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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Las Vegas is hurting as tourism drops. Are Canadians behind the Sin City slump?
After doing gangbuster business in the post-COVID era, Las Vegas is in the midst of a slump, with the number of tourists down sharply as Canadians in particular avoid Sin City amid bilateral bad blood over trade. The total number of visitors is off more than 11 per cent year-over-year, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, one of the most dramatic declines in recent memory outside of the pandemic. Airline figures reveal there's been an even steeper decline among Canadians going to the desert gambling mecca. The number of Air Canada passengers dropped by 33 per cent in June compared to the same month last year, airport figures show. WestJet, the largest Canadian air carrier at the region's Harry Reid International Airport, saw a similar 31 per cent drop. The decline was even more dramatic for low-cost carrier Flair, which saw its passenger numbers fall by a stunning 62 per cent. Some U.S. travellers are also avoiding the self-described entertainment capital of the world — due, in part, to a backlash over higher fees and fewer perks for some gamblers. But resort operators say the Canadian boycott has been a notable hit to the bottom line. On a quarterly conference call with investors last week, MGM Resorts president and CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the number of Canadian visitors started to fall earlier this year — around the time U.S. President Donald Trump launched his trade war — and there hasn't been much of a rebound. That company owns some of the city's top properties, such as Aria, Bellagio and the Cosmopolitan and part of the NHL rink, T-Mobile Arena. "International visitation has been an issue," Hornbuckle said. "Particularly earlier in the year, with Canada, we host a lot of hockey games, and we saw visitation down. And I think — I don't think, I know — it's still down," he said. Thomas Reeg, the CEO of Caesars Entertainment, another major resort and gaming company that owns properties up and down the Strip, pointed to Canadians as one reason for the company's disappointing second-quarter results. "International business, particularly Canadian, is softer," he said on a call with stock analysts. Explaining why fewer rooms were filled with guests over the last three months, Reeg said, "Canadians are a significant piece of that." Local union leaders have even taken to calling the dip in Canadian tourists the "Trump slump." Canadians cite Trump's 'disrespect' Winnipeg resident Martyn Daly is one of those visitors who's staying away. In an interview with CBC News, Daly said he and his wife typically go to Vegas once a year, but he can't bring himself to do it this year with the trade war raging. "We're pretty upset with what's going on in the U.S. and the disrespect that's been shown by the Trump administration towards Canada. I just feel obliged to do something — and one little thing I can do is not patronizing a place we enjoy," he said. "It's not a good idea to be spending any of our hard-earned money in the States. I can spend it elsewhere with a clear conscience." He's also leery of what he may face at the Canada-U.S. border amid reports some travellers are being held up for questioning or, in some rare instances, detention. Guy Kerbrat, of Regina, cancelled a long-planned trip to Vegas to see an AC/DC concert to protest Trump's treatment of Canada. "The thought of going down there right now — it doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy. We just couldn't do it," Kerbrat said in an interview. "My wife and I, we are Vegas-goers. It's a destination we enjoy. But we looked at each other and said, 'We can't support Trump and these policies that are so anti-Canadian.' I hate to hurt the people, the workers who aren't supportive of what Trump's doing, but we had to take a stand," he said. Economic hardship There's evidence that Nevadans are facing some economic challenges as a result of these disruptions. Nevada's unemployment rate, at 5.4 per cent, is the highest among the states and second only to Washington, D.C., where there have been Trump-induced federal layoffs. One of Nevada's U.S. senators, Catherine Cortez Masto, was part of a bipartisan delegation to Ottawa last month to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney to try and patch up relations amid what she called "the chaos of the Trump presidency." The Democrat said cratering tourism is "having an impact" and she wants to see "de-escalation" to normalize visitor numbers to the Silver State. Local politicians have good reason to be anxious about the Canadian travel boycott, said Stephen Miller, an economics professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As the director of the university's business and economic research centre, he crunched the numbers and found Canadians contributed $3.6 billion US to the local economy last year. Canadian spending supported some 43,000 jobs in the region, more than those employed in the manufacturing sector, Miller said. That $3.6-billion figure comes close to the economic output of the local Nellis Air Force base — and that's saying something, given it's one of the largest and most important military installations in the U.S., with some 15,000 personnel. "The Canadian numbers have gone down dramatically and it's an area of concern for the casinos," Miller said. "After all, the main goal of the resort industry is to put heads in beds." He expects more promotional activity in the weeks ahead to try and break the patriotic boycott. "You might get people saying, 'Oh wait a minute, that's a really tempting offer. Let me reconsider my decision.'" Daly said he's already received "exceptionally good" offers with low room rates to try and lure him back. But he's not budging. "I know Canada is small but we do have a voice, and I think it's great that we're using it," he said. "I think the only thing that Trump seems to understand is when people take action that hits them in the pocketbook."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Las Vegas is hurting as tourism drops. Are Canadians behind the Sin City slump?
