Las Vegas Tourism Officials Reach Out to Canadians Amid Summer Slump

Las Vegas tourism officials are reaching out to Canadians to boost tourism after a summer slump. The outreach comes after a series of disappointing months with sharply lower tourists from Canada, linked to President Donald Trump's comments suggesting annexing Canada. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is taking action to lure Canadians back to the region.

Las Vegas tourism officials are actively seeking to attract Canadian visitors following a summer slump, as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) launches outreach efforts to repair strained relations. The initiative comes after a series of disappointing months with sharply lower tourists from Canada, primarily linked to President Donald Trump's comments suggesting the annexation of Canada, which led to a boycott by Canadian travelers.

Steve Hill, CEO of the LVCVA, acknowledged the current discontent among Canadian visitors, stating, "A portion of our friends in Canada are not happy with us right now. We want them to come back, but we understand they may not be ready to do that" [1]. Hill and his team recently traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia, to discuss ways to mend the rift with Canadian counterparts and create new experiences for potential visitors.

The LVCVA's efforts to lure Canadians back to Las Vegas are not limited to diplomatic outreach. Several hotels and casinos, including MGM Resorts (NYSE:MGM), Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR), and Resorts World, have introduced promotional offers such as dining credits, room specials, and waived resort and parking fees to stimulate bookings [1]. Additionally, the LVCVA has launched a new "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" campaign to be featured during NFL games.

Despite the decline in the number of tourists, Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue grew by 5.6% in July, driven by strong hold rates for table games and slot machines [1]. This growth is a testament to the city's resilience and ongoing improvements, which the LVCVA hopes will appeal to Canadian visitors.

The LVCVA's efforts are part of a broader strategy to halt the decline in visitation, which has been ongoing since the beginning of 2025. Through July, international airline passengers to Las Vegas declined by almost 2%, with Canadian carriers Air Canada, WestJet, and Flair experiencing an 18% drop in passenger volume [2]. In contrast, carriers from Mexico and the United Kingdom showed a 9% increase in passengers.

Should Canadian visitation continue to decline, the LVCVA estimates a 20% drop this year would result in 280,000 fewer Las Vegas visitors, less than 1% of the market's total visitation [2]. To mitigate this impact, the LVCVA is working with WestJet and Air Canada to create packages around round-trip flights between Canadian cities and Las Vegas, including special pricing on hotel rooms [2].

The outreach to Canadians is part of a larger effort by the LVCVA to address concerns about the city's overpriced offerings and excessive add-ons to hotel bills. Hill hinted that a soon-to-be-rolled-out marketing campaign will address these issues [2]. The LVCVA is also optimistic about the future of Las Vegas and expects to unveil new partnerships in the near future.

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4492362-las-vegas-tourism-officials-reach-out-to-canadians-after-summer-slump
[2] https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/vegas-tourism-leaders-head-north-of-the-border-to-entice-disgruntled-canadians