Visitreno

BC Dave · Site Admin Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 1594

While on the serious side, I thought I'd mention this: Apparently the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority thinks we're geting our Reno rooms too cheaply. See http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20061128/BUSINESS/111280075 for details. The RSCVA gets most of it's budget from room taxes. It's mandate is to drum up tourist business for Reno. If Reno room rates go up guess who gets a bigger budget? But do higher room rates make any sense in a town that's lost more that a few hotel-casinos?

If there is any bit of plausibility to this idea, I wish they would have thought of it before we lost the Mapes, Comstock, Pioneer Inn, Flamingo, etc. I can hear the advise to the hotel operators now. "Just jack up the off season and mid-week rates, guys, and prosperity is just around the corner!"

I fell for Reno more than twenty years ago and the place sold itself for me. (Without the help of a Visitors Authority). I have related to my friends and others of the great deals I have gotten on rooms, food, and drinks while in Reno. I'm sure I've drummed up some business for Reno. No need to thank me RSCVA!

BC Dave

stan_allen · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 1129

Wow, you've really got to hand it to these guys for being so brazen...

Their thinking must be going something along these lines: "Jeez, the casino-hotels have cut back on staff, room upgrades, maintenance, food quality, drink service, and all kinds of things, and yet they're not pulling in as much money as they should be - these people should be paying more for these terrific bargains we're offering! Let's raise rates, and still make people think they're getting a good deal."

I could go on, but it's too depressing.

Dave · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 212

I can honestly say that really struck a cord when I saw those comments. I think that is absolutely absurd! Did the thought ever enter their mind that people actually come to Reno for the low room rates so they can actually spend more money on gaming and entertainment? I have a large group of friends that go down to Reno (from Washington state) for different sporting events twice to three times a year. If in fact the hotel's raise their room rates to be comparable to Las Vegas where do you think my friends would rather go? Sorry to burst Ellen's bubble but they would all pick Vegas. Don't get me wrong I love Reno and always have. I am not all that old (though sometimes I feel it!) and I have watched the Comstock, Sundowner, Riverboat and Golden Phoenix all close down.Who will be next? It just absolutely blows me away that they really think raising room rates is a good idea for Reno. While it makes me sad I guess I at least now know why Reno is going the direction it is with people like Ellen making decisions like that.

Her Email address is: eoppenheim@rscva.com
I am sure she would like your feedback or if you think it is a good idea. I know she is getting some feedback from me. Have a great weekened gang!
Dave

Yo Man · Joined: 17 Dec 2005 Posts: 80 Location: Portland, Oregon

Just Brilliant! Raise the room rates that sure will increase tourism and occupancy in the Casino Hotels. Something is really screwy with the Casino industry. Years ago when (Hush) the Mob ran the joints, rooms, booze and food were always cheap. Still somebody was making bales of money. Look at most of the prices of a Casino Buffet today, $20 Bucks, have they lost their collective minds?

How do I tell my local friends that they can join me on a great get-a-way and spend the weekend in Reno. Rooms $19 per night, breakfast $.49 cents and dinner at the buffet for $4.95. Yeah..........right.

If you want to see ridiculous look at the cost of rooms in Las Vegas, and the Cost of Shows. Good Luck finding a room or a Show for $100. The place is packed and for a rotten Bush economy, a awful lot of people have money. Go Figure..................

YoMan over and out...............

alison · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 1150

yeah cheap room rates are one of the great things about reno. My attitude is I would rather save my money on the room to spend it on gambling. What are they thinking?

misterd51 · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 57

I am old school and still love Reno, even with 4 Indian Casino within less then an hours drive.

However I can sure see why so many of my friends are voting with their money at the Indian Casinos. What with Reno, cutting back on their comps fewer drinks at the sports book, slow cocktail service most of the time. More tables going to 6-5 payout on B.J., eliminating the one single 0 Roulette table. Higher priced meals and buffets. I am sure if Reno will just start charging more for their rooms it will entice them right back up their.

Hey guys and gals how are you getting other peoples quotes to show up in the enclosed block, when you reply to something they said or asked?

Best of luck to all,

misterd
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misterd

alison · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 1150

misterd51 · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 57

[quote="alison"

You use the little quote link thats in the upper corner of the persons quote you want to use. You take out whatever you dont want[/quote]

Thanks
_________________
misterd

alison · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 1150

you also have to include the name of the person you are quoting at the end of the quote=

Mammothgambler · Joined: 25 Dec 2005 Posts: 619

This is really something. This is just my opinion of course, but I don't think it will really help to raise the rates. I agree with some of the others here that I'd rather have the cheap rates and spend all that extra money on gambling or food or sporting events or other things. But how can you do that if the rates get so high you have no money for anything else? What are we supposed to do, just go to sit around and do nothing? (I can do that at home.)

