Despite Canceled CES, Tech Still Needs In-Person Events, MGM CEO Says

More than half the canceled Las Vegas conventions “have rebooked for future dates,” MGM Resort CEO Bill Hornbuckle said on a Q2 call Thursday. Those selling products, “whether it's CES or corporate America that comes here,” know they need to “get in front of people," he said. “If you think about the tech companies we host” at Mandalay Bay, the “vast majority” are into “selling something,” and “you've got to do that one-on-one,” he said. That’s why “they're anxious to return,” he said. That venue is where CES customarily holds its media day news conferences; the entire conference was canceled last week (see 2007280034). All MGM properties in Las Vegas are open except for the Mirage, Park MGM and NoMad, said Hornbuckle. COVID-19 "headlines" in Las Vegas “continue to have a meaningful impact on booking trends and cancellations,” he said. “Our visibility is limited to booking windows that are currently less than a week.”