tourism:

Las Vegas sees 10 percent drop in visitors

Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 | 11:20 a.m.

Strip gaming win lowest in five years

Headlines from the Vegas gaming industry

The number of visitors to Las Vegas in November dropped nearly 10 percent compared to a year ago, according to numbers released today by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The LVCVA reported that 2,821,629 people visited the city in November, which is down from 3,129,508 visitors in November 2007. Hotel occupancy suffered, falling from about 87 percent to about 79 percent in the past year.

The average daily room rate fell more than 8 percent, from $118.45 to $108.80, the LVCVA reported. The number of room nights in November fell to about 3.27 million, a decrease of 6 percent.

Convention attendance fell 16.4 percent year-over-year, dropping from 602,605 visitors in November 2007 to 503,545 this past November. The number of conventions and meetings in Las Vegas declined nearly 14 percent.

Traffic at McCarran International Airport also took a tumble. The LVCVA reported that Las Vegas had about 3.2 million air passengers deplane or board an aircraft, which is down 14.7 percent from November 2007.

Traffic on all major Las Vegas area highways was down 5.5 percent, while traffic at the California line on Interstate 15 had fallen 4.4 percent, the LVCVA said.

Las Vegas had 34,741,853 visitors through the first 11 months of last year, down from 36,120,930 visitors during the same time in 2007.

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

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By stevem

Jan. 9, 2009

11:54 a.m.

Suggest removal

Shocker.
By jfnance32

Jan. 9, 2009

12:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

These numbers are much better than what I thought.

I was expecting a 20% drop.

We might get another 10% drop this year despite Obama spending a trillion dollars.

All that bailout crap will not help much. It will just matters worse in the long run with higher interest rates eventually because of it.
By azsk8fan

Jan. 9, 2009

12:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

Well really now, what did they expect - aside from the few whales what average joe american has the kind of money it takes to just eat and sleep here anymore? And that's all BEFORE they even get to the casino floor.
By jldour

Jan. 9, 2009

4:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

One of my previous mangers used to tell me it would be nice to sell a few cases at a million dollars each of product, but the reality is you need to sell 300,000 cases at $10.00. Las Vegas is trying to sell the million dollar cases. It should be obvious to the casino owners that they need volume and they won't get that with tight machines and high rates for rooms and meals. Unfortuntaly, those running the casinos are the typical corprate SOB's that want every stinking dollar they can get. I'm afraid that the days of casinos being run by people who understand gaming, giving people a fair shake, instead of a shake down are forever gone.
It really is a shame. I used to love going to Vegas.
By stevem

Jan. 9, 2009

4:54 p.m.

Suggest removal

i was down at the strip today.

i think these numbers are fluffed UP to make the LVCVA look good or something or to put "lipstick on a pig".

even with CES in town, it is DEAD down on the strip.

it's GOT to be way more than 10% we are missing.
By RPJ

Jan. 9, 2009

5:15 p.m.

Suggest removal

The "average Joe" can't afford $110 for a nice hotel room? Are you kidding? Check prices at other resort destinations and see what a comparable room costs. Freakin' Disneyland is getting $250 a night, average!

I don't get why everyone is so hung up on never-ending growth. I'd rather serve 20 million mid-to-high end travellers than 40 million and counting low tippers.