LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — There has been lots of talk on social media about a decline in visitors to Las Vegas, and possible reasons why.
But a new report from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows there is a slowing trend. But officials remain optimistic.
“When you do real math, Las Vegas is a bargain,” Said LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill. The city of luck is running short on visitors. That’s according to a new report from the LVCVA.
It says visitor volume in July decreased 12 percent year over year, with a little more than three million people coming to the city. “We’re going through a downturn, and we’re not happy to be going through a downturn,” said Hill.
From parking costs to resort fees and even one hotel being accused of charging $26 for a water bottle, many believe Vegas is losing its shine because it’s too expensive. Steve Hill disagrees.
“The idea that generally Las Vegas is not a value, that it is overpriced, I don’t think our customers are doing math when they are concerned about a specific issue. They’re expressing concern about that specific topic that tends to then move into a narrative around Las Vegas is expensive, or Las Vegas is not a value. But if you actually do the math on that, that’s not accurate,” said Hill.
And he says Las Vegas continues to be a competitive market. Some operators on the strip have even eliminated those parking and resort fees, something Hill says is a good way to bring in more visitors.
“But once they’re coming, the properties battle to get them to stay at their place. To get them to eat in their restaurants, to get them to experience what they are offering at their properties. And that competition is beneficial for everybody involved. And you’re seeing that take place and it works,” said Hill.
The LVCVA report also shows hotel occupancy decreased in July, down more than seven percent from this time last year. But Hill says there is some light at the end of the tunnel. “We’re going to start to see, they feel some improvement as we work through the fall and into the winter. They feel like December is going to be strong,” said Hill.
And despite what the numbers show, Hill says it’s clear that “value” is important to customers and remains a big part of the Las Vegas narrative.
“Well, I’m going to bet on Vegas, and I think everybody out there legitimately would. Those reports draw our headlines, draw eyeballs, but everybody knows Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world. We still are. We’re all confident in the future of this city,” said Hill.
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