URComped CEO, Craig Shacklett, interviews Hard Rock Lake Tahoe's Executive Director of Casino Marketing, Eric Barbaro, to discuss the reopening of Hard Rock Casino Lake Tahoe, what changes they're implementing due to the pandemic, and what makes Hard Rock Lake Tahoe special.
Click here to listen to podcast version.
Hard Rock, Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place close to everybody's heart and just reopened on June 4th along with many other Nevada casinos. According to Executive Director of Casino Marketing, Eric Barbaro, the Casino has had an amazing recovery that has exceeded their expectations.
Why Lake Tahoe? (1:33-2:23)
Lake Tahoe is known to be an outdoorsy location. From skiing and snowboarding throughout the beautiful mountains in the wintertime to incredible hiking trails and lake activities in the summertime, this destination is all any property could ask for. The amenities that nature adds are hard to compete with along with the vast history of the area.
"Our strategy and motto has been Tahoe days and Hard Rock nights. And we continue to see that motto work," says Eric Barbaro
Hard Rock's Brand (2:30-4:46)
In January of 2020, Hard Rock Lake Taho celebrated its 5 year anniversary since its multi-million dollar remodel. This property has been in existence for a long time. Many famous musicians have played within that building years ago, such as Elvis Presley. This is another niche about the Hard Rock brand.
Hard Rock isn't like a Caesars or an MGM but instead is independently owned underneath Hard Rock International. All of the brand messaging is derived from this parent company, but properties do not cross share their database. For example, Hard Rock, Fort Lauderdale, does not own the Hard Rock, Lake Tahoe, therefore offers come independently from the property vs. the brand. That is why URComped has stepped in to open up the doors for new customers to try out Hard Rock Lake Tahoe.
What changes has Hard Rock, Lake Tahoe implemented due to the pandemic? (6:09-8:24)
Because of the pandemic, all casinos are having to make changes in order to prevent COVID-19. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's gaming floor is huge so they didn't really have to remove many games and machines off the floor. They have been keeping social distancing in mind with following the CDC rules as well as the Gaming Control Regulations in order to open which is similar to what you'd see at other Nevada Casinos.
- Table games went from six seats to three seats.
- They are capping their property at 50% occupancy.
- Slot machines sitting next to individuals or parties are turned off. ( So you and your traveling companion can sit next to each other)
Because Hard Rock is known to be a little edgy, their marketing team has been very clever with their signage. For example, one of their signs says "No Mosh Pits Please." Hard Rock Lake Tahoe also had the opportunity to touch up some of their areas during the closure. They are excited for players to see the new changes.
What is it about Hard Rock Lake Tahoe that appeals to guests? (8:40-10:03)
The Tahoe experience is so unique to what a customer would experience somewhere like Vegas. People highly enjoy the natural beauty of Tahoe and the fact that they can work through the casino property to customize their trip whether that's renting a boat, running a fishing charter, renting bikes, or getting a package deal. Hard Rock, Lake Tahoe sells the fact that they have the largest pool, in terms of the lake, along with every amenity and experience that comes with that.
To go further, within walking distance of the Hard Rock is the Heavenly Village which is a great shopping area. You could not only walk to the Lake from Hard rock, but also rent a car to drive around the lake.
"Driving around the lake is one of the most beautiful drives you'll have in your life," says Craig Shacklett.
How do you get to Hard Rock, Lake Tahoe? (10:47-12:04)
Normally people would fly into Reno Airport, which is actually a very small airport in comparison to San Diego. There are new stretches of highway that make it a lot faster transit from the airport to the property than in the past. It normally takes about a 45-50 minute drive from the airport to the Hard Rock Doors. There is a fairly cheap shuttle service called "Tahoe Airporter" that will drop you right off at Hard Rock's entrance which runs all day. Barbaro also states that they see a big bulk of customers who drive there as well.
How did Eric Barbaro get to Hard Rock? (12:55-15:11)
Eric Barbaro is originally from Brooklyn, NY. His father had been in the casino industry for over 20 years, so as Eric was just finishing up school, he started out working at the front desk of Treasure Island for MGM Resorts International. After seeing what happened on 9/11, this New York Native decided to join the military. He listed as an M1 Tank Crewman and was attached to 11th ACR out of Fort Irwin, CA. He did that for the entirety of his 6-year enlistment.
Once he got out, the Mirage had saved a position for him within the Casino Marketing Department as a Coordinator. From there he became a Casino host at the Mirage Bellagio. Next, he became the VP of Casino Marketing at the Tropicana under the Yemenidjian family. After transitioning to Penn National Gaming, he stayed on board with them for a couple of years where he then moved from Station Casino's Red Rock to Lake Tahoe where him and his family thought best to raise their son.
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