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![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/author-logo-lg-88x88.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe comeback story of the off-Strip Rio has been building momentum in recent months, but has not been without challenges.<\/p>\n
As Rio faces some business headwinds, the resort has laid off about 30 manager-level employees over the last couple of weeks and there have been a number of departures by top executives in the past few months.<\/p>\n
This does not, however, appear to be \u201cFontainebleau Part Deux.\u201d We\u2019ve got all the details.<\/p>\n Fontainebleau made the wrong kind of headlines when a slew of high-ranking executives were fired or quit<\/a> before and after the resort opened. The reason was reportedly chaos, internal conflicts and copious head-butting. (We should know, we reported it.)<\/p>\n The executive churn at Fontainebleau has quieted as cooler heads have prevailed, the resort got a seasoned President, Maurice Wooden, and also parted ways with a key contributor<\/a> (a\/k\/a shit-stirrer) to the turmoil.<\/p>\n Rio\u2019s recent manager lay-offs do not appear to stem from a toxic culture, but rather business reality and over-staffing.<\/p>\n We asked Rio about the 30 managers let go, and received this official response: \u201cWe proactively expanded our workforce while taking over operations from Caesars Entertainment in Q4 2023. As the resort undergoes extensive construction and remodeling, we now have a better understanding of the staffing levels Rio Las Vegas needs to provide guest service and operational efficiency. We deeply appreciate the unwavering commitment and diligence of all our team members and extend our heartfelt gratitude to those directly affected by the adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n First, let us say Rio\u2019s transparency is rare and refreshing in Las Vegas, even with the requisite massaging of the message. Nobody likes laying people off and nobody wants their dirty laundry aired.<\/p>\n Second, we poked around for more drama, but could find none. We would cue the sad trombone, but it\u2019s already in use for the people laid off.<\/p>\n Rio is basically dealing with the post-Caesars operations takeover and getting real about the resort\u2019s current business levels.<\/p>\n Rio is going to have its job cut out for it for the foreseeable future, as the casino\u2019s new owner and operator, Dreamscape, has to overcome several years of a declining public perception of the resort due to the neglect of its tenant. It made no sense for Caesars Entertainment to invest in the resort when it didn\u2019t own it and was handing off operations to Dreamscape. Dreamscape bought Rio in 2019, but Caesars continued to operate it. The operations hand-over happened on Oct. 2, 2023.<\/p>\n It\u2019s no coincidence the manager-level layoffs are happening in the summer, as seasonal slowness is no doubt playing a part in the disappointing business results. Typical summers are slow enough, but in recent weeks, Las Vegas has consistently hit temperatures comparable to that of the average pottery kiln.<\/p>\n Beyond the recent layoffs, it\u2019s also worth noting Rio has lost a number of top executives since it took over the reins of the resort from Caesars.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/rio_marquee_close.jpg\"\/)
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