After doing gangbuster business in the post-COVID era, Las Vegas is in the midst of a slump, with the number of tourists down sharply as Canadians in particular avoid Sin City amid bilateral bad blood over trade. The total number of visitors is off more than 11 per cent year-over-year, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, one of the most dramatic declines in recent memory outside of the pandemic. Airline figures reveal there's been an even steeper decline among Canadians going to the desert gambling mecca. The number of Air Canada passengers dropped by 33 per cent in June compared to the same month last year, airport figures show. WestJet, the largest Canadian air carrier at the region's Harry Reid International Airport, saw a similar 31 per cent drop. The decline was even more dramatic for low-cost carrier Flair, which saw its passenger numbers fall by a stunning 62 per cent. Some U.S. travellers are also avoiding the self-described entertainment capital of the world — due, in part, to a backlash over higher fees and fewer perks for some gamblers. But resort operators say the Canadian boycott has been a notable hit to the bottom line. On a quarterly conference call with investors last week, MGM Resorts president and CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the number of Canadian visitors started to fall earlier this year — around the time U.S. President Donald Trump launched his trade war — and there hasn't been much of a rebound. That company owns some of the city's top properties, such as Aria, Bellagio and the Cosmopolitan and part of the NHL rink, T-Mobile Arena. "International visitation has been an issue," Hornbuckle said. "Particularly earlier in the year, with Canada, we host a lot of hockey games, and we saw visitation down. And I think — I don't think, I know — it's still down," he said. Thomas Reeg, the CEO of Caesars Entertainment, another major resort and gaming company that owns properties up and down the Strip, pointed to Canadians as one reason for the company's disappointing second-quarter results. "International business, particularly Canadian, is softer," he said on a call with stock analysts. Explaining why fewer rooms were filled with guests over the last three months, Reeg said, "Canadians are a significant piece of that." Local union leaders have even taken to calling the dip in Canadian tourists the "Trump slump." Canadians cite Trump's 'disrespect' Winnipeg resident Martyn Daly is one of those visitors who's staying away. In an interview with CBC News, Daly said he and his wife typically go to Vegas once a year, but he can't bring himself to do it this year with the trade war raging. "We're pretty upset with what's going on in the U.S. and the disrespect that's been shown by the Trump administration towards Canada. I just feel obliged to do something — and one little thing I can do is not patronizing a place we enjoy," he said. "It's not a good idea to be spending any of our hard-earned money in the States. I can spend it elsewhere with a clear conscience." He's also leery of what he may face at the Canada-U.S. border amid reports some travellers are being held up for questioning or, in some rare instances, detention. Guy Kerbrat, of Regina, cancelled a long-planned trip to Vegas to see an AC/DC concert to protest Trump's treatment of Canada. "The thought of going down there right now — it doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy. We just couldn't do it," Kerbrat said in an interview. "My wife and I, we are Vegas-goers. It's a destination we enjoy. But we looked at each other and said, 'We can't support Trump and these policies that are so anti-Canadian.' I hate to hurt the people, the workers who aren't supportive of what Trump's doing, but we had to take a stand," he said. Economic hardship There's evidence that Nevadans are facing some economic challenges as a result of these disruptions. Nevada's unemployment rate, at 5.4 per cent, is the highest among the states and second only to Washington, D.C., where there have been Trump-induced federal layoffs. One of Nevada's U.S. senators, Catherine Cortez Masto, was part of a bipartisan delegation to Ottawa last month to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney to try and patch up relations amid what she called "the chaos of the Trump presidency." The Democrat said cratering tourism is "having an impact" and she wants to see "de-escalation" to normalize visitor numbers to the Silver State. Local politicians have good reason to be anxious about the Canadian travel boycott, said Stephen Miller, an economics professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As the director of the university's business and economic research centre, he crunched the numbers and found Canadians contributed $3.6 billion US to the local economy last year. Canadian spending supported some 43,000 jobs in the region, more than those employed in the manufacturing sector, Miller said. That $3.6-billion figure comes close to the economic output of the local Nellis Air Force base — and that's saying something, given it's one of the largest and most important military installations in the U.S., with some 15,000 personnel. "The Canadian numbers have gone down dramatically and it's an area of concern for the casinos," Miller said. "After all, the main goal of the resort industry is to put heads in beds." He expects more promotional activity in the weeks ahead to try and break the patriotic boycott. "You might get people saying, 'Oh wait a minute, that's a really tempting offer. Let me reconsider my decision.'" Daly said he's already received "exceptionally good" offers with low room rates to try and lure him back. But he's not budging. "I know Canada is small but we do have a voice, and I think it's great that we're using it," he said. "I think the only thing that Trump seems to understand is when people take action that hits them in the pocketbook." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
WestJet and RBC introduce the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ for Business
