LAS VEGAS CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW BRINGS IN OVER 150,000 VISITORS 

The Auto show helped drive local visitor
volume toward pre-recession levels. The
market also saw a surge in average daily
room rates.

The latest numbers bode well for Las Vegas,
with experts noting that a jump to an
unprecedented 40 million local visitors
may come in 2012.

Local research firm Applied Analysis says,
"With increased hotel rooms in the market,
the fact that we continue to climb clearly
benefits the leisure and hospitality industry."

Year to date through November, 36 million
people visited Las Vegas, up 4.4 percent
from 2010. "People are recognizing they have
the ability and means to travel again, and
Las Vegas is reinventing itself every day."

"We have more rooms on the market, so a
number of hotel operators remain aggressive
with promotions to potential customers."

If December's numbers meet projections,
Las Vegas will have hosted just under 39
million visitors in 2011, near a 2007 peak
of 39.2 million.

With visitor volume increasing, hotels and
motels commanded higher room rates in
November. The market's average daily room
rate jumped to $103.34. The average room
rate in 2007 hit $132.00.

With 150,000 hotel rooms to fill, up from
132,000 in 2007, it's likely to hold back
big price gains in 2012.

The Convention Authority predicts a 2 to 4
percent increase in tourism numbers in 2012.
Even at a 2.5 increase, the visitor volume
should top 40 million for the first time ever.