LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas is heading into a notoriously slow part of the tourism season and some properties have announced reduced offerings in the middle of the week citing sagging business.
On Friday, MGM Resorts International announced two key properties, Mandalay Bay and Mirage will shut down hotel operations from Monday through Thursdays starting Nov. 30.
RELATED: Mandalay Bay, Mirage to close hotels midweek while demand low
The company says the situation will be evaluated and does not expect the trend to continue past December.
"Historically mid week tends to bring a convention customer and those conventions are just nonexistent right now so it's absolutely no surprise to me that this is happening," said Financial Analyst Steve Budin.
Budin believes other resorts may following suit.
Encore, Planet Hollywood, and Park MGM have already scaled back to weekend-only hotel operations.
However, casinos and restaurants have remained open.
"This is actually not a surprise at all, every year, even when Las Vegas was booming, even when Las Vegas was setting visitation records, December is always the slowest month that's when room rates plunge, that's when everyone's trying to fill their places," said Anthony Curtis of LasVegasAdvisor.com
Curtis says the current slow down is not stopping Las Vegas from looking ahead post-pandemic.
Las Vegas headliner Donny Osmond will return to the strip for a residency at Harrah's starting in August 2021.
RELATED: Donny Osmond returns to Las Vegas with a solo residency
"The Osmonds were really a big hit while they were in Vegas," said Curtis.
" I'm sure everyone would like Donny and Marie but Donny works pretty well," added Curtis.
Comedy also returned after a months long pause at The Plaza in downtown Las Vegas.
Comedian Nick Di Paolo performed at the iconic showroom Friday evening.
Kevin Farley, brother of comic legend Chris Farley, is scheduled for shows on Dec. 4-5.
"They've had different types of productions in there over the years but comedy is the one thing that, if anything's gonna come back first, it's going to be comedy," said Curtis while explaining the current health guidelines.
"The last thing that's going to come back are the large scale shows, comedy is very small scale," added Curtis.
LIST: Shows, conventions returning to Las Vegas valley
Budin believes the next three days will usher in a lot of California visitors as curfews and COVID restrictions have tightened in the Golden State.
The Las Vegas Raiders are playing at home in Allegiant Stadium and taking on the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Fans will have to watch from afar as people are not allowed to watch the game from the building.