CALGARY, AB, Aug. 14, 2025 /CNW/ - WestJet and RBC today announced the launch of the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ for Business, Canada's first and only business travel credit card that instantly provides primary cardholders with top-tier airline status. This business credit card promptly awards primary cardholders Silver status* with WestJet Rewards, offering them the fastest way to earn WestJet points and maximize travel rewards. As the only RBC business travel Mastercard, cardholders will also have access to a unique collection of extensive travel insurances including trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance*. "Small and medium-sized businesses have supported WestJet from the day we started flying; that's why we're proud to introduce a card that not only rewards business spending but also enhances the travel experience from the moment cardholders arrive at the airport," said Steve McClelland, Vice-President, Loyalty, WestJet. "With instant Silver status, free checked bags and access to WestJet Biz, this card is thoughtfully designed to help value conscious small and medium sized business owners turn everyday business expenses into meaningful travel rewards with greater flexibility, control and efficiency." "RBC and WestJet have built a long-standing partnership over many years, with an unwavering commitment to our shared customers," added Athena Varmazis, Senior Vice President, Consumer & Commercial Credit Cards, RBC. "The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business was created with unique features and benefits tailored for small and medium-sized business owners in Canada and we're incredibly proud to add the card to our market-leading WestJet RBC credit card portfolio." Fast-tracked travel with accelerated earning and redeeming The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business makes earning and redeeming WestJet points simple and flexible. Points earned by secondary business cardholders automatically pool into the primary business cardholder's WestJet Rewards account. Furthermore, if the primary business cardholder also has a personal WestJet RBC credit card, they can seamlessly combine WestJet points earned with both their WestJet RBC credit cards, including points and Status Lift earn. These features enable an accelerated path toward their next personal or business trip and the ability to reach higher status faster. When they pay with their WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business, primary business cardholders earn: Up to six points per dollar spent on WestJet flights and WestJet Vacations packages when combined with Silver status* Three points per dollar spent on telecommunications, shipping and electronics* One and a half points per dollar spent on all other purchases* Primary business cardholders can redeem WestJet points with ultimate flexibility and no blackout dates, including redemption for: Partial or full cost of flights, including all taxes, fees and surcharges* Seat selection, checked baggage fees and cabin upgrades* Merchandise and gift cards on the WestJet Rewards eStore* Work and travel smarter with instant access to WestJet Biz Primary cardholders receive automatic Tier One membership in WestJet Biz, an online tool that makes booking and managing corporate travel easy. Designed to give small and medium-sized businesses greater flexibility and control, the program allows members to book through their travel management company, agency or online at Additional WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business benefits Created with Canadian entrepreneurs in mind, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business delivers comprehensive travel and lifestyle benefits. Primary business cardholders receive: Access to the benefits of WestJet Silver status*, which includes six complimentary lounge passes and four advance seat selection vouchers Free first checked bag for themselves and up to eight guests Access to the priority security line at Calgary International Airport (YYC), exclusive to WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard cardholders Access to Status Lift which helps primary business cardholders reach higher WestJet Rewards tiers faster* Extensive travel insurances including but not limited to trip cancellation, auto rental, delayed baggage and emergency medical coverage* Access to the Mastercard Travel Pass Program, provided by DragonPass Lifestyle benefits with partners including DoorDash‡, H&R Block‡, Petro-Canada‡ and Rexall‡* Apply today To apply for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business and take advantage of a 35,000 welcome WestJet points offer, call 866-783-6292 or visit any RBC branch to talk with a business banking expert. *Terms and conditions apply. For complete details, visit About WestJet WestJet took to the skies in 1996 with just over 200 employees and three aircraft operating service to five destinations. Since then, WestJet has pioneered low-cost travel in Canada, cutting airfares in half, and increasing the flying population in Canada by more than 50 per cent. Following integration with Sunwing in 2025, more than 14,000 WestJetters support nearly 200 aircraft and connect guests to more than 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. As a major Canadian employer that includes WestJet Airlines, Sunwing Vacations Group and WestJet Cargo, the WestJet Group is Canada's leading low-cost airline and largest vacation provider, with a united purpose of providing affordable and accessible air and vacation travel to Canadians. Learn more about WestJet at (also available in French) Follow WestJet on Facebook at Follow WestJet on X at and Follow WestJet on Instagram at Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at Email WestJet media relations at media@ About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 97,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. 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