Vegas visitation for Labor Day looks flat

Lisa Snedeker

Friday, Aug. 31, 2001 | 11:10 a.m.

The number of visitors expected for the Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas remains flat, making experts' predictions of a growth slowdown on the Strip ring true.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority estimates 269,000 visitors -- the same as 2000 -- will come to the city for the three-day holiday weekend.

Overall visitor numbers for the year are on pace to edge last year's record, said Kevin Bagger, senior researcher for the authority.

"The first six months of the year visitation was up 1.2 percent compared to last year," he said.

Economists blame the near stagnant numbers on the suspension of the megaresorts building boom. The city has just 4,419 more hotel rooms this year than last year's inventory of 121,664. And no new Strip resorts are on the horizon for at least two years.

"A fairly significant increase in hotel rooms means an increase in visitors," Bagger said.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Business and Economic Research center director Keith Schwer expects a slowdown in growth for the next two years, but added that hotel occupancy rates should remain at 90 percent or better, with the number of area visitors -- some 30.6 million in 1999 -- topping 36 million in 2001.

That might prove true if the record 275,000 visitors who hit the Strip over the July Fourth holiday to gamble, dine and shop is any indication.

The record was despite a poor economy, the California power crisis and rising gas prices, Bagger said.

Non-gaming revenue for the Labor Day weekend is estimated at $179.3 million compared with $157.2 million in 2000.

MGM MIRAGE, the largest owner of Strip hotel-casinos, was sold out for the weekend on Thursday, spokesman Alan Feldman said.

"In addition to the holiday weekend, we have Madonna adding to the excitement," he said referring to the Material Girl's two sold-out shows at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Most Las Vegas hotel rooms fill up for three-day weekends, Feldman added.

"It's very unusual to find an available room," he said.

McCarran International Airport is expecting about 400,000 passengers to pass through its gates Thursday through Monday, said Hilarie Grey, airport spokeswoman.

"This is Las Vegas and Labor Day is one of the busier holidays for us," she said. "We're expecting a good crowd, but we don't expect any records."

AAA Nevada, however, is reporting a record number of Nevadans will be traveling to Utah or California for the weekend.