What Happens in Vegas Stays…On Zoom?
Allegiant Air promotes remote work-play jaunts as the city’s hotel occupancy remains low
While Las Vegas hotels like Ballys are opening, many of the city’s properties remain underused and empty.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air wants to change that by luring travelers who would otherwise be working remotely to work and play in the city that is struggling to stay open amidst rising COVID-19 rates around the country, renewed mask requirements and stringent cleaning and touchless protocols.
USA Today reports that the airline, on its second quarter investment call, has teased the new promotion for package deals for air and hotel accommodations at rock bottom rates designed to get a new type of business traveler into their seats.
Scott DeAngelo, the airline’s chief marketing officer, told analysts on the airline’s earnings call Wednesday, “The business traveler paying on the corporate card is now giving way to the individual travelers paying their own way to work remote, but away from home.”
On July 2, Allegiant began making masks mandatory “on all phases of travel” with the airline. Customers are also notified ahead of time when the aircraft is 65 percent filled. The airline operates low cost flights from cities like Cincinnati and Phoenix to its hub in Las Vegas. Recent flights have been as low as $24 one way (not including extras or baggage fees).
The idea of repurposing vacant hotel rooms as work spaces for lockdown-weary travelers is not new. CNN recently reported that scores of hotels are promoting the trend, including New York’s InterContinental Times Square which has set aside 20 percent of its 607 rooms as office space available for $1,000 per week.
