Las Vegas: September visitation down 51% YoY but up 10.9% compared to previous month

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported Wednesday that 1,704,300 leisure visitors came to town, with total hotel occupancy still below 50 percent.

According to the LVCVA's data, the number of visitors picked up in September, climbing 10.9 percent from August levels. Compared to 2019, visitation is still down 51 percent for the year.

LVCVA notes that the increase came as additional resort properties reopened, 8 News Now reports.

Using a weighted average due to fewer guest rooms available, the LVCVA reports weekend occupancy at 66.1 percent, midweek occupancy at 38.5 percent. The total overall occupancy was 46.8 percent.

Normally, 148,000 rooms are available, but with resorts adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are roughly 133,000 rooms available.

Average daily room rates reached $108.13, up 9.0 percent from August. Revenue per available room was up nearly 20 percent from August: $50.60.

Comparisons to 2019 tourism levels continue to show Las Vegas still has not returned to normal traffic. Resorts were charging 21.1 percent less for rooms on average compared to 2019 as tourism lags, and making 58.2 percent less per available room.

A big part of that picture is due to convention cancellations.

September tourism indicators

• September 2020 September 2019 Change
• Visitor volume 1.704 million 3.476 million -51%
• Citywide occupancy 46.8% 88.3% -41.5 points
• Room nights occupied 1.868 million 3.947 million -52.7%
• Convention attendance 0 459,400 -100%
• Average daily room rate $108.13 $137.11 -21.1%
• Air passengers 1.706 million 4.324 million -60.6%
• Average daily highway auto traffic 126,888 117,043 +8.4%

See LVCVA's numbers here.