Yes, I know this information is about a week old, but when you are busy watching chaos unfold in front of you, “some stuff” tends to fall off the radar a bit.
Nearly 39 Million people visited Las Vegas in 2006, making it the busiest year … ever.
This is about 1% more than 2005. And this trend shows no sign of abating.
Consider this: We set this record even after losing .4 percent of our hotel rooms due to hotel closures.
Imagine what kinds of records will be set when an additional 30,000 rooms are added by 2010 with the opening of City Center, Echelon Place, and Encore.
Also imagine what traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard will look like. On second thought, don’t imagine it. It’s a painful image.
But hey, at least we will be able to throw even BIGGER NBA parties with twice the shootings and three times the violence!
And really, isn’t that what our absolute goal is?
The average daily hotel room rate rose about 15% to nearly $120. About average for US cities.
Despite the increased rates, hotel occupancy rates increased 1/2 percent to nearly 90% throughout the year.
I’ve been telling everyone who will listen … Las Vegas is rapidly becoming the focal point of the Nation. And yes, that includes New York and LA.
If you’re not in Vegas, you’re camping out.
