Las Vegas’ recent effort to spark visitor interest has had a questionable impact on results, industry figures reveal. The “Fabulous Five-Day Sale” by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) in late September caught eyes and boosted online engagement. Yet, experts say the city’s overall tourism bounce-back stays slow through October.
Las Vegas Hotels See Third-Quarter Price Drop Despite Heavy Promotions
A new study from Truist Securities showed that hotel prices on the Las Vegas Strip dropped in the third quarter, indicating less demand during summer and early fall. Barry Jonas, an analyst at Truist Securities, pointed out that even with lots of promotions, lower prices boosted visitor numbers only slightly. He said that investors are wary about third-quarter profits, though there are hints that things might level out as the year ends.
Truist‘s newest survey revealed Las Vegas Strip room rates dropped 5% compared to the previous year, with bigger falls at major operators — 7% at MGM Resorts International and 17% at Caesars Entertainment. Jonas pointed out that October bookings show more weakness with low weekend rates. Still, November forecasts look brighter, hinting that an increase could signal the beginning of a comeback as we approach 2026.
Jonas also said resort companies seem upbeat about the upcoming convention and event schedule, which might give a boost through the fourth quarter. The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this week should shed more light on how operators are dealing with the slowdown.
Small Gains in Regional Gaming Contrast with Las Vegas’ Ongoing Tourism Challenges
At the same time, JPMorgan analyst Daniel Politzer reported a small increase of about 2% in US regional casino revenue for September compared to last year, indicating that national gaming demand stays strong. Politzer noted that while promotions have helped keep growth going, operators’ net revenue gains have not kept up, suggesting that big discounts might be cutting into profit margins, as reported by CDC Gaming.
These mixed messages come just a few days after the LVCVA said its “Fabulous Five-Day Sale” was a hit. The authority reported record engagement across digital platforms, with visits to VisitLasVegas.com going through the roof and hotel booking activity jumping during the campaign. Chief Marketing Officer Kate Wik said the initiative showed that good deals still attract a lot of interest from travelers when they focus on affordability.
The September sale, which offered more than 160 special deals on hotels, food, fun, and sights, also led to good online chatter about the city. Hotels cut or got rid of some fees for a while, which made long-time guests happy after years of rising prices. Still, the overall effect seems small in changing bigger trends. Experts say that while the push raised awareness and short-term excitement, Las Vegas still seems too pricey for many travelers. The next few months and how well November might bounce back will show if recent deals can lead to steady growth in 2026.