Encore Casino to open on December 22

The resort will open at 8 p.m., three days before Christmas, with 775,000 sqm of casino space, five restaurants, 11 retail outlets, a nightclub and a luxury spa. On Wednesday, Encore began selling tickets for entertainer Danny Gans, who will perform in the resort’s theater beginning February 10.

Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Bill Lerner doesn’t think Encore’s opening will grow the market in an environment hampered by a slow economy and reduced consumer spending. On the Strip, gaming revenues have declined more than 6 % in 2008 through September.

Lerner said Encore will probably take some business from Wynn Las Vegas and draw customers from neighboring Strip resorts. But he doubts Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn will hold back on the property’s grand opening extravaganza.

“It’s not going to change the way he opens the property,” Lerner said. “There won’t be discounted rates or reduced price points. If you do that, it’s tough to get them back when the market improves.” Lerner said Wynn Resorts will see some operating efficiencies from Encore. Since it’s attached to the 2,700-room Wynn Las Vegas, the properties will share back-of-the-house operations. “Service levels will still be beyond expectations,” Lerner said.

During Wynn Resort’s quarterly earnings conference call October 30, Wynn gave away a few details about Encore, such as the large glass windows that allow casino customers to look out onto the resort’s grounds. “It’s the prettiest thing we’ve ever done,” Wynn said. “If that sounds like developerspeak, it is.” According to the Encore Web site, hotel room rates start at roughly us$ 320 a night for midweek.

The company started a national advertising campaign for the resort. A television commercial features Wynn sitting atop Encore and is airing on CNBC, FOX News, CNN and Bloomberg Television, as well as locally on Fox stations in San Diego, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

The commercial is similar to television spot that aired in April 2005 for the opening of Wynn Las Vegas. In addition, the Wynn Resorts released a nearly minute-and-a-half long spot on YouTube.com that shows the making of the Encore commercial.