Las Vegas Rebounds, Tops September Travel Searches
Sin City sees a surge in interest, potentially signaling a recovery after a period of declining tourism.
Las Vegas is showing signs of a tourism comeback, according to new data from travel provider Priceline. The city ranked as the most searched destination year-over-year for September, surpassing perennial favorites like Orlando and New York.
This renewed interest follows a period of reported decline. In July of the previous year, Las Vegas experienced a 12% drop in visitors compared to the year prior, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). This July, however, visitor numbers saw a 2.7% year-over-year increase.
Hotel occupancy also improved, reaching 77.2%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points. Despite these positive trends, convention attendance fell by 5.6%.
Economically, the cost of leisure and hospitality in Las Vegas has seen a decrease, with prices down 1.1% year-over-year in July. This comes after LVCVA CEO Steve Hill previously defended the city against claims of being overpriced. Hill attributed earlier declines in visitor numbers to rising jet fuel and gas prices, as well as a significant drop in Canadian tourism, which represents a large portion of the city's international visitors.
Demographic shifts also played a role, with visitors aged 21-29 decreasing by over 10% since 2022.
Amidst these shifts, live entertainment remains a strong point, particularly The Sphere, which generated $379 million in 2025, establishing it as the world's highest-earning entertainment venue for the year. Other Western destinations like Seattle and Portland also showed positive indicators, with Seattle ranking fifth in searches and Portland noted for offering top hotel values nationwide.