Las Vegas Challenge: 7 Buffets in 24 Hours

Harrah's Offers Las Vegas Guests Unlimited Visits to Seven Casino Buffets for $29.99
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
April 15, 2010—

Forget three square meals a day. In Las Vegas, where everything is bigger and some might say better, you can now get seven. Imagine starting your day with unlimited omelets, baked ham, sausage and waffles and then moving on to pizza and rotisserie chicken for lunch, maybe some sushi or prime rib for an afternoon snack and then Alaskan crab legs, Kung Pao chicken, turkey and lamb for dinner. Finish the day off with a midnight ice cream sundae, slice of cheesecake and some apple pie... or just more pizza. Thanks to a new Vegas special you can eat all those dishes and so much more in just one day, on one tab. Meet the "Buffet of Buffets." Casino giant Harrah's just introduced the deal where for $29.99 anybody can have unlimited access seven of its Las Vegas buffets in a 24-hour period. Guests can have breakfast at Caesars Palace, brunch at the Flamingo, an early lunch at the Imperial Palace, a late lunch at Paris Las Vegas and then dinner at Planet Hollywood or the Rio or both. You get the point. Strap on a wristband and gorge yourself silly for 24 hours.

The promotion started Monday morning and so far the response has exceeded casino executives' expectations, according Michael Weaver, vice president of marketing for Harrah's Entertainment. Harrah's estimated that 200 people a day would take the company up on the offer. By noon of the first day, 715 people had already purchased the 24-hour pass. "The response is significantly higher than we through it would be, blindingly higher than we thought it would be," Weaver said. "It was a little like drinking water out of a fire hose."

Las Vegas Buffets Offer Too Much Food?

That such a deal has materialized in Vegas, known for its offers of excess in virtually every human vice, is not surprising. But in a country already overflowing with overweight people, some health experts suggest the invitation to gorge might not be a wise idea.

"The only thing missing is, like they had in ancient Rome, a vomitorium," said Keith Ayoob, director of the nutrition clinic at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "This is basically a challenge to eat until you are nauseous."

Ayoob said the overeating could limit participation in other vacation pastimes.

"You can go to buffets seven times in a day, but it clearly doesn't leave time for a romantic vacation," Ayoob added. "Basically you are choosing food over sex."

He said that for anybody trying to manage weight or health, this is just a bad idea.

"What happens in Vegas is going to stay with you a lot longer," Ayoob said.

The only way to manage buffets, he said, is to either avoid them or go in with an idea of what you're going to eat ahead of time. Also consider focusing on the expensive items you might not normally try, such as fresh berries for dessert. And remember: you have eaten before and you will eat again, so it's OK to pass on some things.

"Basically all hell breaks loose in the buffet line. People are not accustomed to having so many choices of everything they like to eat," Ayoob said.

Weaver acknowledged the Buffet of Buffets this is not exactly the healthiest promotion, but said the offer is in keeping with the city's allure.

"I don't think in Las Vegas we have ever considered ourselves the sort of city that helps Americans to be better human beings," Weaver said. "We are, however, a city that's committed to helping people have fun. For the 72 hours that they're here, they can enjoy things that they do get to enjoy the other 362 days a year."

Is Harrah's Casino Buffet Deal a Bargain?

The all-day-buffet pass is not a new idea. The Excalibur already has a $29 deal offering guests the opportunity to eat all they want, all day long at the buffet. But the Harrah's deal is the first to combine so many buffet options.

The deal could be a good value for some tourists, even if they're not planning to eat at all seven casinos. For instance, dinner alone at Le Village Buffet at the Paris costs $24.99. An extra $5 adds breakfast, lunch or just a snack. (The only Harrah's-owned buffet not included is the Village Seafood Buffet at the Rio, which costs $38.)

Weaver said the company expects guests to visit about three buffets. He said it's really something to brag about when you get home, a good vacation story. Most Las Vegas visitors visit five to seven casinos. This promotion helps Harrah's make those casinos its own instead of the those owned by its competition. The company is even offering the 24-hour pass as part of a hotel package.

For Ayoob, this is just too much. "Sin city doesn't always refer to illegal behavior," he said. "It can also refer to sinful eating habits."

Copyright © 2010 ABC News Internet Ventures

Quote: pacomartin

Harrah's estimated that 200 people a day would take the company up on the offer. By noon of the first day, 715 people had already purchased the 24-hour pass. "The response is significantly higher than we through it would be..."

Talk about underestimating the appeal of an offer!

Quote: pacomartin

Weaver said the company expects guests to visit about three buffets.

A statistic that would be more interesting would be how many people purchase it and the number of times they used it.

And do they gorge at every buffet they visit, or do they eat far more sensibly, but simply at buffets rather than restaurants?



