Those who traveled to Las Vegas last year were less likely to gamble, but more likely to spend money on shopping and lodging.
That's according to the recently released 2012 Las Vegas Visitor Profile Study. The study, done for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, was based on interviews with about 3,600 out-of-towners aged 21 and older at sites around the city.
Respondents stayed an average of four days, the same as in 2011, and said they spent an average of $93.13 per night on lodging, up from $84.04 in 2011, but down from $101.68 in 2008.
Seventy-two percent gambled while in Vegas, down from 77% in 2011. But stated gaming budgets averaged $484.70, up from $447.63 in 2011. Fourteen percent said their room rates were taken care of by casino resorts ('comped"), down slightly from years past (16% in 2011, 17% in 2008).
The average expenditure for shopping was $149.29, higher than $129.34 in 2011. But the typical visitor spent $265.11 on food and drink, down from $274.69 in 2011 – perhaps a bit surprising considering the proliferation of pricey, celeb-chef restaurants in Las Vegas. Visitors spent $42.89 on average for show tickets, down from $47.52 in 2011.
As in recent years, three quarters of visitors were married, and about half were from the West. However, the average age of visitors is dropping: It was 49 in 2011 and 44.8 last year. In 2011, 70% of visitors were 40 or older, vs. 58% last year.
Most visitors (60%) used the Internet to plan the trip, a 5% increase from 2011, and a 16% jump from 2008. And more walked when traveling around the city – 48%, almost double the 25% who said they walked around the city in 2011.
Despite Vegas' rep as convention central, just 9% of visitors surveyed said they attended a convention, trade show or corporate meeting while in the city, down from 10% in 2011 and 12% in 2008. (Or perhaps conventioneers were busy with their meetings and not out and about being interviewed for the study.)
Forty-three percent of visitors flew to Vegas; 57% arrived via ground transportation. Those percentages have stayed virtually the same in recent years. During their visit, 64% stayed on the Strip; 36% stayed in or visited the downtown area.
Just 1% of first-time visitors said they came primarily to gamble, vs. 9% of repeat visitors.
How did visitors feel about Vegas?
A whopping 94% said they were "very satisfied" with their visits, up from 92% in 2011.
Of those who were dissatisfied, 13% said the main reason was that things were too expensive, 13% said they don't like Vegas – and 7% were sore losers. They said they were unhappy because they didn't win enough gambling.
Source: USA Today
