Survey shows Las Vegas still a top affordable destination, nine in 10 visitors "very satisfied"

Las Vegas remains a top choice for travelers seeking an affordable destination, according to the latest findings from the 2023 Visitor Profile Study conducted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

Despite concerns about additional charges such as parking and resort fees, visitors continue to flock to the city in impressive numbers, spending more than ever and engaging in various entertainment activities.

"The key question — and this is the first thing I jump to every year — is visitor satisfaction. I want to know that our visitors are having a good time. Is there anything that's making them go in the wrong direction?" remarked Kevin Bagger, Vice President of the LVCVA's Research Center.

The report indicates a high level of satisfaction among visitors, with a majority expressing their contentment with their Las Vegas experience. Nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) visitors to Las Vegas in 2023 said they were 'very satisfied' with their visits, up from 77 percent in 2022, stated the report. Only 2 percent of visitors were dissatisfied with their visits.

However, the study also sheds light on areas of improvement, with some visitors expressing dissatisfaction with certain aspects of their stay. Among the top complaints were concerns about expenses, hotel-related issues, cleanliness, crowding, and difficulties in navigation.

"Too expensive" was cited as the top complaint, with 19 percent of dissatisfied visitors expressing this sentiment. "Hotel complaints" followed closely behind at 18 percent. “Las Vegas is too dirty with too many homeless people”, “too crowded”, “gambling complaints”, “too hard to get around”, and “trip was too short” round out the top complaints.

Despite these challenges, visitors are diversifying their spending, with increased allocations for lodging, dining, shopping, transportation, and sightseeing. All visitor activities experienced an increase in participation and expenditure, with the sole exception being attendance at shows.

While attendance at production shows saw a slight increase, other forms of entertainment such as headliner acts, magic shows, and nightclubs experienced a decrease in participation.

When it comes to gambling, the study found that a significant portion of visitors engage in this activity during their stay. In total, 79 percent of respondents reported gambling during their visit, marking an increase from 75 percent in the previous year. 

On average, they spent 2.4 hours engaged in gambling activities, slightly less than the 2.6 hours reported in 2022. Additionally, the average gambling budget per visitor rose to $787.54, up from $761.22 in the previous year.

Survey results showed baby boomers budgeted $969 compared with $1,110 a year earlier, Generation X budgeted $850 compared with $845, millennials budgeted $747 compared with $669, while Generation Z took $396 to gamble compared with $517 a year earlier.

Bagger indicated that younger visitors are exploring alternative spending options beyond traditional gambling activities, reflecting changing consumer behavior in Las Vegas.