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Fox News
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Las Vegas tourism officials blame tariffs for fewer visitors as others say magic's gone
Officials are speaking out after recent reports putting tourism declines in Sin City in the spotlight. On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) held its board of directors meeting, addressing various factors that have been impacting tourism. Steve Hill, LVCVA president, reportedly spoke about the effect that tariffs are having on both returning and potential new visitors. "Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism," said Hill, according to local outlet KTNV Las Vegas. Hill added, "Our international visitation is flat but is making up for a 20+% drop in tourism from Canada, which is our largest international source of visitation." Fox News Digital reached out to LVCVA for comment. Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens recently told Fox News Digital that international tourism is down across an array of locations. "I think everyone is in a position where you can say we're missing some of our Canadian friends who aren't visiting this year," said Stevens. Nevada is among the top five most visited states by Canadians, according to the U.S. Travel Association. The association warned that the United States could see a 10% reduction in Canadian travel, which is about 2 million fewer visits, according to recent reports. The LVCVA board recently approved a $20 million sponsorship agreement for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. The agreement will extend the race through 2027 – an event that could boost tourism numbers. The board also discussed developments at the Harry Reid Airport — which has also seen a decline, dropping 4.1% year to date compared to the same time last year, according to the website. Stevens said he believes the lack of international visitors right now may be due to the overall global economy and exchange rates. Amid some uncertainty, he said the industry has acknowledged the economy has slowed a bit. "I think in six months, I would believe that Vegas tourism and our economy overall will be in a much better place," predicted Stevens. He noted the finalization of trade agreements will provide stability and "set the table going forward." Robby Starbuck, conservative activist and host of "The Robby Starbuck Show," previously told Fox News Digital it is not just prices that are keeping people out of Vegas these days. "Now nearly everyone under 40 who bets seems to do it online," Starbuck said. "Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction — while younger generations feel just as content with parasocial online experiences," he said. "The Vegas marketing image is one centered on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in," said Starbuck.
New York Post
05-08-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Las Vegas tourism is sinking — and younger Americans could be to blame
The latest statistics confirm the social chatter that Las Vegas tourism has hit a dramatic low, with some even calling Vegas an experience of the past. Only 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, down 11.3% compared to last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Advertisement Social media users have called out the high prices of everything from dining to parking, citing these and other reasons for staying away. Robby Starbuck, conservative activist and host of 'The Robby Starbuck Show,' told Fox News Digital it is not just prices that are keeping people out of Vegas. 'Now nearly everyone under 40 who bets seems to do it online,' Starbuck said this week. 'I don't know one person under 40 who goes to Vegas regularly to bet or play slots,' he added. Advertisement 'This trend will continue with younger people because, honestly, our minds are wired differently.' The U.S. online gambling market in 2024 was estimated at $12.68 billion, according to Grand View Research. Tom Reeg, Caesars Entertainment CEO, said it would be a 'soft summer' on a recent earnings call, according to local reports. 3 The latest statistics confirm the social chatter that Las Vegas tourism has hit a dramatic low. lucky-photo – Advertisement Starbuck said generational differences also could be pushing down the popularity of visiting Las Vegas. 'Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction, while younger generations feel just as content with parasocial online experiences,' he said. 'The Vegas marketing image is one centered on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in,' said Starbuck. He added, 'The typical casino feel and marketing just won't be as successful with young people who have 40 options to gamble on their phones from the comfort of their own home.' Advertisement 3 Only 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, down 11.3% compared to last year. SvetlanaSF – An additional generational difference, Starbuck pointed out, is that younger generations are ditching the bottle. 'Younger generations drink alcohol at lower rates than older generations did at their age. That's going to have a material impact on the Vegas business model if young people drink less,' he said. The number of people in their 20s who chose to abstain from alcohol more than doubled between 2001 and 2019, going from 9% to 22%, according to a 2019 National Drug Strategy Household survey. And a recent Gallup survey found that roughly 38% of adults under age 35 now identify as fully abstaining from alcohol. In addition, more than a quarter of Gen Z respondents felt 'very concerned' about the potential health effects of drinking alcohol, according to Civic Science. Hotel rates down, too The hotel industry is also feeling the burn of fewer visitors. Occupancy rates dropped 6.5%, while average daily room rates have lowered to $163.64 – down 6.6%, according to the LVCVA. Advertisement Meanwhile, a 43-story hotel and casino has been put on an indefinite pause, SF Gate reported. The property has a prime location on the Vegas strip and will remain an empty lot for parking for now. Starbuck said he's been to Las Vegas a number of times in his life and doesn't see himself visiting again unless there is a change. 3 The hotel industry is also feeling the burn of fewer visitors, according to reports. Kristof – Advertisement 'If it feels like a place where I can see the future and bring my whole family, then you'll see me in Vegas again,' he said. 'Without that kind of transformation, Vegas is in trouble in the coming decades,' he predicted. 'If Vegas wants to win with young people in the future, it's going to have to transition to a must-see destination that makes you feel like you have just entered the future.'
