The Tropicana has issues

But the Tropicana's negotiations with the union may be a sign of deeper problems at the Strip resort. Plans for a major redevelopment were put on indefinite hold long ago. There is an out-of-order escalator and other signs of the property's run-down condition obvious to any visitor.

And, over the past days, the Culinary Union has gone public to the Las Vegas Sun producing employees who in addition to other complaints say they were asked to wait a couple of days to cash their paychecks. The company denies the allegations. If true, this would be a shocking request from a Strip resort.  And right now the Culinary Union employees have a better record for honesty.

Consider that gaming columnist Jeff Simpson has chastised Nevada regulators for not being more active in examining whether the parent company, Columbia Sussex, should even be able to keep a gaming license. In the widely discussed column, Simpson argued:

"Despite Columbia Sussex’s recently being stripped of the Tropicana Atlantic City’s gaming license, and the company’s earlier decision to abandon Tropicana’s former sister property in Missouri because Show Me State regulators made it clear Columbia Sussex wouldn’t get licensed, Nevada regulators have not taken action against the company. New Jersey regulators said Columbia Sussex executives defied the regulatory process and lacked good character, honesty and integrity. "

The Tropicana apparently bought a full-page advertisement in the Review-Journal to deny the allegations of the Culinary Union and in Simpson's column. Simpson responded to that with another column:

So, bottom line: how does this impact you if you are taking a vacation and considering staying at the Tropicana? 

In December, before this latest round of problems, I had heard so many stories about problems at the Tropicana that I spent a night there to see how it is for guests. I wrote an item about the experience for the Buffet. I found the Trop to be a typical run-down older property, but no worse than, say, the Sahara. Of course, the Sahara is getting renovated.

So, I would suggest you consider a stay at Tropicana only if you get a very good bargain, and/or you are someone who just wants a bed to crash in while enjoying Vegas.  I found that while the Tropicana was not a great or even a good place to spend the night, the place is still adequate.  And there is the Bodies exhibit.

(Photo by Sarah Gerke)