Las Vegas may be known for big wins, but October 2024 didn’t quite hit the jackpot for tourism. Down 1.8% from last October, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). But don’t worry, Sin City’s overall tourism is still on pace to beat 2023 with 35 million visitors in the first 10 months, up 2.4%.
So, what’s behind this October dip? And what does it mean for the city’s tourism? Let’s get into it.
Why Were October Numbers Down?
Convention attendance was the main reason for the October decline. Down 12.7%. 559,200 people attended conventions in October vs. the same time last year. Part of this was due to events like TwitchCon which brought 30,000 visitors to Las Vegas in October 2023 and chose San Diego this year instead.
Hotel performance followed suit:
- Occupancy was down 2% to 85.7%, but weekend occupancy was up 1.1% to 94.6%.
- ADR was down 7% to $216.99, with the Strip down 7.6% to $232.25.
And to top it off, Las Vegas had fewer hotel rooms available this year with the closures of The Tropicana and The Mirage earlier in 2024. With 150,646 rooms in total, there were just fewer beds to fill.
Transportation Numbers?
Transportation trends followed tourism. Passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport was down and overall visitation on major highways to Las Vegas was up 1.7%. Note that highway data includes both tourists and locals so the increase doesn’t necessarily mean more visitors are coming in for the weekend
Beyond Las Vegas
Las Vegas wasn’t the only one with fluctuating tourism. Outlying areas were mixed:
- Laughlin: Visitors were up 4.1% to 106,000. Room rates were down slightly to $55.01 and occupancy dropped 1.3% to 46.5%.
- Mesquite: Visitors were down 9.4% but ADR was up 12% to $92.41.
2024 Still Looks Good for Las Vegas
Despite the October dip, overall tourism is still strong. The year-to-date is already ahead of 2023 thanks to a busy spring and summer. This momentum means Las Vegas is still the place to be for millions of visitors.
Even with convention relocations and fewer hotel rooms, the city’s entertainment, gaming and hospitality keeps it resilient. And with Clark County’s gaming revenue numbers still to come, there’s still time for a final push.
Bottom Line
While October might not have been Las Vegas’ strongest month this year, the city’s tourism machine is far from slowing down. With plenty of wins in the books for 2024, all eyes are now on how the year wraps up.
