Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/129161
•pg_40-44__BMT_pg3-58 4/30/13 9:17 PM Page 44 T R AV E L DATA LAS VEGAS SETS RECORD FOR VISITATION IN 2012 WELCOMING NEARLY 40 MILLION VISITORS Increases in Core Indicators Point to Continued Recovery or Las Vegas Tourism Las Vegas welcomed a record 39.7 million visitors in 2012, approximately a half-million more visitors than the previous high of 39.2 million set in 2007. The record visitation generated more than $40 billion in economic impact for the local economy last year. 2012, up 13.6 percent from the 2011 total of 19,029. The 2012 total is the highest number of meetings and conventions held in Las Vegas since 2008. • Average citywide occupancy was up 0.6 percentage points to 84.4 percent for 2012. Las Vegas' citywide occupancy is 23 percentage points higher than the national average of 61.4 percent. With industry-leading occupancy of 84.4 percent for its 150,481 rooms, Las Vegas fills more rooms per night on average than any destination in North America. • Las Vegas' average daily room rate increased $3 to $108 in 2012. • Clark County gross gaming revenue reached $9.4 billion in 2012, a 1.9 percent increase over last year. On the Las Vegas Strip, revenues increased 2.3 percent to $6.2 billion while Downtown Las Vegas was up 2.5 percent for a total of $509 million last year. • Another positive indicator for Southern Nevada's tourism industry is the addition of nearly 23,000 jobs in the resort-industry since the recessionary low in November 2009. Tourism supports 370,000 jobs, or 46 percent of all the local jobs. Additional information regarding Las Vegas 2012 visitors will be available later this spring when the LVCVA releases its annual (Visitor Profile Study, detailing visitor trends, attitudes, behaviors and spending habits while visiting the destination. LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PASSENGER VOLUME UP 2.9 PERCENT TO 63,688,121 MILLION TRAVELERS IN 2012; AIR CARGO UP FIVE PERCENT The 2012 year-end statistics, released recently by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), point to continued recovery for Las Vegas tourism with increases in all of the key core indicators. "The record visitation is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our resort partners and every employee who works in the industry," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the LVCVA. "Tourism is the economic leader for Southern Nevada and the entire state, so we are encouraged to see positive signs of continued growth for the industry. With more than $2 billion of reinvestment in the destination, Las Vegas is well positioned for continued growth in 2013 and on the threshold of hosting more than 40 million visitors." Other year-end highlights: • Compared to 2011, visitor volume increased 2.1 percent in 2012 with approximately 800,000 more guests allowing the destination to reach 39.7 million annual visitors. • Gradual improvement in the meetings and convention industry with 4.9 million delegates attending a convention, trade show or meeting in 2012, reflecting a 1.6 percent increase over last year. This is the highest convention attendance in four years. • Las Vegas hosted 21,615 meetings, tradeshows or conventions in 44 Airport officials reported recently that passenger volume at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) increased 2.9 percent to 63,688,121 passengers in 2012, from 61,862,052 passengers in 2011. Domestic passenger volume grew 3.1 percent to 46,535,207 from 45,130,728 in 2011. International traffic grew 2.5 percent to 17,152,914 passengers from 16,731,324 in 2011. Total air cargo tonnage increased five percent last year to 1,963,210 from 1,869,646 in 2011. Air mail tonnage rose 20.3 percent to 96,779 from 80,442 in 2011. Freight (goods) increased 4.3 percent to 1,866,432 tons from 1,789,204 tons in 2011. The number of aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs) increased 0.2 percent to 605,480 in 2012 from 603,912 in 2011. "The increase in passenger activity at LAX is attributable to airlines starting new international service; an improving Asia-Pacific regional economy; and a modest, but perceptible, strengthening of the Southern California economy," said Gina Marie Lindsey executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, the Los Angeles City department that owns and operates LAX and two other Southern California airports, LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys (general aviation). For more information about LAX, please visit www.lawa.aero/lax or follow them on Twitter @LAX_Official, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1. B M & T ••• March/April 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com