TURKEY DAY GETAWAY
Since her mother died last year, Californian Laura Rains hasn't felt like celebrating a traditional Thanksgiving.
So, instead of visiting her father and sister in Texas, Rains will spend the holiday weekend in Las Vegas. It's her second Vegas turkey day in three years and, because her ex-husband spends every other Thanksgiving with their 11-year-old daughter, she says it won't be her last.
Rains is but one of thousands who make the trek to Las Vegas during the Thanksgiving weekend, forgoing the traditional holiday home-cooked meal in favor of the modern idea of letting someone else do all the hard work.
And though it's not one of the city's top 10 weekends for visitation, it's also not in the bottom 10, says Terry Jacinsky, senior vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Occupancy rate percentages average in the low 90s, he says.
The November and December holidays have always been a slower period in Las Vegas, sort of the calm before the storm of New Year's Eve. But in recent years, resorts have been putting out a Thanksgiving welcome mat for visitors.
This year the convention authority launched the first of its kind pre-Christmas shopping promotion in surrounding markets, Jacinsky says. It was done in response to feedback from hotel representatives who thought there was a need for such ads to promote the Thanksgiving weekend, he explains.
Restaurants have joined buffets in offering traditional Thanksgiving menus, and more attention has been given to scheduling solid entertainment, says Suzanne Trout, vice president of marketing for Harrah's, Flamingo and Imperial Palace.
At one time, shows went dark during the winter holidays as visitation was so low, Trout says. Now, some Strip shows are not only open, they sometimes put touches of the holidays into performances.
Bette Midler is scheduled to perform this weekend at Caesars Palace, while Donny and Marie Osmond will be at the Flamingo. The brother and sister duo plan to incorporate some holiday themes into their show from Tuesday through Dec. 20, Trout says. "Legends in Concert" at Harrah's will offer a holiday version of the impressionist show Dec. 15-30.
"We've seen Thanksgiving really grow over the years," Trout says. "Just like with all holidays, we see more people making travel plans, family and extended families meeting here."
But locals learned long ago that it was easier, and in many instances cheaper, to let the resorts handle their Thanksgiving spreads.
"It is a huge day at all Station Casino properties," says spokeswoman Lori Nelson. "For several years, our restaurants have created special menus and also to-go packages, primarily for locals who want a traditional Thanksgiving dinner but don't want the mess of cleaning up."
One measure of Thanksgiving's popularity has been the increase in the number of restaurants that offer a traditional meal, Nelson says.
In the past, it was a buffet thing; now everything from steakhouses to Italian restaurants have a turkey meal. Every price point is available, starting at about $10.
Cost is a major draw for some people; Vegas is simply cheaper to visit during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Last year, room rates averaged $118 a night. Texan Joanne Madge, who plans to spend Thanksgiving here, booked a seven-night stay at the Rio for about $540.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of spending the holiday here, Madge says, is that you don't have to recognize Thanksgiving if you don't want to.
"Las Vegas is a great place to come if you want to celebrate, but it's also a great place to come if you don't want to celebrate," she says.
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.
• Where to eat THANKSGIVING BY THE NUMBERS Casinos have been prepping for Thanksgiving since last year, resort representatives say. They have to, as the holiday requires thousands of pounds of food to feed thousands of visitors and locals. Here is Vegas Thanksgiving by the numbers: Station Casinos anticipate serving 20,000 pounds of turkey; 8,000 pounds of stuffing; 3,500 pounds of cranberry sauce; 12,000 pounds of mashed potatoes; 8,000 pounds of candied yams; 2,600 gallons of turkey gravy and 9,000 pounds of green beans. MGM Grand will prepare 2,000 pounds of turkey breast meat and 1,500 pounds of dark meat; 1,600 pounds of stuffing; 40 gallons of cranberry sauce; 2,200 pounds of mashed potatoes; 80 whole hams with the bone in; 1,800 pounds of green beans; 120 gallons of gravy; 1,200 pumpkin pies and 800 pecan pies. Harrah's will prepare 125 turkeys; 1,000 pounds of potatoes; 850 pounds of stuffing; 100 gallons of turkey gravy; 320 pumpkin pies; 20 gallons of homemade cranberry relish and 75 gallons of fresh homemade whipped cream.
