Las Vegas Hotels Are Experimenting With Midweek Closures to Get Through the Pandemic

Whatever happens in Las Vegas might have to happen on the weekend for now.

A growing number of Las Vegas Strip hotels are instituting midweek closures as they wait out the pandemic.

Starting Nov. 9, the Park MGM, previously known as the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, plans to close from noon on Mondays until noon on Thursdays through December, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing an email sent to hotel staff. The NoMad, a high-end boutique hotel that sits on top of the Park MGM, will remain open, as will the Park MGM's casino, pool, and restaurants, the outlet reported.

Last month, Wynn Resorts instituted a similar midweek closure at its Encore property, the Las-Vegas Review-Journal reported.

In July, the all-suites Palazzo hotel, owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, stopped accepting weekday reservations. That practice will change to accommodate the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's holidays, a spokesperson told the paper.

The Las Vegas Strip hasn't been immune to the struggles facing hotel operators during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as borders have slammed shut, conferences have been canceled, and travel has come close to a standstill.

Many hotels on the Strip and elsewhere have tried to adapt by positioning themselves as ideal escapes for remote work. At its Bellagio and Aria properties, MGM Resorts launched the Viva Las Office program, which includes perks like a dedicated executive assistant and the opportunity to work from a poolside cabana.

That offering and others like it face stiff competition, though, as hotels and municipalities around the world, from Aruba to the Maldives, try to attract remote workers to their empty rooms.

Meena Thiruvengadam is a Travel + Leisure contributor who has visited 50 countries on six continents and 47 U.S. states. She loves historic plaques, wandering new streets, and walking on beaches. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.