Las Vegas is feeling the heat after a tough summer, but the city’s tourism boss says the lights are far from dimming. Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, insists the dip is temporary and that fall will bring a stronger bounce.
Tourism fell 12% in July compared with the same month last year. That’s roughly 400,000 fewer visitors. For the year, Las Vegas has welcomed two million fewer people than it did in 2024.
This has sparked questions from national and international observers. What’s going on with a city that prides itself on being the entertainment capital of the world?
Hill says it’s simple. People are tightening their belts. Inflation, higher interest rates, and worries about the broader economy are causing families to cut back on travel. “Las Vegas is a discretionary destination,” he reminded reporters.
And then there’s the Canadian factor. Visits from Canada, traditionally a reliable market, are down 25%.
Resilience in the Numbers
Not all the data tells a gloomy story. Even with the decline, Las Vegas hotels are still filling rooms at a rate most cities can only dream of. Occupancy hit 81.1% in July across 150,000 rooms, compared with a national rate of 63.1%.
That puts Las Vegas firmly at the top of the U.S. market.
One sentence worth remembering: despite fewer people, the Strip still packs them in.
The problem is not empty hotels. The problem is fewer people coming through the doors in the first place.
Summer Blues, Autumn Hopes
The summer is always slower in Las Vegas. It’s hot, sports teams are in their off-season, and the big conventions are scheduled for spring and fall. But 2025 was even softer than usual.
The LVCVA’s own write-up pointed to travelers being more “value conscious.” People are opting for shorter trips, cheaper hotels, or deciding to skip a holiday altogether.
Hill believes the fall will bring a rebound. Why? Because professional football, hockey, and a packed convention calendar are coming back. These are what he calls “appointment visits.” People plan trips around games and big meetings. And that kind of travel is harder to cancel at the last minute.
What the Experts See
Economists who track U.S. consumer spending agree with Hill that sentiment is fragile. When confidence drops, so does discretionary spending, especially on travel. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index slid in July, reflecting concerns about job security and persistent price pressures.
Here’s a quick look at the numbers that matter most:
| Metric | July 2025 | July 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Visitors | 2.9 million | 3.3 million | -12% |
| Year-to-Date Visitors | 23 million | 25 million | -8% |
| Canadian Visitors | 240,000 | 320,000 | -25% |
| Hotel Occupancy | 81.1% | 84.5% | -3.4 pts |
| U.S. Hotel Average | 63.1% | 61.8% | +1.3 pts |
Even with those dips, Las Vegas still leads in sheer volume.
Why Visitors Matter More Than Ever
For Las Vegas, visitors aren’t just numbers. They’re the lifeblood of the city’s economy. Every flight that lands, every show ticket sold, every slot machine played keeps thousands of workers employed.
So, a 12% dip isn’t just a statistic—it’s a worry for casino staff, taxi drivers, and restaurant servers. “It’s not about empty resorts,” one industry analyst noted. “It’s about momentum, and whether Las Vegas can keep its edge.”
That edge, Hill argues, is still sharp.
Signals of Recovery
There are signs that the worst may already be over. August data is not yet final, but early indications suggest visitors ticked up as families squeezed in last-minute trips before school.
Meanwhile, hotel operators report strong bookings for September and October, thanks to conventions and sporting events. The return of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and NHL’s Golden Knights is expected to give weekends a big lift.
A single sentence that sums it up: confidence is fragile, but demand is waiting in the wings.
The Bet Hill Is Making
Hill isn’t dismissing the downturn. He acknowledges it. But he’s betting on three things:
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Sports schedules filling arenas and hotels.
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Conventions driving weekday traffic.
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International travel slowly recovering after a weak summer.
“We’re optimistic about the fall,” Hill said. “This city has been through tough stretches before, and we’ve always come back stronger.”
It’s a line that feels almost like a rallying cry.
What’s Next for the Strip
As Las Vegas heads into autumn, the spotlight will be on whether visitors actually return in the numbers Hill predicts.
Analysts say to watch two things: Canadian travel and U.S. consumer confidence. If Canadians keep staying home and Americans stay nervous about spending, the Strip’s fall rebound may not be as strong as advertised.
But if the conventions are packed, if fans fly in for football and hockey, and if consumer sentiment steadies—Las Vegas could be back in the headlines for the right reasons.
For now, the city is waiting. The dice are rolled, the cards are dealt.
