The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) says that visitation to the city hit 39.2 million in 2007, marking the fourth consecutive year Las Vegas set a new visitation record. Last year’s visitation count represents a 0.7 percent increase over the 2006 figure of 38.9 million. Las Vegas also matched its highest occupancy level in history, reaching 90.4 percent for the year, tying its previous record set in 1996. The destination’s average occupancy level now stands at 27 percentage points above the national average. Clark County’s gaming revenue also broke the previously set record, rising 2.2 percent to $10.9 billion.
The LVCVA is projecting that 39.8 million people will visit the destination in 2008, noting more than 9,000 new guest rooms are slated to be added to Las Vegas’ hotel inventory this year. Nearly $40 billion in new development is planned or under way between now and 2012, including approximately 40,000 hotel and motel rooms and five million square feet of convention space citywide.
It’s possible the LVCVA’s commitment to the travel industry is helping its efforts to increase visitors. The tourism office hosted a travel-partner appreciation event recently at Japonais at The Mirage. Participating travel organizations included Expedia, Orbitz, The Mark Travel Corporation, United Vacations, Funjet Vacations, Alaska Airlines Vacations, US Airways Vacations, Southwest Airlines Vacations and Certified Vacations. Visit www.VisitLasVegas.com.