Posted on: December 29, 2023, 09:07h.
Last updated on: December 29, 2023, 09:07h.
Las Vegas is expected to welcome more than 356,000 visitors and 44,000 locals to ring in the New Year this weekend. If those numbers are realized, the commencement of 2024 will be one of Southern Nevada’s busiest starts to a new year.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) projects the influx of weekend visitors will result in $411.4 million in direct spending. Paired with indirect and induced spending, the tourism agency believes the 2024 New Year’s holiday will deliver a total economic output of $727 million.
Though there are more rooms to occupy following the recent openings of Fontainebleau and Durango, resorts are demanding high rates. Luxury properties like Bellagio, Aria, and Red Rock are about $600 a night this weekend with resort fees and taxes included. Durango is sold out while Fontainebleau is going for a little more than $400.
Budget travelers won’t find any rooms even downtown for under $100. The cheapest rooms are at the Plaza and Golden Nugget, which are under $200 a night with fees and taxes included. Silver Sevens a mile east of the Strip is $175 inclusive of fees and taxes.
As was the case last year, Las Vegas is expected to benefit from New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday and many travelers making the holiday a long weekend.
November Record Month
Last month was the busiest month ever at Harry Reid International Airport — formerly McCarran until its 2021 rebranding to honor Nevada’s longtime US Senator.
The Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix ushered in new visitors during November, as passenger traffic at Las Vegas’ primary airport surged over 6% to over 4.83 million flyers. With F1 most popular in Europe, international flights soared 28% to nearly 266,000 arriving and departing passengers.
With 11 months of airport data in the books, Harry Reid has already set a new annual passenger traffic with still a month to go.
LAS connects the world to Las Vegas, whether for work, vacation, visiting loved ones, or attending a sporting or special event,” said Clark County Director of Aviation Rosemary Vassiliadis. “While we will not have a final 2023 total until next month, the LAS team is already focused on a busy start to 2024.”
Through November, the airport has accommodated over 52.8 million passengers. That’s a 9.4% improvement on last year and already eclipses last year’s passenger haul of 52.6 million air travelers.
January Kickoff
Following a busy start to the new year, Las Vegas will gear up for what’s typically the busiest convention month of the year.
Notable shows in January this year include CES on Jan. 9-12 and World of Concrete on Jan. 23-25. CES’ expected attendance is 180,000 people, while World of Concrete is expected to draw 61,000 attendees.
February is also busy, as the Tobacco Plus Expo will draw around 75,000 attendees for its Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 showcase. Later in the month, Las Vegas will host Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium.