Telegraph
05-08-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The truth about why tourists are leaving Las Vegas
While most of us Vegas regulars have long assumed that Sin City is immortal, viral videos on social media are apparently telling a different story. Over on YouTube, there are dozens of clips of seemingly empty scenes on the Strip, as influencers gawp into the camera and proclaim that the party is truly over. Can it really be that Vegas is emptying out, and falling from favour? The official statistics suggest that, at the very least, there is a downward trend at play. Numbers from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (the guys who coined the 'What happens in Vegas' slogan) show tourism is down 6.5 per cent since last year, with a marked slump since April. As you might expect, gambling revenues have dwindled too, with a 2.9 per cent year-on-year drop across the sector – enough to wipe some $600 million from casino revenues this year. If you concentrate purely on the Strip casinos that depend almost exclusively on out-of-towners, the drop is even bigger at 3.9 per cent. Some claim it's down to the general squeeze of disposable income, with surveys showing a drop in overall consumer confidence across the States. Naturally, anti-Trump types have been quick to jump on any evidence that the decline could be partly the fault of the White House – and when it comes to one particular measure they may well have a point. According to LVCVA figures, Canadians make up around 3 per cent of Vegas visitors, with 1.4 million making the trip last year. Yet one year later, the data shows that more Canadians are thinking twice about crossing the border, perhaps due to the President's fiery rhetoric towards his northern neighbour. Recent figures from Vegas's Harry Reid Airport show that arrivals on Air Canada jets are down 5 per cent year-on-year, while passenger numbers for the low-cost Canadian carrier Flair have plummeted 55 per cent. Not the sort of thing you want to see in an already tight economy. Where does it all leave Vegas? The overall decline is real, but it isn't as bad as some headlines suggest, says casino expert John Mehaffey, who runs the Vegas Advantage website. 'The slowdown has been more noticeable at the lower end of the market, but luxury resorts appear broadly level with last year,' he says. 'In any event, Vegas is always a bit slower in the summer.' As for those viral videos showing the supposed death of Vegas, he suspects some of the creators have been disingenuous in their tactics. 'I saw one picture of empty side walks in front of Caesars Palace, but you could see from the position of the sun that the photo was taken in the early part of the morning,' he says. @chasasworld ♬ original sound - chasasworld On the other hand, plenty of social media users are convinced they've found the real reason that fewer people are visiting Las Vegas – rip-off prices. In June, a humble bottle of water briefly became a social media sensation, when one stunned traveller revealed that it had been priced at a shocking $26 in the mini-bar at the iconic Bellagio hotel. The story was picked up across the American media. On the popular discussion website Reddit, meanwhile, forums about Las Vegas have descended into a strange game of Top Trumps, with users competing to see who can find the most excessive examples of Vegas pricing during their visit. 'I paid $14 for a bottle of Sprite and $32 for chicken tenders,' posted one user, sounding strangely proud about the whole experience. Of course, steep prices are nothing new in Sin City. But while the world's entertainment capital has never been cheap, the data shows that prices have jumped disproportionately since the pandemic, with a 50 per cent rise in the average hotel room price since 2019. Fees and charges have also spiked, as casinos seek to make up for lost revenues during the shutdown. As Vegas regulars will know, it isn't hard to avoid the worst of the pricing – provided you do your homework in advance. As a rule of thumb, I always advise anyone staying on the Strip to do as much as their discretionary spending (things like refreshments and snacks) outside of the casino resort, given that most are notorious for high prices. Another option is to get off the Strip altogether and opt for a downtown casino. Fremont Street might lack some of the extravagance of the Bellagio, but it's certainly no less vibrant. Not only are the prices much cheaper (and the odds marginally more generous), but it's a much shorter walk to get to independent restaurants and bars that cost a fraction of those on the Strip. Some might say that penny-pinching goes against the Vegas spirit. But my attitude has always