Conventioneers’ place in Vegas on the rise

By Liz Benston

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 | 3:18 p.m.

Las Vegas' booming convention business has bouyed a town where gambling is fast becoming a side show to other forms of luxury entertainment. The extent of Las Vegas' dependence on conventioneers – a different class of pleasure-seekers – is among the revelations in Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's 2007 visitor poll.

Only 38 percent of repeat visitors came to Las Vegas primarily for vacation or pleasure, down from 46 percent a year earlier, according to the poll, released today. Among all visitors, only 42 percent said their primary purpose was vacation or pleasure, versus 49 percent in 2006.

Among all visitors, 84 percent gambled versus 87 percent in 2006. Gambling budgets declined 15 percent over that period to an average of $556 (though relying on gamblers to fess up about losses is hardly a scientific method).

People who bought travel packages spent an average of $710, a 7 percent increase from 2006. Hotel expenses rose 2 percent to $109 but average costs for shopping, dining and other expenses fell somewhat.

While basic travel trends such as length of stay, average number of visits and visitors' income was in line with a year ago, there appears to be some mixed signals on the horizon.

More visitors said they were more likely to visit Las Vegas amid a proliferation of other gambling options, yet a smaller percentage of people said they were satisfied by their trip here (89 percent versus 96 percent in 2006 and the lowest rating in five years).