerd by trade. Any time you have fully integrated systems, you have the potential for one part to take down an entire system.

We heard about this sorta havoc when WLV opened. The difference there was that it was due to Wynn Resorts using many 'best-of-breed' sub-applications and attempting to tie them together and on top of that, do it with a very high number of keys compared to what the software was deployed against before.

Now, Wynn Resorts probably expected some teething pain and they got through it - now they have a modern system instead of the kind of AS/400 crap that runs most large hotel and casino back of house apps.

The OPERA system that MGM uses is from MICROS, the leader in hospitality management and restaurant software and POS (point of sale, not piece of shit, though I'm sure some guests are wondering).

I'm glad Friess is covering the story.

Posted by BillyInLasVegas

They've only been using Opera since September so it's interesting that it's crashed now.

Posted by DavidF

Hunter, AFAIK, Wynn also uses OPERA, its interesting that according to the Steve Freiss, all this started when NYNY was migrated, looks like someone didn�t do their hardware planning properly

With this and other IT Issues that have taken place with MGM this year, if heads have not rolled already then surely its a matter of time.

Completely unrelated Steve Wynn gets a mention in the NY Post Page Six Today.... (Although I feel I am opening Pandora's box by posting the link, I do so anyway without comment)

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10212007/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm

The Book mentioned is not due to be released until March 2008, it looks like it will be interesting...

Posted by detroit1051

DavidF, that is fascinating. I've already marked the calendar for March. Christina Binkley used to be the primary gaming writer for the WSJ, but she's on other assignments now. Of course, she's absolutely right about Kerkorian's takeover of Mirage Resorts. Steve has either learned his lesson about running a company, or he has been very lucky because of Macau and his one property in Vegas that he can fine tune as he sees fit. When Encore opens and Macau expands to Cotai as well as adding the Diamond Suites to Wynn Macau, will he still be able to keep on top of everything? Management depth is still a concern at Wynn Resorts in my opinion.

Posted by detroit1051

Today's RJ reports the res system problem started Saturday and was fixed early Tuesday afternoon. That's a long time to get it right.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/10761221.html

Today's RJ has some unfortunate, if not unexpected, news regarding Crown Las Vegas. The developers have resubmitted a plan dramatically lowering the tower's height to 1,150 feet. That's still pretty tall, but I was one who was rooting for the original 1,888 ft. plan.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/10761231.html

Posted by DavidF

Has anyone else noticed that the Bellagio website has undergone a total redesign?

The site itself is not as fancy/flash as it used to be from a web design perspective, but there is a lot more information on there now, especially on the high end rooms.

It's a good thing we checked into Bellagio on Saturday. We had no wait and a painless check-in. I wondered why the lobby was a madhouse on Sunday and Monday.

The renovated suites in the main tower look great by the way. Much more tasteful decor than the original, IMO.

They've done away with the armoires that used to hold TVs and replaced them with cabinets or dressers holding flat panel HDTV's. For anyone who cares there are also slightly oversize true HDTVs with full remotes in the bathrooms.

Posted by detroit1051

DavidF, Wow! Bellagio did an excellent job, imo. I like the expanded information on the full gamut of suites. The site wouldn't have been updated if Bellagio weren't well along on the main tower suite renovations. I noticed in the photos of the Bellagio Suite, the decor looks much better than the Spa Tower one I stayed in last year. Are Spa Tower suites also being renovated?
I always wanted to stay in a Grand Lakeview suite, but I could never get it comped, and I'm sure the rate would be well out of my range.
As much as I like Wynn, Bellagio's new website makes me want to make reservations today. Wynn's website has been a disappointment, and I'm surprised it has never been revised since the property opened.
I see Shintaro is still listed. The photo of the booth by the stairs is where we ate last time. I like the restaurant. Too bad it's going away.
Thanks again, David.

I wonder if poor Sheldon feels left out on that book? :)

Hopefully Bellagio's new site is a sign of things to come. I'm tired of the cheesy descriptions, thumbnail-sized pictures that only leave you with more questions, and a general lack of information in hopes of enticing you to walk through the door. Like Detroit said, Bellagio's new site makes me *want* to make a reservation there.

I was surprised to find out they put the villas on the site - that's sorta a taboo on high end hotel Web sites to include the highest end rooms.

Posted by Michael Lu

Bellagio's new site looks pretty cool. Anybody notice that Mandalay Bay is now offering 2 new suites on their site? One of them is a Vista Suite and the other is the Media Suite. I'm not too sure, but I think the Vista Suite is the same thing as the SkyView Suite that's supposed to be available this month. Both of the new suites looks pretty good.

More on the Bellagio fiasco:

http://jordanayan.typepad.com/email_marketing/2007/10/when-vegas-has-.html

http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2007/10/mgm-mirage-nightmare-continues.html

Posted by detroit1051

The rich get richer:
"THE HOUSE WINS
October 25, 2007 -- WHEN they say the odds are stacked against you, they don't lie. In the 45 days since the Forbes 400 list came out, gambling shares have soared, as has the net worth of the top three casino moguls on the list of America's wealthiest. Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands owner who opened the Venetian Macau in August, gained $7.4 million an hour, the magazine reports. Forbes added $8 bil lion to put Adelson's net worth at $36 billion. Kirk Kerkorian, owner of the MGM Mirage, is $2 billion richer and worth $20 billion. Steve Wynn, of Wynn Resorts, was bumped up $800 million to $4.7 billion."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10252007/gossip/pagesix/the_house_wins.htm

If a friendly reader is in Las Vegas at the moment or will be this weekend, I need a favor.

If you're up for it, email me: hunter AT ratevegas DOT com

Posted by detroit1051

Mark D, I want you to know how much I appreciate all your photos on skyscraperpage.com in both the CityCenter and Las Vegas sites. They are spectacular, especially the recent ones of CityCenter with Bellagio's fountains in the foreground and of Wynn and Encore with the sun glistening off Wynn.

Posted by detroit1051

Mike E's Skylofts butlers:
http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2007/10/27/news/doc4722bb0a5461d111496247.txt

Interesting find, Detroit.

I sometimes search through the job listings of casinos because you can occasionally get a hint of things to come such as a new restaurant, nightclubs, etc. I consistently see jobs with titles like "Butler - Villa Service" or "Butler - The Mansion" and it really doesn't surprise me. Being a waiter at a top restaurant is a difficult profession to achieve. Same goes for a sommelier or heading a housekeeping department. For a butler to have all these skills down to a science while providing the utmost in professional service is really remarkable.

Posted by DavidF

Interesting article Detroit and thanks for the link.

However it bemuses me, IMHO the article gives the stereotypical impression with Butlers that you have an older �Jeeves� type person at your service, and while that may be the case with the Mansion/Villas type accommodations, the Skylofts Butler staff, which the article focuses on, I have found the be anything but.

In fact as I sit here and think about it, in three stays I don�t think I have had a butler that wasn�t in their 20�s/early 30�s. Not that is a bad thing, in fact one of the things I love about the place is that all the staff have the great ability to read you and speak/work with you on your level, I want to have fun in Vegas (don�t we all!!) and I want to be relaxed with the staff and not take life too seriously and I can do that perfectly there

With having Breakfast at the Mansion the last trip I can now see why some High Rollers prefer the Skylofts, while I am glad I did it, I found the place very formal�

Which you should hear about should I ever pull my finger out of my *&%$# and finish my TR��