Ice Valley

How to play Ice Valley

The LVCVA launched the “Vegas 5-Day Sale” last year in response to growing public sentiment that Las Vegas no longer provided value and that resorts were focused on nickel-and-diming customers. Many on social media criticized the tourism agency’s efforts as “too little, too late.”

The LVCVA, however, seemingly found the campaign successful, returning the five-day sales event this year.

Vegas is where travelers come to trade the expected for the unforgettable. The ‘Vegas 5-Day Sale’ gives visitors even more reasons to book the trip they have been talking about, whether that means checking into an iconic resort, seeing a favorite artist live, celebrating a milestone, or simply making a little room for spontaneity,” said Kate Wik, chief marketing officer at the LVCVA.

How to play Ice Valley

Many top gaming stocks have underperformed relative to the broader market in recent years, and most of the M&A activity has been facilitated by private equity and other institutions that can more readily capitalise on depressed valuations. There had been hope that rates would start to fall and help alleviate those pressures.

“Publicly traded valuations are a reflection of the current interest rate environment,” Chad Beynon, lead gaming analyst for Macquarie, told iGB. “Whether it’s a long-term financial model on a growth company, you’re going to discount that back at a higher rate, or if it’s just a standard four-wall business, the cash flows in a higher interest rate environment are worth less.”

According to data from Yahoo Finance, the resort and casino sector is -41% over the last five years, and the overall gambling sector, which includes major sportsbooks and online operators, is +7%; the benchmark S&P 500 index, by comparison, is +71% during that span.

How to play Ice Valley

“One misconception is that DEI is solely about recruitment targets,” Skinner says. “Recruitment is important, but bringing diverse people into an organisation without creating an inclusive culture simply results in higher turnover.”

He nevertheless believes recruitment is still the bigger challenge over retention.

“The gaming industry operates in a highly competitive talent market, particularly for digital, technology, data, AI and product roles,” he says.