THE GREAT VEGAS CORRECTION
Influencers say Vegas is dying because the world hates America. Good. Finally, we get a deal.
I keep reading all the doom and gloom from influencers about how Vegas is dying, Canadians aren’t coming, the world hates America, and Vegas is suffering.
Honestly? I say great.
Vegas (and every other travel destination) has been screwing us since COVID. At first, they were just trying to recoup losses. Then they said, “Hmmmm, people are still coming… let’s keep pushing it.”
So they did. Resort fees ballooned. Minibar water hit $26. A basic vodka soda somehow became $22. And we all just… took it.
But the pandemic-fueled FOMO has finally worn off. And the world? Burned out. The economy’s rocky, politics are exhausting, and people are tired of paying luxury prices for mediocre experiences.
Vegas is not immune.
But here’s what no one on TikTok seems willing to say: This isn’t just a Vegas thing. This is global.
And in a weird twist of fate? Vegas might be the one destination actually doing something about it.
🎰 THE VEGAS RECKONING (WITH RECEIPTS)
We’ve all seen the videos by now, social influencers feeding the fears and flooding social media. “Look, Vegas is dead, no one is here.” The clickbait is unbelievable and a big reason I strive to cut through the fake for you. They are walking the Strip at 4 am to film empty sidewalks and Vegas bars (closed hours ago) and casinos.
Let’s be real: Any tourist destination looks empty on Tuesday at 4 am, especially if it’s 106 degrees out.
But let’s not kid ourselves, either; Vegas is hurting. Just not for the reasons you’re being told.
Here’s where things actually stand:
🏨 OCCUPANCY DROP
June 2024: 83.1% (LVCVA)
Pre-pandemic: 90.2%
Still outperforming NYC (84%), but this is the steepest drop in the top 25 U.S. tourism markets.
💸 ROOM RATES CORRECTING
Down 19% year-over-year for midweek stays (CBRE)
Caesars ran $29/night offers in July
Two years ago, Luxor was trying to charge $400. Even the Sphinx looked embarrassed.
🌍 INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Down 13.2% from last year
Flights from Canada down 40% from Toronto alone (Cirium)
And that new $250 visa fee coming in 2025? Not helping. (more on this in a bit)
🧳 OTHER TOURISM METRICS
Convention attendance: Down 12% from 2019
Harry Reid Airport traffic: Down 3.9% year-to-date
Let’s be clear:
These aren’t “Vegas is dead” numbers.
These are “Vegas got too cocky and now has to actually work for it” numbers, and is that such a bad thing? With many things in life, a course correction is often needed to reset how things are going. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Well, Vegas…?
🌍 WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL HANGOVER
And this part really matters: It’s not just Vegas feeling the aftershocks; the entire travel industry is grappling with a serious hangover. After splurging on extravagant trips fueled by the thrill of ‘revenge travel,’ folks are now taking a hard look at their choices. Who wants to fork out $19 for a beer while staring at a parking garage? It’s no surprise that travelers are starting to rethink their investments. The tipping point is here, and people are ready to push back against overpriced experiences; change is in the air!
Let’s compare:
🗽 New York City
European arrivals down 26% (NYT, June)
Hotels are quietly slashing rates because 2019 pricing doesn’t fly in 2025.
🌴 Hawaii
$1.6B projected drop in tourist spending (HTA)
Still pushing $400+ rates for basic 3-star hotels
Airlines haven’t helped, airfares up 32% since 2019
🇪🇺 Europe
Spain hotel rates up 27%
Venice now charges up to €10 just to enter
Italy and Spain hit you with hotel “stay taxes” between €3–5 a night (on top of other fees)
Meanwhile, Vegas is back in sales mode.
🛂 BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT VISA FEE?
Yes, the $250 “visa integrity fee” coming in 2025 is real, and so is the panic.
Some influencers are acting like it’s the final nail in Vegas’s coffin.
But let’s take a breath.
First off: most travelers won’t even be affected by it.
Second: Americans face similar fees when going abroad, we just don’t cry about it on Reddit.
The truth is, fees are going up everywhere. Vegas didn’t invent the nickel-and-dime game; it just got really good at it. This isn’t a Vegas-specific deterrent. It’s just part of the global shake-up. And frankly, most travelers care a hell of a lot more about how much they’ll spend once they get there.
That’s where Vegas is winning.
Try getting comps in Hawaii.
Try scoring free parking in Manhattan.
Try finding a $29 room in Paris that doesn’t involve bedbugs and regrets.
And as for the Canadians?
Let me be clear: visa fee or not, they’re still here.
Every time the Golden Knights play a Canadian team, Beerhaus turns into Toronto South.
If you want a laugh, ask the bartender to add a “VGK fan tariff” to their Molson. They’ll still tip better than Californians.
👷 What I Do for Failing Companies (And What Vegas Is Finally Doing)
In my day job, I help broken businesses stop the bleeding. You’d be amazed at what you can fix with a few uncomfortable calls to vendors. You’d also be shocked how many CFOs have no clue they’re overpaying by 30%+.
Ad vendor contracts. Sky-high costs. Inefficient pricing.
Sound familiar?
Vegas finally picked up the phone.
Resort fees waived for players again (MGM & Caesars)
Free parking is back (Wynn, Venetian, Resorts World)
Midweek deals under $50 are real, if you know where to look
This isn’t failure. This is a reset.
They’ve been overcharging for years, now they’re correcting.
And if you’re smart? You get in while they’re still hurting.
This Isn’t the Death of Vegas. It’s the Clearance Rack Moment.
The Strip didn’t implode, it finally blinked.
After years of bloated prices and bottom-tier service, Vegas is back to negotiating. And like any wounded giant, it’s offering deals to get you back in the door.
$29 rooms. Free parking. Waived resort fees. That’s not collapse, that’s strategy.
And while the influencer crowd clutches pearls over empty casinos at 4 am on a Tuesday, here’s what I see:
Fewer crowds = better comps
Hungry resorts = better service
Dropping prices = more value (for those who know where to look)
Compare that to the $380 shoebox in NYC or the €10 walk-through tax in Venice.
Vegas still has the magic. It just had to be humbled first.
👉 Want proof? I broke it all down in this post: Vegas is On Sale — And Not Just the Crappy Parts
This is your window. Because once the panic fades and the comps dry up, you’ll be right back to $26 waters and $50 blackjack tables. Or maybe, just maybe, we will see the shift that’s needed to realign fees for our vacationing habit, but for now…
Strike while the Strip is on sale.
-Jason
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