Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority releases 2021 visitor profile study

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The majority of visitors to Las Vegas in 2021 felt their travel experience met or exceeded their expectations, according to research published today by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The findings were part of the annual Visitor Profile Study, compiled by the LVCVA’s Research Center.

The study found that 48% of visitors surveyed felt their Las Vegas experience exceeded their expectations while 46% felt the experience met their expectations, despite some activities being limited due to the pandemic. Additionally, 80% of visitors surveyed were repeat visitors to Las Vegas, up from 76% in 2019, demonstrating visitors’ comfort level with returning to the destination for an Only Vegas experience.

Strong spending among visitors in 2021 was also evident. With limited shows and entertainment options available the first half of the year, visitors spent more on experiences such as gaming, shopping and sightseeing than in previous years. Additionally, those who gambled spent more than in years past, with an average gaming budget of more than $700 per person, exceeding the average 2019 gaming budget of approximately $590 per person.

The Visitor Profile Study is reported annually to provide an ongoing assessment of the Las Vegas visitor, monitor trends in visitor behavior and determine satisfaction levels. For the 2021 study, approximately 4,000 visitors were interviewed in-person at locations throughout the destination. Due to the pandemic, no report was issued in 2020.

Some other findings of the survey are as follows:

- The mix of visitors who arrived by air and vehicle gradually returned to pre-pandemic levels toward the end of the year despite restrictions on international travel, with 48 percent arriving by air and 52 percent arriving by vehicle.

- Western states, including California, Arizona and Utah, continued to dominate the primary feeder markets to Las Vegas, with other domestic regions increasing the second half of the year.

- Just over one-half of visitors surveyed, 52 percent, said the main purpose of their visit was for vacation or pleasure, up from 36 percent in 2019. The percentage of travelers who were passing through or coming for conventions and meetings was down from historical norms.

Las Vegas welcomed more than 32 million visitors in 2021, a significant increase from 2020 visitation of 19 million visitors, as pent-up demand for leisure travel, new sporting and special events, and targeted marketing programs continued to spur the destination’s recovery. Visitation was down only 24 percent below the 2019 pre-pandemic recorded visitation of 42 million visitors.