One of the things that attracts me to Reno is the "cheapness" (I don't mean that in a bad way of course!) For example, on my upcoming trip next month, I decided to stay at the Peppermill for the weekend to avoid the $300-500 per night weekend rates at Harrahs and Harveys and Montbleu in Tahoe are charging. (Yes, they really are running that high for the "outsiders" that have none or little comps there like I do, and those rates are supposed "Hot Deals", no telling what the rack rate is...) I got 2 nights in an Imperial Suite at the Pep for under $350 on a weekend when a room/suite like this would cost probably triple that in Tahoe or Vegas. Just staying in Reno for those 2 days is giving me extra cash to fund my lift tickets for the whole following week and alot more food and gambling, and I'm getting a big fat room that I wouldn't be able to even dream about getting in Tahoe or Vegas.

I just can't see spending greater amounts of money to stay in Reno. Although many of the nicer places probably could charge more, in my eye, if they go this route, all the people in the "tourism group they're trying to help" aren't going to do anything but flock to Vegas or Tahoe.

remano · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 717

Hey, Fla, where'r ya skiing/riding those days? If you want to check out Northstar for a day, I'll pick you up and take you there. Send me an email, mxashley@hotmail.com.

Dave · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 212

Well here is Ellen's reply to my Email. Feel free to translate for me Remano!
Confused

I appreciate your input about the average daily rate (ADR) charged by lodging facilities in Reno-Tahoe. While rates are the decision of individual lodging facilities, the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority has a significant stake in the success of regional tourism. As you read in the Reno Gazette-Journal, I am an advocate for increased overall ADR and would like to share the reasons why I believe that would be of benefit to our destination.

Las Vegas casino operators have broken away from the traditional casino model that assumes that lodging, food and beverage and entertainment must be loss leaders to draw gamers. Over the last decade, Las Vegas casino operators have successfully converted their hotel properties into new streams of revenue and the interesting part is that visitor volume and gaming revenues are at an all-time high.

Las Vegas is flourishing under a new and very compelling model that provides casino operators more revenue to reinvest in their properties and visitor amenities. While Reno-Tahoe and Las Vegas offer very different visitor experiences, all destinations need to reinvest in their tourism offerings to remain competitive. If Reno-Tahoe is to continue to appeal to travelers, reinvestment is essential. Increased ADR is a viable option for hotel operators to generate revenue to reinvest, ensuring that visitors will enjoy our offerings into the future.

When the RSCVA examined the ADR in competitive meeting and convention markets, we found that Reno-Tahoe’s is by far the lowest – rating $16 to $56 lower than nine other competitive destinations. Similar to the way you may question the cheapest set of tires at the auto store, we have some indications that travelers perceive that our quality is inferior. Potential travelers who equate cost with quality are receiving the wrong message.

Low rates appeal to travelers on a limited budget, but the local economy benefits most from those with discretionary income to spend on recreation, restaurants, gaming, shopping and other activities that contribute to the entire tax base. While we welcome and appreciate all travelers, we have an obligation to think strategically and pragmatically. I believe that we need to place less emphasis on the lowest tier of budget travelers and place more emphasis on visitors with higher discretionary spending.

In addition to hampering reinvestment and creating a false perception amongst travelers, our low ADR has deterred national business-brand hotels from entering the marketplace because it is difficult to make an acceptable return on investment on average rates of $66.83. Of particular importance to convention and meeting attendees, the addition of several business-brand hotels would contribute to the RSCVA’s ability to attract meeting and convention business because the national brands attract loyal travelers and they do a lot of complementary national advertising.

Lastly, because the RSCVA is funded by a portion of the hotel room sales tax, an increase in ADR, while maintaining or growing occupancy, would also provide the organization with more resources to market the destination regionally, nationally and internationally. With all of the choices available to travelers and meeting planners, it’s important for the RSCVA to have all the resources it needs to compete. Our ability to compete is important not only to the RSCVA, it’s important to the nearly 40,000 local residents who work in Washoe County’s leisure and hospitality industry. Of the 15 largest employers in Washoe County, eight are hotel-casinos and one in five members of the workforce are in the leisure and hospitality industry. We want to ensure that Reno-Tahoe’s tourism revenues remain healthy into the future and increased resources would contribute to that effort.

If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact Knud Svendsen, the RSCVA vice president of sales and marketing, at ksvendsen@rscva.com or 775-827-7742.

Best Regards,

Ellen Oppenheim

Ryder · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 222

I wonder how many times she has had to cut and paste that reply

john · Site Admin Joined: 17 Dec 2005 Posts: 1181

RenoLady · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 316

What she says makes sense ONLY if the hotels do indeed put the extra revenue back into the hotel amenities. Folks will pay more, if they get more.