Fewer people paying Vegas a visit

By Liz Benston

Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 | 3:10 p.m.

Visitor traffic in Las Vegas fell 3 percent in June compared with a year ago, while room rates across the valley fell 16 percent as the economic downturn took its toll, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported today.

Visitation was flat January through June, while rates are down 6 percent over that period.

Average occupancy rates fell 3 percent in June to 89 percent versus 92 percent a year ago and are down 2 percent so far this year.

Passenger traffic through McCarran International Airport was down 7 percent in June and auto traffic at the California border on Interstate 15 is down 6 percent for the month.

Convention traffic has apparently been holding up in the downturn, according to the visitors authority. Attendance was up 2 percent in June from a year ago in spite of a 3 percent decline in the number of convention groups. Attendance is flat so far this year.