Aug. 30–Southern Nevada visitor volume showed a slight increase in July and summer vacation occupancy swelled above monthly averages, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported today.
The LVCVA reported 3.47 million visitors for the month, a 0.8 percent increase over July 2012. For the first seven months of the year, visitation is flat at 23.3 million. Through July this year, four months have had increases. June volume was off 0.9 percent.
Citywide occupancy rates crept up 0.1 percentage point to 87.3 percent, slightly above the seven-month average of 85.5 percent. The average room rate was $100.74 for the month, up 3.7 percent over last year.
For July, Strip occupancy was at 90.1 percent and downtown as at 79.8 percent; the average daily room rate was $107.58 on the Strip and $64.84 downtown.
The LVCVA reported double-digit percentage increases for convention attendance and the number of conventions conducted. Attendance was up 14.1 percent to 292,024 for the month, and the number of shows climbed 13.3 percent to 1,491.
The attendance increase was attributed to some large shows being staged this year that weren’t here last year. The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings show brought 11,250 people to the city, and the American Sportfishing Association brought in 9,200 people. The World Pet Association had 12,000 people in attendance in July for a show that last year was in September.
The LVCVA also tracks visitation in Laughlin and Mesquite. For July, Laughlin visitation was down 3.6 percent to 199,040, occupancy fell 1.4 percentage points to 69.7 percent, and the average daily room rate fell 1.5 percent to $41.57.
In Mesquite, volume dropped 1.2 percent to 80,094, occupancy was off 5 points to 65 percent, but the average room rate was up 4.3 percent to $47.20.
