MGM Resorts Closes All Las Vegas Properties Effective March 17

MGM Resorts International just announced that it will temporarily suspend operations at its Las Vegas properties on Tuesday, March 17. Casino operations will close on Monday, March 16, followed by hotel operations, says Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts in a press statement.

”As the coronavirus pandemic has intensified in the United States over the past week, the people of MGM Resorts have worked to try to find a way to continue delivering high quality hospitality and entertainment experiences for our guests while keeping our employees doing the jobs they love in a safe environment. Welcoming people from around the world is what we do, and our employees have tremendous pride in their work.

“Despite our commitment to dedicating additional resources for cleaning and promoting good health, while making difficult decisions to close certain aspects of our operations, it is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression.

“Accordingly, we will close all of our Las Vegas properties as of Tuesday, March 17, for the good of our employees, guests and communities. This is a time of uncertainty across our country and the globe and we must all do our part to curtail the spread of this virus. We will plan to reopen our resorts as soon as it safe to do so and we will continue to support our employees, guests, and communities in every way that we can during this period of closure.”

MGM Resorts will not be taking reservations for arrivals before May 1, but that situation may change.

On Saturday, MGM Resorts announced plans to close dozens of restaurants at its properties that include Aria, the Bellagio, Park MGM, MGM Grand, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Vdara, NoMad Hotel, Signature by MGM, Delano, New York-New York, Mirage, and the Park. Already one employee at Wet Republic Ultra Lounge at the MGM Grand and another at the Luxor tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, and the number of cases in Nevada climbed to 26.

Last Tuesday, the company announced that all seven of its buffets will temporarily close on Sunday, March 15. All nightclubs and pools temporarily closed as well.

Major chefs affected include Wolfgang Puck with Spago at the Bellagio, Lupo at Mandalay Bay, and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand; Joël Robuchon’s two restaurants at the MGM Grand; Roy Choi’s Best Friend at the Park MGM; NoMad Restaurant and NoMad Bar at the NoMad Hotel; Tom Colicchio with Heritage Steak at the Mirage and his steakhouse at the MGM Grand; Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken at Border Grill at Mandalay Bay; and Michael Mina’s four-restaurants at MGM resorts.

Readers, you can send tips on restaurants temporarily closing, new delivery offers, deals for F&B pros, and any other intel to the Eater Vegas tipline at vegas@eater.com.

• MGM Resorts Cuts Restaurant and Bar Hours at More Than 150 Outlets Across the Strip [ELV]

• MGM Resorts Closes Buffets as Precautionary Measure [ELV]

• Wet Republic Temporarily Closes After Health Department Investigates Coronavirus Case [ELV]

• How Coronavirus Is Affecting Las Vegas Food and Restaurants [ELV]