Las Vegas surpassed 42 million annual visitors for the first time this year, tourism officials announced today.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said the addition of new nonstop flight routes and a boost in convention attendance were among the factors driving the total number of visitors past 42 million for the year. That breaks the record set last year, when Las Vegas saw 41.1 million visitors.
“Las Vegas couldn’t have reached this achievement without the support of our resort partners and the dedicated workers who make the Las Vegas experience what it is,” Rossi Ralenkotter, the authority’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Whether a first-time visitor or a returning Las Vegas enthusiast, the destination continues to astonish travelers from all over the world with luxury resort experiences, world-class dining and exciting entertainment.”
More than 39 million visitors came to Las Vegas through November, according to the authority, which put the annual total on track to easily pass the 42 million mark. Visitor volume has been well over 3 million each month of the year.
Through November, visitor volume increased 2.8 percent, with every month except March reporting an increase from 2014. Occupancy rose by a half percent on the Strip and 3.4 percent in downtown Las Vegas over that period.
At the same time, average daily room rates and revenue per available room — a key performance indicator for hotels — rose 3.3 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively.
Official totals for the year will be announced in early 2016.