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That translated on the tour and travel side to low rates. Then the new resorts opened and we had very strong years in ?╟ 99 and 2000 with the operators being able to sell the their rooms to other mar- ket segments ?╟÷ leisure and conventions, etcetera -I at higher ratesllif says she still ?╟úloves going to work every day, although as I get older I have to work harder on my body and mental attitude.?╟Ñ Working hard is part of Jerry Jackson?╟╓s life, and one that he relishes. Born crippled, Jackson overcame his disability to become a dancer on the ?╟úDanny Kaye Show?╟Ñ and assisted Hermes Pan, choreographer for Fred Astaire. He says he does ?╟úexhaustive research?╟Ñ when he choreo- graphs a particular dance style and will study with whomev- er is a master at it. ?╟úI want all of my choices to be based on authenticity. I think it?╟╓s that underlying substance that gives the show a longevity. In other words, it?╟╓s not just tits and feathers, which is exactly what I don?╟╓t want.?╟Ñ Jackson works with the cast in minute detail, talking to them about what was happening sociologically during a particular time period. ?╟úI want them to know why people behaved the way they did, why the costumes looked the way they did. I do a lot of research and a lot of thinking.?╟Ñ For instance, in a new7 finale he?╟╓s planning, ?╟úThe girls in these beautiful net negligees have many layers of netting for their headpieces. I?╟╓m doing a feather arrangement that is higher in the back and comes forward, almost in a fan shape, but subliminally, it?╟╓s a cockscomb. That?╟╓s empower- ing, so even though they?╟╓re in this very feminine attire, they still have a power image. Few people will know that, but they will sense it.?╟Ñ The show itself is full of energy with everything from a minuet to a raucous Can-Can to good oV fashioned rock ?╟ n?╟╓ roll. Since a fully-covered version of the revue was intro- duced, families now have a chance to see what has become a piece of Las Vegas history. The later show remains topless. Ginny Murphy, director of entertainment for the resort, summed it up well, when she said, ?╟úFolies Bergere is something that lives, like a plant. You keep watering it and nurturing it and it thrives. The cast keeps changing and every time a new cast member comes in, it brings new life to the show. ?╟úThere isn?╟╓t another show in the country that has had this kind of life. People from all over the country want to work in it. They come to Las Vegas just to work in our show. It?╟╓s a dream come true for them because everyone understands that the benchmark for entertainment in this country is Las Vegas. ?╟úThe show?╟╓s a success because it?╟╓s timeless and people realize they are seeing a part of history ?╟÷ and they take that memory home. It?╟╓s certainly part of the Tropicana?╟╓s identity. We?╟╓re very proud of that ?╟Ñ 00 _By Len Butcher PH: That drove up prices to the tour and travel people? i HM: The operators went to the wholesalers and said, ?╟úGuess what, gu||? You?╟╓re not going to get any more $29 and $39 rates. The question, as the market starts to soften a little, is: Will a cycle of lower tour and travel rates emerge? I think it may happen at some point, but it is still a little early to tell. It?╟╓s an important issue to keep an eye on for the market as a whole as some of these tour and travel companies* are being bought out by each other. PH: How big a tour and travel segment do you try to maintain? HM: About 30 percent and about 10 percent conventions. PH: What?╟╓s the Tropicana?╟╓s position relative to'the new coinless slot technology?^ HM: We do not intend to be on the cutting edge or to lead the effort to convert to coinldB games, but we are going to keep our eye! open and pay very close attention to what?╟╓s gong on in the marketplace so we can react :as quickly as possible. PH: You don?╟╓t think your visitor-based market$f the Tropicana is jumping at the chance to try them? HM: I do not yef have any indication that there is a willingness on the part of tourisfs to accept the technology. That?╟╓s why I?╟╓m very anxious to see what happens at some of the Strip properties that plan to install coinless systems. We would certainly like to take advantage of the savings associated With the use of coinless slots, but the fundamental question is customer acceptance. Before we makes changes this big, we want to be sure we are not taking anything away from the customer?╟╓||gaming experience. PH: What type bfXasino will probably give:Coinless games the most support mm HM: Conventional wisdom is that a local player, the more frequent gambler, is going to be more willing to accept them. I guess the experience at the Suneoast (a new Las Vegas casino) seems to show this is the case. PH: ipur background has g&en you the chance Jo spe the big difference in some m the gaming markets. HM: Yes, and there is an interesting parallel which has some application here.|It\s not exactly apples to apples, but... reworked in Atlantic City (as president of Harrah?╟╓s) where we introduced the self-serve comp kib&ks to the customers about six or seven years ago. Our experience was that customer almost immediately embraced that technology. When I came to Las Vegas (at Harrah?╟╓s Las Vegas), we tried the same thing and saw a much slower ramp-up. PH: Atlantic City is what ygu would consider a locals market?^. HM: That?╟╓ s true. There is a fundamental difference between a customer in a high frequency regional or local market who visits maybe a couple times a month and really values convenience and is much more into the game. Then there?╟╓s the recreational gambler who has a different attitude in many cases toward the casino experience. 00 October, 2009 Las Vegas Style 53