'The prospects for summer look increasingly positive - with vaccination levels increasing and plenty of pent-up demand from people looking to put the pandemic behind them,' Jonathan Day, an associate professor of hospitality and tourism management at Purdue University, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Industry watchers say Las Vegas casino operators still face pandemic-related challenges, but the operating environment today is much better than where Las Vegas stood just weeks ago. After delaying its opening twice, the off-Strip property opened March 25.

LAS VEGAS - Opening a new casino resort during a pandemic isn't ideal, but Virgin Hotels Las Vegas may have found a sweet spot with the timing of its launch.