Despite rising COVID-19 cases and travel advice in surrounding states, Las Vegas is ready to see some visitors this Thanksgiving weekend.
A November report by the travel organizer app TripIt found Las Vegas to be the fourth most popular weekend getaway based on round-trip flights from the United States. Last year it was in eighth place.
Mehmet Erdem, associate professor at UNLV College of Hospitality, said Las Vegas is an enticing “adult playground” for many, even during a pandemic. With restaurants for all budgets, lower room rates and direct flights, Erdem said, Las Vegas is an “ideal destination” for many this year.
It is unclear how rising COVID-19 cases and travel restrictions on vacation will affect pedestrian traffic and to what extent.
Record numbers
The Nevada falls have been on an upward trend since mid-September. The state set a record on Saturday of 2,269 for new COVID-19 cases reported in a single day, and the 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases has nearly doubled since early November. The death toll from the disease reached 1,917 as of Monday, with a total of 122,097 cases across the country.
Last week, Governor Steve Sisolak urged Nevada residents to stay home as much as possible over the next two weeks so that he would not be “forced to take stronger measures.” The “Stay at Home 2.0” period ends on November 24th, two days before Thanksgiving.
Nevada isn’t the only state advising residents to stay home when cases increase. On Friday, California, Oregon and Washington issued travel warnings recommending two-week self-quarantine upon arrival and discouraging travel to the state for people arriving from another state.
Since the Nevada casinos reopened in June, more than 700 visitors to the state have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the state.
Even so, Amanda Belarmino, assistant professor at UNLV’s College of Hospitality, said many travelers would not deviate from their vacation plans.
“There has been an increase in cases in the US,” Belarmino said. “Unless the perception that ours (in Nevada) is no worse, I don’t think it will have any effect.”
She also believes that some households might choose to travel to Las Vegas instead of joining the family in other states in order to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
“For those who can and want to get away”
TripIt’s report reveals that Las Vegas has become a more popular flight destination in 2020 and is the second most popular hotel city for vacation after Orlando, after room bookings.
The report found that travelers want to leave major metropolitan areas for destinations like Las Vegas while on vacation. Denver, Phoenix, Orlando and Los Angeles also made it into the top 5 on TripIt’s list of “Most Popular Travel Destinations”.
TripIt spokeswoman Kelly Soderlund said the Las Vegas message on strict health and safety guidelines is likely one reason it will see a boost this year.
Belarmino agreed, saying the city’s open restaurants and entertainment could also attract traffic, especially from states that have stricter COVID-19 restrictions.
“(Open facilities are) enable people to have a festive vacation here,” she said. “There aren’t many places where you feel like you can get away from it all.”
Caesars Entertainment Inc. and MGM Resorts International spokespersons declined to comment on expected business numbers over the holiday season. Spokesperson for Wynn Resorts Ltd., Las Vegas Sands Corp., Red Rock Resorts Inc., and Boyd Gaming Corp. did not respond to requests for comment.
A “particularly difficult” Christmas season
Room rates recorded on Hotels.com suggest lower demand from travelers on Thanksgiving weekend compared to other holidays in 2020.
A stay at the Strat starts at $ 64 on Friday nights, while prices at the Wynn Las Vegas start at $ 279. By comparison, the prices for the two properties on Labor Day weekend Saturday were $ 224 and $ 359, respectively.
A report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association Thursday found that seven in ten Americans are unlikely to be going on vacation this year.
“This Christmas season is going to be an especially difficult time for all Americans, and our industry is no exception,” Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, said in the report. “Fewer people will travel and business travel will be next to nonexistent.”
AAA Nevada expects a 10 percent decrease in tourist traffic across the country, the largest decrease in expected traffic in a year since the Great Recession of 2008.
Erdem said rising COVID-19 cases and travel warnings could lead to cancellations, but expects many to ignore the travel warnings as well.
Lori Nelson-Kraft, spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said Las Vegas is “always a popular destination for long vacation weekends.”
“The combination of resorts that offer the strictest COVID health and safety measures, coupled with popular attractions and offerings, helps make Las Vegas a sought-after travel destination for those who can and want to get away,” she said.
Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resort Association, said visitors should feel safe at Nevada’s resorts “given the multitude of precautions and regulations and daily inspections.”
More time away
TripIt data shows those who head to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving this year will be staying longer, a potential boon to the city’s economy.
Last year, around 290,000 people visited Las Vegas for Thanksgiving, according to LVCVA. Average hotel occupancy was 91.5 percent and visitors had an overall economic impact of $ 374.1 million.
29 percent of travelers took four to seven days of vacation in 2019, 4 percent stayed longer than a week. This year, those numbers rose to 35 percent and 8 percent, respectively, according to TripIt.
A growing number are also booking weeks of Thanksgiving trips. According to TripIt, 3 percent of all Thanksgiving flyers stick through 2021 this year, compared to 1 percent in 2019.
Soderlund said there are a number of reasons travelers are extending their trips this year.
Longer vacations could give travelers the opportunity to bypass quarantine requirements. Additionally, since the beginning of the pandemic and home office measures, many travelers have gained more flexibility in terms of their schedules.
“People have more time,” said Soderlund. “You are no longer so tied to a physical location with school or work. If you have children, you don’t have to go to school. It doesn’t matter whether you leave a little earlier (for vacation). “
Soderlund said the report’s findings fall within recent travel trends, where people vacation less and longer.
“We really believe that people travel on purpose,” she said. “They’ll get the most out of their trip if they go anywhere.”
The review journal is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp family. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson.
Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter.
