Today’s casino resorts are not our grandparents’ gaming resorts, and the options for creating a memorable vacation that incorporates gaming but also extends far beyond the casino continue to grow. In fact, interest in gaming is only going up, with the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority noting that in 2022, the average gaming budget per visit was $761, well above pre-pandemic levels when gaming budgets averaged under $600. To gain insight on how casino resorts cater to Boomers, we reached out to two key players: MGM Resorts Internationaland California’s Pechanga Resort Casino.
MGM Resorts International
“The Boomer traveler is an active, vibrant and engaged consumer who enjoys gaming experiences and unique food & beverage offerings,” says Lee Ann Benavidez, v.p., distribution partnerships and transient sales strategy for MGM Resorts International. “We also provide a diverse range of entertainment offerings and spas, among other amenities that cater to guests of all demographics. Our goal is to deliver a seamless and accessible experience that makes the travel experience comfortable for all. We pride ourselves on our luxurious accommodations and world-class
guest service.”
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She says Las Vegas, where MGM Resorts International has a plethora of resorts, including ParkMGM, Luxor, Mandalay Bay and Bellagio, among a host of others, “has evolved into an entertainment mecca. Gaming, sports and entertainment offer travel advisors the opportunity to create unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for visitors.”
MGM Resorts International works closely with travel advisors, and Benavidez encourages travel partners to contact the hotel company atluxuryreservations@mgmresorts.com “to get the best possible experience for their clients.” There’s also a dedicated Social Groups Team to assist with booking small groups who wish to celebrate those special life moments such as birthdays, family reunions, bachelor and bachelorette parties, etc. That team can be reached at socialgroups@mgmresorts.com.
“With our wide range of event venues and room accommodations to the incredible collection of restaurants and entertainment offerings, all situated within easy reach of all MGM Resorts properties, we continue to be an ever-evolving destination that offers something new to experience with each visit.” And in terms of gaming itself, she points out, MGM Resorts International’s properties “have a variety of games that appeal to everyone, from blackjack to poker and slot machines with popular TV shows and movies.”
Pechanga Resort Casino
“When you get to a certain age, you appreciate different things than you may have when you were 21,” says Tjeerd Brink, GM at Pechanga Resort Casino. “This is where a resort/casino, and one that’s away from the hustle and frenetic pace of a big city, can make for the perfect getaway. Travelers 60+ can mix together their perfect combination of gaming, award-winning dining, entertainment, golf, spa or just plain old rest and relaxation by checking into a luxury hotel room or suite. Resort/casinos offer the opportunity to do so much all in one place without having to worry about packing up every few days, stressing about catching trains or planes to the next destination on the list. It’s all right there.”
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Pechanga Resort Casino itself offers “a vast array of activities perfect for 60+ travelers, including an RV resort, a golf course, a spa, 12 restaurants, the 4.5-acre The Cove pool oasis and a massive 200,000-sq.-ft. casino. The casino space is larger than most you’ll find throughout the country, with 5,500 slot machines and 152 table games.” He adds, too, that from Pechanga Resort Casino, clients can visit the surrounding region, including wine tasting and vineyard tours in the Temecula Valley Wine Country.
He recommends travel advisors look into “stay and play” packages that include accommodations and activities at the resort or free play at the casino. “These packages,” he says, “often offer significant savings for the guest versus booking each separately.”
Brink adds that “Pechanga is always reinvesting back into the property to enhance the level of service and to make the amenities better each time they visit. That’s not something you used to see at casinos of the past. Pechanga and many casinos prove they are luxury destinations.”