MGM bringing back conventions with in-room testing, vaccine passport technology

Las Vegas Review-Journal

4 years ago

In this Aug. 3, 2015, file photo, a man rides his bike past the MGM Grand hotel and casino in L ... — In this Aug. 3, 2015, file photo, a man rides his bike past the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Vaccine supplies are laid out at a new site for COVID-19 vaccination at Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. Family members of MGM Resorts International employees and third-party employees, like entertainers at its shows, will be able to get vaccinated at the site. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Signs indicate the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a new site at Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. Family members of MGM Resorts International employees and third-party employees, like entertainers at its shows, will be able to get vaccinated at the site. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

One more Las Vegas resort is set to gain the ability to check select guests’ COVID-19 vaccination records.

MGM Resorts International said Wednesday that it is expanding its Convene With Confidence program, a health and safety plan meant to help reintroduce meetings and conventions to the company’s properties.

The program leverages biometric identity company Clear’s Health Pass, a mobile app that shows users’ various health insights, including temperature check results, COVID-19 test results and soon COVID-19 vaccination records. The app is also used to screen attendees with a health questionnaire before they enter a venue.

Clear has also partnered with Las Vegas Sands Corp. to help expedite the return of conventions with its Health Pass technology.

“We are confident we’ve built a program that enables companies to meet in person, giving them peace of mind as they do so,” MGM CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle said in a Wednesday news release.

The program, which launched in September, is also expanding its rapid COVID-19 testing and in-room testing options.

Meeting planners have the option for on-site rapid, molecular COVID-19 testing through Convene With Confidence. While the 20-minute tests had been in a pilot program for smaller groups, they can now be administered at scale for events of all sizes.

The program also updated its in-room COVID-19 testing options. All guests can now take part in the testing from Community Ambulance, which offers three types of tests with results coming in anywhere from 20 minutes to 72 hours. The program could help boost international travel to MGM properties since some countries require travelers show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before their arrival.

In-room testing prices vary from $140 to $230.

MGM also has partnered with Cue Health, which provides COVID-19 tests with results that connect to smart devices in about 20 minutes, and Impact Health, a health care services company that works with high-volume events, for Convene With Confidence.

The casino operator has hosted close to 300 meetings and groups since launching the Convene With Confidence program, according to the release.

MGM shares closed down 1.1 percent Wednesday to $41.09 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Sheldon Adelson, the late CEO and chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter.