Las Vegas records 15th month with increase in visitors

Sam Morris

Tourists pass by the Flamingo with Caesars Palace in the background in this April 28, 2011, file photo.

May brought Las Vegas its 15th straight month of visitation and room rate gains, according to numbers released today.

The number of visitors for May increased by 3.3 percent from 3.26 million in 2010 to 3.37 in 2011, according to a monthly report from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Room rates for the month increased nearly 10 percent from $99 last year to $108 in May of this year.

Citywide occupancy rates also increased during the past year, from 82.6 percent to 86.1 percent.

Convention attendance during the year-over-year period was flat with last year, but the number of meetings held during May increased from 1,577 to 1,753.

Gaming win on the Strip increased 28.9 percent from $450.2 million in May 2010 to $580.4 million in May 2011, the largest increase since February 2010. In Clark County, gaming revenue increased nearly 20 percent to $853.5 million. The LVCVA said the increases were boosted by strong baccarat play and sports betting.

Passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport was up 5 percent during the year-over-year period while traffic at the Nevada/California line was down 1.7 percent.

Visitation in Laughlin fell 2.5 percent from May 2010 to May 2011 while it increased by 1.3 percent in Mesquite.

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