been the less money you spend unnecessarily – for example, on a $10 coke from a casino concession store – the more you have to spend on the genuinely exciting stuff, whether that's playing the tables or seeing one of the shows. Will the falling visitor numbers force Vegas to change tack on its premium prices? There are already signs that some casinos are doing just that, says John Mehaffey. This summer, the Resorts World hotel and casino waived some of its charges (including the hated resort fee) in a bid to attract more visitors. As for what the future holds beyond that, Sin City will have plenty on its plate dealing with everything from Gen Z's famous aversion to alcohol to the liberalisation of sports betting across much of the States. Expect the push towards big sporting events like the Super Bowl and Formula 1 to continue at full speed, given they don't rely on gamblers or drinkers to make money. All in all, it seems the decline of Vegas has been exaggerated. This glorious city has seen off a slump many times before, and you can bet your bottom dollar it will do the same again.
Fox News
05-08-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Las Vegas casino culture suffers rejection by gamblers of younger generations
The latest statistics confirm the social chatter that Las Vegas tourism has hit a dramatic low, with some even calling Vegas an experience of the past. Only 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, down 11.3% compared to last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Social media users have called out the high prices of everything from dining to parking, citing these and other reasons for staying away. Robby Starbuck, conservative activist and host of "The Robby Starbuck Show," told Fox News Digital it is not just prices that are keeping people out of Vegas. "Now nearly everyone under 40 who bets seems to do it online," Starbuck said this week. "I don't know one person under 40 who goes to Vegas regularly to bet or play slots," he added. "This trend will continue with younger people because, honestly, our minds are wired differently." The U.S. online gambling market in 2024 was estimated at $12.68 billion, according to Grand View Research. "Young people have 40 options to gamble on their phones from the comfort of their own home." Tom Reeg, Caesars Entertainment CEO, said it would be a "soft summer" on a recent earnings call, according to local reports. Starbuck said generational differences also could be pushing down the popularity of visiting Las Vegas. "Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction, while younger generations feel just as content with parasocial online experiences," he said. "The Vegas marketing image is one centered on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in," said Starbuck. He added, "The typical casino feel and marketing just won't be as successful with young people who have 40 options to gamble on their phones from the comfort of their own home." An additional generational difference, Starbuck pointed out, is that younger generations are ditching the bottle. "Younger generations drink alcohol at lower rates than older generations did at their age. That's going to have a material impact on the Vegas business model if young people drink less," he said. Younger generations are also ditching the bottle. The number of people in their 20s who chose to abstain from alcohol more than doubled between 2001 and 2019, going from 9% to 22%, according to a 2019 National Drug Strategy Household survey. And a recent Gallup survey found that roughly 38% of adults under age 35 now identify as fully abstaining from alcohol. In addition, more than a quarter of Gen Z respondents felt "very concerned" about the potential health effects of drinking alcohol, according to Civic Science. The hotel industry is also feeling the burn of fewer visitors. Occupancy rates dropped 6.5%, while average daily room rates have lowered to $163.64 – down 6.6%, according to the LVCVA. Meanwhile, a 43-story hotel and casino has been put on an indefinite pause, SF Gate reported. The property has a prime location on the Vegas strip and will remain an empty lot for parking for now. Starbuck said he's been to Las Vegas a number of times in his life and doesn't see himself visiting again unless there is a change. "If it feels like a place where I can see the future and bring my whole family, then you'll see me in Vegas again," he said. "Without that kind of transformation, Vegas is in trouble in the coming decades," he predicted. "If Vegas wants to win with young people in the future, it's going to have to transition to a must-see destination that makes you feel like you have just entered the future."
