Vegas Events

There is so much negativity associated with the economic downturn and recession, especially in reference to tourism and conventions. But what about looking on the bright side?  

Las Vegas meeting stats from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority (LVCVA) show some promise if you consider where we are and where we need to go to move forward. The number of conventions and meetings held in Las Vegas in September 2009 is only down 5.3% from the same month last year.  That is a huge step forward considering that August 2009 was down 22% from August 2008.

Convention attendance is actually up 12.2% in September 2009 compared to September 2008. That is an increase of 43,794 attendees, which is absolutely amazing! Looking at the prior year, September 2008 was down 10% from September 2007. An increase of any kind is outstanding in a recession, and this shows significant growth, in addition to recovery.

Another interesting stat is that the average daily room rate is down 24.7% January through September 2009 compared to the same span in 2008. In this case, down is a good thing for the Las Vegas meeting planner! This means savings to the consumer and should entice more meetings and conventions to book in Las Vegas, a one of a kind immersive experience destination.