Las Vegas visitation continued to decline in August, but it wasn’t as bad as double-digit drops the previous two months. It marks the eighth consecutive month of visitation declines.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported a 6.7% drop in August compared to August 2024. For the year, visitation is down 7.8%, from 28 million to 25.8 million, a drop of 2.2 million. A slower convention segment during the month resulted in a decrease of 8% year-over-year, reflecting in part, the World Market Center’s summer show (38,000 attendees) appearing in July’s tally this year versus August of last year. There were 587,000 convention attendees.
Hotel occupancy of 77.5% was down 3.7 points and the average daily rate of $162 fell 7.4% year-over-year. That translated to monthly revenue per room of $126, down 11.7% year-over-year. Weekend hotel occupancy was 87.2%, down from 90.2% a year ago. Midweek occupancy was 72.2%, down from 76.9%. Strip occupancy was 81%, down from 84.5%. Downtown occupancy was 62.2%, down from 65.3%.
Strip average daily rates were $172.83, down from $186.06. Downtown rates were $90.15, down from $99.01. Revenue per room fell 11% on the Strip and fell by 13% at downtown properties.
There were several events that attracted visitors to Las Vegas in August.
The MSG Sphere hosted Backstreet Boys August 1st through August 24th and the Wizard of Oz August 28th through August 31st. The Las Vegas Raiders hosted the San Francisco 49ers on August 17th. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace hosted Kelly Clarkson on August 2nd and 3rd. All the remaining shows in August were cancelled due the death of her ex-husband.
Performing in concert at Dolby Live at Park MGM were Lenny Kravitz August 1st through August 9th and Bruno Mars August 22nd through August 31st. The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas theater played host to Boyz II Men August 8th through August 16th. Planet Hollywood hosted the Allstars of Magic at the V Theater August 2nd through the 29th. The PH Live Theater at Planet Hollywood hosted the Scorpions’ final two days of its residency “Coming Home to Las Vegas,” on August 21st and 23rd. Mandalay Bay hosted the Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil show all throughout August. Fontainebleau’s BleauLive Theater hosted Alabama Shakes on August 9th and hosted Toto, Christopher Cross, & Men at Work on August 23rd.