New York Post
28-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Las Vegas's tipped workers say their income has fallen by more than half as tourism plunges
Las Vegas' hospitality workers have seen their income from tips plunge by as much as 50% — despite the recently passed no tax on tips law — as tourism to Sin City takes a hit from President Trump's global trade war. Overall visitations to the city are down more than 6% through the first half of the year, with April 2025 recording just over 3.3 million visitors, representing a 5.1% drop from the previous April, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Airport traffic has also decreased, with April passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport totaling 4.7 million, down 3.4% from April 2024. Advertisement 3 Las Vegas hospitality workers report significant decreases in tip income as tourism declines more than 6% in 2025. lucky-photo – International visitor arrivals fell over 13% in June compared to the previous year, while domestic travel saw a 6.5% decline year-over-year, based on CoStar data. The overall decline in tourism has hurt service sector workers who were expecting to benefit from Trump's campaign pledge to eliminate taxes on tips. The legislation was included in the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' signed earlier this month, and exempted up to $25,000 in annual tips from personal income taxes — retroactive to the start of the year. Advertisement 'No tax on tips, that's a rad thing. But it doesn't really do us much good if there isn't any people to get tips from,' Charlie Mungo, a 36-year-old tattoo artist in downtown Las Vegas, told the Wall Street Journal. Mungo said he has made about $1,500 a month in recent months. He added that Canadian customers, who made up about 30% of his clientele, have vanished. Advertisement 'We're all starting to freak out,' he told the Journal. 3 April passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport totaled 4.7 million, down 3.4% from April 2024. Aerial Film Studio – Workers across various sectors report similar income reductions. Jacob Soto, a 22-year-old supervisor at Pinkbox Doughnuts downtown, told the Journal that his weekly credit-card tips dropped from between $175 and $200 to anywhere from $100 to $150. With his $15-per-hour wage insufficient to cover basic expenses, Soto said: 'I kinda rely on tips at the end of the day.' Advertisement The empty feeling is apparent on the usually buzzing Las Vegas Strip. Hotel occupancy rates have declined to approximately 66.7% in early July compared to the same period last year, according to the LVCVA. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'Vegas is not fun anymore,' Amrita Bhasin, a retail-industry entrepreneur, told MarketWatch. She said that hotels in the city can charge as much as $50 in resort fees that make their stay even more expensive. Rising prices affect both workers and tourists. Wally Weidner, a 67-year-old Wisconsin visitor, said he's reconsidering his tipping practices. 'Just because prices went up doesn't mean I should pay more tip,' Weidner said. 3 Hotel occupancy rates have declined to approximately 66.7% in early July 2025 as visitors stay away from Sin City. – At Mon Ami Gabi restaurant on the Strip, a dinner-menu cheeseburger with fries now costs $30.95 plus tax and tip, compared to $16.95 four years ago. Advertisement Rory Kuykendall, a 41-year-old California native who moved to Las Vegas a decade ago, works as a graveyard-shift bellperson at the Flamingo hotel and casino. Tips constitute 25% to 70% of his income depending on weekly business levels, according to the Journal. Kuykendall described his recent tip income as 'underwhelming' while facing increased costs for groceries and car insurance. Advertisement He has reduced personal spending to manage finances. 'It really feels off,' he told the Journal.
