Resorts World Las Vegas Partners with Grubhub
by David Klemt
Resorts World Las Vegas is foregoing traditional room service in favor of a unique, property-wide partnership with Grubhub.
The freshest, shiniest new resort and casino to open on the world-famous Strip is taking a different approach to in-room dining.
Impressively, guests can order from any of the property’s 40 food and beverage concepts. Yes, there are 40 restaurants and bars at Resorts World Las Vegas.
This resort-delivery platform partnership is a world first.
Las Vegas Emerges
The opening of Resorts World, which took place last Thursday, is significant for several reasons.
First, surviving a pandemic to open a $4-plus-billion resort and casino in Las Vegas in 2021 is no small feat.
Second, the gaming industry in Nevada was shut down for 15 months. To emerge from that and return to 100-percent capacity is a staggering achievement.
Third, this is the first new resort to open on the Strip in over a decade. For context, The Cosmopolitan opened at the end of 2010.
Fourth, Resorts World Las Vegas is being billed as the most technologically-advanced resort and casino in Las Vegas. Indeed, they make a great case for that claim: RFID-embedded chips at the gaming tables; cashless wagering; plans to accept cryptocurrency for wagers, rooms, and amenities; and the ability for guests to use mobile pay for just about everything on property.
World-first Partnership
So, that brings us to the Resorts World Las Vegas and Grubhub partnership.
Up until relatively recently, technological innovation was somewhat stagnant in the hospitality industry. Outside of POS, CRM, reservation, inventory, audio and visual advancements, other industries routinely surpassed ours in terms for tech.
Now, we’ve seen that tide begin to turn; tech companies are turning their attention more and more to foodservice, nightlife, and accommodation businesses.
Of course, one of the most-visible and most well-known applications of tech in our industry has been delivery platforms.
As stated previously, Resorts World Las Vegas features 40 F&B concepts. Via app or QR codes, guests can order from any of the concepts on property and opt for pickup or delivery. Further, they can choose to charge their orders to their rooms.
Additionally, guests at the resort pool can have orders delivered to touchless, QR-code-enabled lockers. Impressively, some Resorts World Las Vegas retail shops are available for orders via this Grubhub partnership.
Moving Forward
Clearly, news of this partnership isn’t relevant to all operators (not directly, anyway).
However, some operators will see a real-world benefit to this delivery/pick-up development. Doubtless, their wheels be turning as they consider what tech-driven partnerships they can develop.
For others, this will be a lesson in guest expectations.
Consumers are becoming more and more accustomed to convenience and selection. At this point, a consumer’s whims—particularly in the F&B and retail spaces—can be indulged with just a few taps on their phone.
Operators will need to identify where and how they can fulfill guest expectations for convenience, selection and personalization in their own businesses. For the most part, those who innovate will be those who thrive long-term.
Image: Resorts World Las Vegas