John Locher / AP File (2021)
Visitors crowd the casino floor at Resorts World Las Vegas in this June 2021 file photo. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority projects that casinos and hotels up and down the Strip will be busy this weekend, with an expected 335,000 visitors for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Friday, May 26, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit Las Vegas this Memorial Day weekend, at the start of what will likely be a robust summer of travel to Southern Nevada.
An estimated 335,000 visitors are expected to flock to Las Vegas for the three-day weekend — up nearly 4% from the same time last year, according to research by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Direct spending by visitors is anticipated at more than $387 million, also surpassing pre-pandemic levels, said Lori Nelson-Kraft, senior vice president of communications at the LVCVA.
“Memorial weekend, like any other national holiday that gives you a day off attached to a weekend, is a real win for Las Vegas,” Nelson-Kraft said. “It drives higher visitation because it’s easy to get here by air or by car, having that extra day off. So we anticipate very strong visitation for Memorial weekend.”
The LVCVA estimates around 93% hotel occupancy this weekend, and Nevada Resort Association President Virginia Valentine said hotels were seeing consistently strong demand and interest from visitors.
She cited sunny and mild weather — the perfect conditions for pool parties and day clubs — and A-list entertainment as examples of the range of activities drawing in visitors this weekend.
“Overall, this weekend is another packed calendar of world-class events,” Valentine said in an emailed statement. “No other destination can offer our unmatched special events calendar or the deep investments the tourism industry is making in new attractions and experiences. That’s what keeps Las Vegas as a top travel destination.”
The number of attractions in Las Vegas — which this weekend includes performances by musician Jack Harlow at Zouk Nightclub inside Resorts World and comedian Leslie Jones at Virgin Hotels — and a pent-up demand for travel following the COVID-19 pandemic has created a “perfect storm” of strong visitation, Nelson-Kraft said.
“There’s so much to do in Las Vegas,” she said. “The value proposition is high, and it’s easy to get here.”
Joe Rajchel, spokesperson for Harry Reid International Airport, said there’s not only an influx of people coming to Las Vegas on a typical Memorial Day weekend, but also locals who are looking to get away for the holiday.
“(It’s) definitely a weekend that we expect to be a really busy airport, both with people coming in and people leaving,” Rajchel said, adding that travelers should plan to arrive at least two hours before their flight departs.
Airport officials announced earlier this week that Harry Reid saw about 4.8 million passengers in April, a record for the month. The previous passenger record for April was prior to the pandemic in 2019, Rajchel said.
Las Vegas is in high demand, he said, and is continuing to experience a period of visitor growth as it recovers from pandemic lows.
“What we’re seeing is a lot of locals traveling, as well,” Rajchel said. “And that’s important too. From our perspective, it’s a thrill. We’re here to serve our local community.”
The economic impact of Memorial Day weekend on Las Vegas is expected to total more than $684 million, according to the LVCVA.
Peak travel in Las Vegas is good not only for the resorts, but also hospitality workers, local businesses that support the tourism industry and others, Nelson-Kraft said.
“That trickle-down benefits everyone, so it’s a real win,” Nelson-Kraft said. “When it’s busy in the tourism corridor, everyone wins in our community.”
Three-day weekends often make taking a trip to somewhere like Las Vegas a more attractive prospect, Valentine said, and the longer a visitor stays, the more they spend.
“This spending generates sales, gaming and other taxes for the state, which pays for critical services,” Valentine said in an emailed statement. “Increased visitation drives job growth. Plus, room rates reflect demand and with that comes increased room taxes which benefit our community by funding schools, roads and tourism infrastructure projects.”
