Las Vegas Posts 10.5% Increase in Visitors

The glittering neon oasis in the Nevada desert continued record-breaking growth last year, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has reported.

Defying predictions that the burgeoning supply of hotel rooms would outstrip demand, Las Vegas’ average hotel and motel occupancy rate rose last year, to 88% from 85.8% in 1998. The city drew a record 33.8 million visitors in 1999, a 10.5% increase from 1998, while adding 10% more rooms. Major 1999 openings included Mandalay Bay, the Regent Las Vegas (formerly the Resort at Summerlin), the Four Seasons, the Venetian, Paris Las Vegas and the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas.

Gross gaming revenue in Clark County was up 13.6%, to $7.2 billion, with the Strip alone raking in $4.5 billion, up by 17.7%.

Californians were a significant factor in the growth: Automobile traffic to Las Vegas from Southern California increased 12.5%.