Las Vegas ‘At Par’ Campaign Lures 120,000 Canadian Visitors Amid Travel Slump

Las Vegas casino executive Derek Stevens weighed in on U.S.-Canada relations as he announced the conclusion of the “At Par” promotion, which brought more than 120,000 Canadian visitors south over its eight-month run.

“Our leaders of our countries are still going at it,” said Stevens. “That hasn’t changed. Canada and America, we’re still the best of friends. We’re still best allies, and this spat between our leaders isn’t going to last forever. I want you to know you got friends in the desert out here.”

Stevens is chief executive officer (CEO) of Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino.

Stevens Addresses Cross-Border Tensions 

Launched in January and running through Aug. 31, the “At Par” initiative aimed to counter a steep decline in Canadian visitation to Las Vegas. The tourism slump followed rising diplomatic and trade tariff tensions between the U.S. and Canada since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025.

Over the promotion period, those properties accepted Canadian dollars at par. Today (Sept. 2), US$1 was worth approximately C$1.39. 

Stevens reported his hotels and casinos saw an 80% increase in Canadian visitation, $20 million in slot coin-in and 8,000 hotel room nights booked through Aug. 31.

At Par Delivers Results

Stevens noted that the promotion’s strong performance reinforced what he emphasized at its January launch: the vital importance of Canadian tourism to Las Vegas. He added that offering strong, value-driven experiences helped overcome political friction and offset Canadian travel boycotts triggered by cross-border trade disputes.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, the decline in Canadian tourism continues unabated. In July, 378,482 Canadians returned by air from the U.S., down 1.4% from July 2025 and 26.8% from July 2024.

Canadian Travel to U.S. Declines Again in July

“Canadian travellers have always been an important part of downtown Las Vegas, and At Par reinforced just how strong that connection is,” Stevens explained.

“We created the offer to deliver meaningful value while encouraging guests to experience everything our properties and the surrounding destination have to offer.

“The response exceeded our expectations and showed that the right combination of value, flexibility and a uniquely downtown experience can have a tremendous impact,” the executive concluded.

Canadian guests staying at Circa, the D or Golden Gate during the promotion received an At Par rate at check-in. The program extended to select beverage venues, including BarCanada at the D Las Vegas. 

Canadians could redeem up to CA$500 in slot promotional play, treated at full U.S. dollar value, at Club One at Circa, the D, or Golden Gate.