Personally, I can see myself going for this, and utilizing it four times: Late lunch, late dinner, breakfast, then late lunch about 23:45 after purchasing it in first place. But I can also see myself only making one or two trips thru the line at each visit, so when it's all said and done, I'm not eating much more than I would have it was simple a single buffet trip.

I love how they always have these Ayoob types standing by to tell people that you shouldn't do anything or eat too much or this or that. Yes, I should just eat moss and hide in my house all day and I'll live to be 150 and have no unhealthy habits. Please. First, because you can come and go, You are less likely to "gorge" yourself and more likely to eat sensibly because you know you can come back if you are full, rather than having to pay again. It's much healthier to have a few smaller meals than go to a buffet knowing you can only eat until you leave. He is disingenuous as a nutrition expert for not pointing that out in the article. And let's not pretend that all you can eat 24/7 without paying extra is some kind of new idea. The cruise industry has been using this model for decades. I also love how he only mentions romance as a potential loss in this arrangement. As if eating is the only bad thing you can do in Vegas. By that logic, cruises wouldn't be romantic at all...you can eat anything 24/7!!

I agree that you will try and come back, rather than make one meal last all day.

The only problem I see with the 7 buffet idea, is that the buffets do not have an exotic item that would make you want to sample several of them. I would think that you would just want to go to Ceasars and eat all your meals there. They would have a problem with overcrowding.

It would make more sense if the buffet concept was combined with either a bonus or qualification for some jackpot for using your Reward Card at all 7 casinos in one day. It would keep the customer wandering over Harrah Land instead of crossing the street to gamble at the Bellagio.

I think it is great idea. Contrary to what the quoted nutrition expert says, I don't think most people will take it as a challenge to eat seven different buffets in one day. Rather, it is just a convenient way to eat a few wherever you want to. If you have access to the good ones like Planet Hollywood and Rio, there is no reason to go to the ordinary ones as well. There are still plenty of people who overindulge at the buffets, but that will happen with or without this idea.

Keith Ayoob should look up "vomitorium" in the dictionaty.

Price Change
1. Where can I purchase an all-inclusive citywide buffet pass?
Passes can only be purchased at the cashier stands at any of the participating buffets. Participating buffets are:

* Harrah's Las Vegas: Flavors
* Flamingo: Paradise Garden Buffet
* Imperial Palace: Emperor's Buffet
* Paris: Le Village Buffet
* Rio: Carnival World Buffet
* Caesars Palace: Lago Buffet
* Planet Hollywood: Spice Market Buffet

2. How much does an all-inclusive citywide buffet pass cost and how long is it good for?
An all-inclusive citywide buffet pass is $34.99 + tax for Total Rewards members and their companions under 21 years of age, $39.99 + tax for guests who are not Total Rewards members. The pass is good for 24 hours from the time of initial purchase.

3. Why was the Buffet of Buffets pass price changed?
During our initial test period, the response from our guests was overwhelming. The Buffet of Buffets proved so popular that it made it challenging to maintain reasonable wait times. In order to ensure that our guests receive the level of service they expect and deserve, we adjusted the price to better manage the demand for the Buffet of Buffets pass.
===========================================

I'm still a little surprised that the Ceasars buffet is still included. I would think there would be a problem with seating.

Quote: Wizard

I think it is great idea. Contrary to what the quoted nutrition expert says, I don't think most people will take it as a challenge to eat seven different buffets in one day. Rather, it is just a convenient way to eat a few wherever you want to. If you have access to the good ones like Planet Hollywood and Rio, there is no reason to go to the ordinary ones as well. There are still plenty of people who overindulge at the buffets, but that will happen with or without this idea.

Rio has an amazing seafood buffet. not sure if its everyday or just on the weekends. a bit of a steep pricetag but you do get some quality seafood and a lot of it so its pretty easy to get your moneys worth.

Quote: rudeboyoi

Rio has an amazing seafood buffet. not sure if its everyday or just on the weekends. a bit of a steep pricetag but you do get some quality seafood and a lot of it so its pretty easy to get your moneys worth.

Rio has TWO Buffets. The one with the seafood is not part of this program:

Quote: pacomartin

(The only Harrah's-owned buffet not included is the Village Seafood Buffet at the Rio, which costs $38.)

Quote: pacomartin

Participating buffets are:

* Harrah's Las Vegas: Flavors
* Flamingo: Paradise Garden Buffet
* Imperial Palace: Emperor's Buffet
* Paris: Le Village Buffet
* Rio: Carnival World Buffet
* Caesars Palace: Lago Buffet
* Planet Hollywood: Spice Market Buffet

I would love to see the MGM resorts match this.