Las Vegas. Credit: Travel Pulse Canada
Vancouver welcomed a little Las Vegas glamour on Monday night as senior leaders from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) kicked off their Western Canadian trade mission. The group came with a mix of honesty and enthusiasm, acknowledging challenges while promoting new reasons to visit the desert city.
Canadians Matter Most
Fewer Canadians are travelling to Las Vegas this year. CEO and President Steve Hill said Canadians usually make up 3.5 percent of all visitors, making them the city’s largest international market.
“We get that you’re pissed off,” Hill told attendees. “We’re pissed off too!” He explained that the drop hurts not just financially but emotionally, since Canadians have long shared a close connection with Las Vegas.
A Dip After the Boom
Vice-President of Marketing Fletch Brunelle said visitor levels in 2025 look similar to pre-pandemic years. The real difference comes when compared with the past two years, when numbers soared. Big events like the Super Bowl and the debut of Formula 1 racing in Las Vegas drew record-breaking crowds.
Still, Hill stressed the city’s energy and spirit remain unmatched. “There's really no place else that will give you quite the same level of celebration or quite the same level of escape as Las Vegas does,” he said.
Sweetening the Deal for Canadians
To bring Canadians back, airlines and resorts are rolling out discounts. Starting September 2, both Air Canada Vacations and WestJet Vacations will launch instant savings on Vegas packages. WestJet will also introduce a seasonal flight from Kelowna, adding to daily service from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
Major resorts and hotels, including Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, JW Marriott Las Vegas, Resorts World, and the newly opened Fontainebleau, showcased offers. These range from reduced room rates to food credits, along with upgrades to entertainment and luxury spaces.
Always Something New in Vegas
The city continues to expand its attractions. Formula 1 returns for its third year, and fans can enjoy racing simulators, a go-kart track, a museum, and themed restaurants even outside race weekends.
New experiences such as Universal Horror Unleashed and AREA15 offer daytime fun, breaking away from the city’s old image of casinos and nightlife alone. Hill noted, “In the last 10 years, a wide variety of daytime experiences have been introduced.”
Supporting the Travel Industry
The LVCVA also highlighted tools for travel advisors, including the “Learn and Earn” program and commissionable offerings that help advisors sell Vegas trips more easily. TravelBrands is offering a Las Vegas coupon book and vacation home options for those seeking something different.
A Message of Thanks
Hill ended with gratitude for Canadian travel advisors. “I’d like to thank them for their work; the work they do on our behalf. It’s harder for them now, and we appreciate it.”
He promised that whenever Canadians are ready, Las Vegas will welcome them warmly. “Vegas just keeps getting better,” Hill said. “We get that some may not want to come right now. We respect that, and we’ll be here when they’re ready.”
