Las Vegas Tourism: Gaming, Visitation Down In November From 2016

LAS VEGAS, NV - November tourism in Las Vegas this year didn't quite live up to last year's record-setting numbers for the month and revenue and visitation numbers took a step back compared to last year. The numbers are also down from one month prior, in October.

The monthly Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority report showed 300,000 fewer visitors came to Las Vegas in November compared to October resulting in nearly $70 million fewer in gaming revenue for Clark County.

The numbers also aren't quite what they were at this time last November.

November 2016 vs. November 2017

Overall gaming revenue in Clark County declined by 3.2 percent - from $811,123,000 in November 2016 to $785,062,000 in November 2017- due in large part to a six percent dip in revenue along the Las Vegas Strip. The four-mile stretch of resorts and casinos brought in $485,753,00 in November, down from the $516,992,000 generated last November. The report says that Strip revenue has decreased "due in part to decreases in hold from baccarat and twenty-one."

Though on a much smaller scale, gaming revenue in Downtown Las Vegas did the opposite, increasing by 6.8 percent, from $50,770,000 in 2016 to $54,232,000 this year compared to November 2016. The average daily room rate increased downtown slightly, from $63.35 a year ago to $65.11 now.

The numbers also show that visitation in Las Vegas has decreased by 3.7 percent compared to this time last year. Though the monthly report for November 2017 shows several decreases, they aren't that far off from what was a record setting number of visitors in November 2016.

Last November, Las Vegas saw 3,426,403 visitors. This November, the city hosted 3,300,531 visitors. Along with being compared to the best November on record, the report also notes that the decrease across several categories is "due in part to a reduction in room inventory vs. last year."

Room inventory has declined by about 800 rooms since last year.

Despite bringing in less visitors, the convention industry didn't suffer. With 17 fewer conventions held in November 2017 compared to November 2016, attendees increased by over 10,000, equaling a two percent increase in convention attendance.

Year to date

To date, visitation in Las Vegas for the year is down by 1.6 percent from last year's total at this time. So far the city has hosted 39,013,389 visitors in 2017. Despite the slight decrease in visitation, and the November numbers, the total gaming revenue for the year is up from last year. Total gaming revenue in Clark County this year is up by 3.1 percent to over $9.1 billion so far. That includes an 11.9 percent increase in revenue coming from Downtown Las Vegas.

To read the full report, click the link below.

LVCVA Executive Summary November 2017

Image via Julie Jacobson/Associated Press