Las Vegas continues to evolve, with billions of dollars being spent on the development of new world-class venues in recent years. In 2023, occupied room nights, as well as total occupancy (83.5%), continued to lag 2019 performance; however, like gaming revenue, the market’s ADR ($191.29) and RevPAR ($159.73) for 2023 reached record levels for the second year in a row. This article examines the latest trends and developments that are relevant to the Las Vegas casino and hotel markets.
Las Vegas’s 38.8 million total visitors in 2022 was roughly 91.3% of 2019 levels and only 4.1 million below the peak number of visitors in 2016. Gaming revenue for Clark County in 2022 was $12.8 billion, a new record for the market. Statistics from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reflect 43.6 million total occupied room nights for Las Vegas in 2022, 20.6% more than in 2021. This article examines the latest trends and developments relevant to the Las Vegas hospitality market.
The number of visitors to Las Vegas exceeded 32.2 million in 2021, which was 10.7 million below the peak number of visitors in 2016. However, gaming revenue in Clark County in 2021 was $11.5 billion, which was approximately $600 million above the prior peak achieved in 2007. Occupied rooms in Las Vegas grew 70.7% in 2021, compared to 2020, from 21.2 million to 36.2 million; total occupancy for the year was 66.8%.
The Las Vegas market benefited from pent-up demand, government stimulus checks, limited international travel options, increased vaccination rates, and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions during the first half of 2021. However, major COVID-19 metrics notably surged during the summer, and indoor masking rules have been reimplemented in Clark County.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Las Vegas economy has been extremely harsh given the market’s reliance on visitation and conventions. Following five consecutive years of accommodating more than 42 million visitors, Las Vegas hosted just over 19 million people in 2020 (the lowest number of visitors since 18.1 million in 1989). Continued weak performance is anticipated through the first half of 2021.
Nevada began its emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown on May 9, 2020, after Nevada’s Governor Steve Sisolak authorized certain businesses, including restaurants and retail establishments, to reopen with limitations. Nevada’s casinos were allowed to reopen on June 4, 2020, with restrictions. This article provides an update of the status of the Las Vegas market since Nevada’s casinos were allowed to reopen.
Governor Sisolak authorized certain businesses, including restaurants, barbershops, hair salons, and most retail businesses, to reopen with limitations beginning May 9, 2020, and Nevada began its emergence from the pandemic shutdown. Nevada’s casinos were allowed to reopen on June 4, 2020, with restrictions. While the pandemic is far from over, this article examines some of the differences observed in casinos in the Las Vegas market since reopening and what has been learned thus far.
Three U.S. major professional sports teams—the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League, Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League—are based in Las Vegas. The importance of sporting events for the Las Vegas market extends beyond serving as the home for these professional teams. The return of sports will contribute to Las Vegas’ eventual recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the three years preceding the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Las Vegas had entered a cycle of new development after the prolonged recovery from the 2008 Great Recession. The ongoing construction of major demand generators throughout the closure period is important to the eventual recovery of the Las Vegas market. This article summarizes the available information regarding the status of major tourism-related projects in the Las Vegas market.
Visitors to Las Vegas increased (over 39,700,000 in 2012), exceeding 2007’s previous record. Clark County annual gaming revenue also increased in 2012 as the industry continues its modest recovery, and the lodging market exhibited positive trends.