Tourism Stakes for Las Vegas Are High Following Massacre

Photo of John Harrington
By John Harrington Updated Published
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Tourism Stakes for Las Vegas Are High Following Massacre

© Thinkstock

Though authorities are not calling the horrific massacre in Las Vegas a terrorist attack, the atrocity might have a negative impact on a city built on gambling and entertainment.

At least 50 people were killed and more than 200 were injured when a gunman fired an automatic weapon from the roof of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Sunday night at those attending a large outdoor concert festival in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. SWAT units killed the gunman, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock.

CNN reported that hospital officials said 104 patients were receiving care at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada.

Thousands of people fled in horror during the performance of country singer Jason Aldean, who was on stage outside at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a three-day country music event.

[nativounit]

McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas said that some flights bound for the airport were diverted because of police activity. The airport is just east of the Mandalay hotel. The hotel was placed on virtual lockdown after the shooting, according to guests.

The stakes are high for Las Vegas. Tourism supports 407,000 jobs, or 44% of the work force in southern Nevada, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Through August, the desert resort has had 28,541,867 visitors, down 0.9% from a year ago.

Hotel occupancy in Las Vegas is averaging over 90% and revenue per available room, a key measure of profitability in the hospitality industry, was up 4.4% to $116.42. The average daily room rate price was $129.44, an increase of 4.3% from a year ago.

Gaming revenue in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, has risen 4.3% to $6,687,769,000 for the period ended in August.

[wallst_email_signup]

Photo of John Harrington
About the Author John Harrington →

I'm a journalist who started my career as a sportswriter, covering professional, college, and high school sports. I pivoted into business news, working for the biggest newspapers in New Jersey, including The Record, Star-Ledger and Asbury Park Press. I was an editor at the weekly publication Crain’s New York Business and served on several editorial teams at Bloomberg News. I’ve been a part of 24/7 Wall St. since 2017, writing about politics, history, sports, health, the environment, finance, culture, breaking news, and current events. I'm a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

CBOE Vol: 1,568,143
PSKY Vol: 12,285,993
STX Vol: 7,378,346
ORCL Vol: 26,317,675
DDOG Vol: 6,247,779

Top Losing Stocks

LKQ
LKQ Vol: 4,367,433
CLX Vol: 13,260,523
SYK Vol: 4,519,455
MHK Vol: 1,859,865
AMGN Vol: 3,818,618