LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Some Las Vegas clubs and pools are set to reopen in March after months of closures and restrictions caused by state mandates and restrictions due to COVID-19.
OMNIA at Caesars Palace hotel-casino and Wet Republic at MGM Grand will open March 5. Liquid Pool Lounge at ARIA will reopen March 12.
RELATED: Hakkasan Group announces reopening of OMNIA, Wet Republic and Liquid Lounge
"I think they're providing that hope and people can return to work and people can start doing what they love to do," said Paul Nicholls, a longtime event producer and nightclub consultant.
"I work with different nightclubs and help them run their nightlife operations," added Nicholls.
Nicholls points out he does not currently work for or represent any Las Vegas clubs that have announced reopening plans.
RELATED: Vegas reopening: Shows, clubs that have announced their return
Nicholls says the unprecedented pressure on properties and clubs to close amid COVID concerns is beginning to loosen and that is welcomed by an industry that has been batted by layoffs.
Nicholls predicts there will be a considerable time before most of the bartenders, servers, hosts, security and other staff will fully return to work.
"It won't be all at once," said Nicholls.
On Tuesday, Hakkasan Group announced reopenings of some of their venues, specifically OMNIA at Caesars Palace with strict social distancing and rigorous cleaning plans in place.
"These clubs are designed with certain flow in mind, with security in mind, with spacing in mind where these tables are placed, they're all designed that way to ensure maximum safety," explained Nicholls.
The safety extends to the pools too.
Wet Republic Ultra Pool Lounge at MGM Grand is set to open on March 5.
The venue will be an extension of the resort's current pool footprint which is expected to help with anticipated summer crowds and social distancing.
Advanced reservations are required and no general admission is allowed when the venue opens in March.
Liquid Pool Lounge at Aria is set to open on March 12 and will feature a combination of health and safety protocols, plus touch-less menu systems and scannable QR codes to keep guest contact to a minimum.
"I think these day clubs make perfect sense," said Nicholls. "They are outside, number one, you have a breeze blowing, you have open air."
Nicholls says it will be far from business-as-usual for the venues, but it will begin to generate revenue.
The clubs and their customers represent millions of dollars for resort properties and their offerings are part of the Las Vegas experience that keeps people coming from all over the world.
RELATED: Las Vegas clubs bring in millions, regulators crack down on sex, drugs, and danger
The venue openings were made possible through Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's directive 37 which can be found and reviewed here.
RELATED: Gov. Steve Sisolak announces timeline for reopening Nevada
