Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas expecting a bigger holiday crowd this year

Number of visitors expected to be up 4.4 percent from last year

Las Vegas Strip

File Photo

A view of the Las Vegas Strip, which has suffered during the economic downturn.

Beyond the Sun

While many people are staying close to home for the holiday, thousands of travelers are making Las Vegas their destination for the Christmas weekend.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority expects about 260,000 visitors over the holiday weekend, up 4.4 percent from 249,000 visitors during the same weekend last year.

But much like most holiday weekends since the Great Recession took hold, visitors are expected to spend less on their Vegas vacation.

The estimated nongaming economic impact is projected at $143.9 million, a slight drop from $146.4 million last year.

Over the last holiday weekend, the longer, four-day Thanksgiving weekend, the LVCVA expected about 270,000 visitors with a nongaming impact of $160.7 million.

The LVCVA expects citywide hotel occupancy to hit 79.5 percent, almost flat with Christmas weekend 2009, primarily because of a 3.5 percent increase in rooms from last year, including the addition of the 2,995-room Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas that opened last week.

Las Vegas visitors will find some of the lowest room rates of the year around Christmas weekend as the holiday is typically a slow time for the city.

Travel and ticketing website Vegas.com, a sister company of the Las Vegas Sun, is advertising average daily room rates such as $169 at the Bellagio, $125 at MGM Grand and $105 at Mandalay Bay. Off the Strip, visitors will find prices such as $71 at the Hard Rock and $99 at the Palms.

At Las Vegas budget hotels, Vegas.com is offering rates including $44 at the Sahara, $45 at the Imperial Palace and $59 at Hooters.

Nationally, travel and auto club AAA projects 92.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday, a 3.1 percent increase from 2009. About 93 percent of them, or 85.7 million, will drive to their destinations.

In the Mountain West, which includes Nevada, the travel and auto club said more than 7 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday, a 2.4 percent increase from last year.

More than 6.5 million residents of the Mountain West will be traveling by automobile and 200,000 will take a plane to their destination, AAA said. Travel by motor vehicle in the Mountain West Region is up 2.5 percent from last year and air travel is up about 1.8 percent.

“The winter holidays are always a time for family and fun, which tends to push people to travel perhaps more than other major holidays,” AAA Nevada spokesperson Michael Geeser said. “Mountain West region residents are following the trends set over the past year. They’re telling us they plan on traveling, and they aren’t going to let the economy stop them.”

The Southern California branch of AAA, which includes California residents traveling to Las Vegas, expects about 7.2 million residents to take a trip of 50 miles or more during the Christmas-New Year travel period.

About 91 percent of those expected to travel during the holiday weekend will travel by car, while fewer than 300,000 travelers will get to their destination by plane, AAA said.

Las Vegas topped Southern California AAA’s list of the top destinations for end-of-year holiday travel, according to a survey of local agents. The Grand Canyon, Anaheim, San Diego and San Francisco rounded out the top five.

McCarran International Airport expects more than 1 million air travelers through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday, many of whom don’t often travel, so officials are encouraging travelers to adequately prepare of their trips.

“We see tens of thousands of people pass through our doors each and every day, but the holiday season tends to bring to McCarran many individuals who seldom fly and are sometimes uncomfortable with the overall airport experience,” Randall H. Walker, director of the Clark County Department of Aviation, said in a statement.

Officials especially recommend that infrequent flyers take time to prepare for airport security by visiting the websites of the Transportation Security Administration and the airport.

Officials also expect the airport’s long-term and valet parking lots to fill early. Parking should be available at the economy lot on Paradise Road, near Tropicana, and at the Remote Lot on Gilespie Street, near Warm Springs Road. But travelers using those lots should plan to arrive an extra half-hour early for the shuttle ride to the terminal.

Travelers can call McCarran’s parking office at 261-5122 for the most up-to-date parking information.

For those who don’t want to deal with hassle and cost of parking at McCarran, the Regional Transportation Commission is offering free rides for locals on its Westcliff Airport Express until Dec. 24. All locals need is valid Nevada I.D.

Sun reporter Kyle Hansen contributed to this report.

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