Nine in 10 Las Vegas Visitors Were ‘Very Satisfied’ With 2023 Sin City Jaunt

Posted on: March 13, 2024, 10:32h. 

Last updated on: March 13, 2024, 11:12h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Las Vegas is more expensive than ever to visit, with many cocktails costing more than $20 and room rates continuing to climb. Even still, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reports that most guests have been “very satisfied” with their time visiting Southern Nevada.

Las Vegas visitor study LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau has published its 2023 Las Vegas Visitor Profile Study. The report demonstrates that the local economy in Southern Nevada is strong. (Image: Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau)

The LVCVA’s 2023 Las Vegas Visitor Profile Study released this week was conducted by Virginia-based Heart+Mind Strategies. The firm utilizes data to determine how consumers make choices — insights that can be used by agencies like the LVCVA and casino resorts to improve their product offerings.

The 2023 Las Vegas survey found that nearly nine in 10 (87%) visitors were “very satisfied” with their visit, up substantially from 77% in 2022. Another 11% said they were “somewhat satisfied.” Just 2% said they were dissatisfied with their excursion to the desert valley.

The statistics come from in-person visitor interviews conducted throughout the year in or near Las Vegas casinos, hotels, and at Harry Reid International Airport. Pollsters also met up with visitors at the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign and along Fremont Street downtown.

Survey Says

Along with strong trip satisfaction rates, nearly half of Las Vegas visitors reported having their expectations exceeded. The 48% who said their time in Sin City exceeded expectations represented a 7% gain from 2022.

Downtown continues to find favor among the traveling demographic. More than half of all visitors — 54% — said they ventured downtown during their trip. While that’s down from 58% in 2022, the rate remains considerably higher than the 42% who reported checking out Fremont Street in prepandemic 2019.

Las Vegas experienced an increase in return visitors and international traffic. The overall visitor segment was also willing to spend more than in prior years, as gaming and nongaming spending both surged.

The average visitor spent $570 on food and beverage, $414 on shopping, $238 on local transportation, and $177 on sightseeing. Entertainment spending on concerts and shows was a lone blight, with spending declining from $310 to $278.

Casino floors benefited, too. Seventy-nine percent of visitors gambled during their stay, up 4%, and the average gambling budget was $787, up from $761 in 2022 and $591 in 2019.

The Las Vegas tourism crowd got a little bit older, as the average guest last year was nearly 44 years old, up from a record low of 40.7 in 2022. The demographic also became more diverse, as rates increased among Asian/Asian Americans and Blacks.

Vegas Too Expensive?

Hop on social media and you’ll come across a flurry of angry posts about Las Vegas, especially the Strip, continuing to nickel and dime customers. Along with ongoing room rate increases, casinos continue to raise resort fees, and products and services continue to become costlier.

The LVCVA study determined that the rate hikes haven’t yet turned off the majority of Las Vegas visitors.

We have 150,000 hotel rooms of all price levels for every budget,” LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill told the board during its meeting on Tuesday.

The 2023 Visitor Profile found that 27% of visitors came from a household with annual incomes ranging from $100,000 to $149,999. Another 21% reported income over $150K.

Sixteen percent said their annual income was $60K to $80K, and 17% said they make less than $60K.