<TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=0 width=607 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle colSpan=2>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Building boom may be over
Posted:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Oct5, 2009 3:01 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT> Oct 5, 2009 03:01 PM EDT
Updated:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Oct5, 2009 3:01 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT> Oct 5, 2009 03:01 PM EDT
Thousands of people are in town for the Pack Expo convention, which means a little extra business for taxi drivers like Michael Belky.
"Conventions like this are good," he says. "Even though it's a smaller convention, it's still good."
Drivers say business in Las Vegas has dropped over the last year, but they're doing what they can to get by.
And they say that's the overall strategy in town right now.
"The promotion people try to do the best they can, get better packages, so the whole world can come and enjoy," says driver Ben Pricha.
It's not like in years past when building newer and bigger resorts was key.
"Personally I believe it's not City Center," says driver Rene Mesa. "It's the people coming to City Center. You can have the building. If people don't come, it's nothing."
That's why a number of new resort projects like Echelon have stalled.
In a Wall Street Journal article over the weekend, several casino executives said they don't expect any major expansions in the next decade.
The chief executive of Sands said "I'm already fulfilled in Las Vegas. I don't see the need for any more."
The chief executive of MGM Mirage said "The old model has been thrown out the window".
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Posted:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Oct5, 2009 3:01 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT> Oct 5, 2009 03:01 PM EDT
Updated:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Oct5, 2009 3:01 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT> Oct 5, 2009 03:01 PM EDT
Thousands of people are in town for the Pack Expo convention, which means a little extra business for taxi drivers like Michael Belky.
"Conventions like this are good," he says. "Even though it's a smaller convention, it's still good."
Drivers say business in Las Vegas has dropped over the last year, but they're doing what they can to get by.
And they say that's the overall strategy in town right now.
"The promotion people try to do the best they can, get better packages, so the whole world can come and enjoy," says driver Ben Pricha.
It's not like in years past when building newer and bigger resorts was key.
"Personally I believe it's not City Center," says driver Rene Mesa. "It's the people coming to City Center. You can have the building. If people don't come, it's nothing."
That's why a number of new resort projects like Echelon have stalled.
In a Wall Street Journal article over the weekend, several casino executives said they don't expect any major expansions in the next decade.
The chief executive of Sands said "I'm already fulfilled in Las Vegas. I don't see the need for any more."
The chief executive of MGM Mirage said "The old model has been thrown out the window".
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