Las Vegas is top spot for Memorial Day travel
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More than 320,000 people are expected to visit Las Vegas for Memorial Day weekend. Video by ktnv.com
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Out of all the cities in the country, Las Vegas is the top spot for Memorial Day weekend travelers. That's according to online booking data from a variety of travel websites. Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Out of all the cities in the country, Las Vegas is the top spot for Memorial Day Weekend travelers.
That's according to online booking data from a variety of travel websites.
Sin City is the most popular destination for good reason. It's the place to be whether you want to hit the pool or hit the jackpot.
But it's the local economy that comes out the big winner as a result of three-day holiday weekends like this.
Signs on the strip welcome the estimated 321,000 visitors to Las Vegas this weekend.
"I love this city," says Demetrios Payn. "Where else can you go and have hundreds of different clubs, restaurants, and shows all on one street?"
Payn is one of many Memorial Day Weekend warriors that have packed the Strip.
"While they're here, they're going to spend $203 million, and that's on non-gaming things like restaurants, shopping and shows," says Hetty Chang, spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
It's a much-need spending surge to kick-off the summer season.
"When you add in the hotel, food, shopping, and souvenirs, I'll probably spend a couple thousand dollars," Payn says. "If everybody spends a couple grand like me, Vegas is going to stay in business."
But Dawn Anzalone, who sells discounted show tickets on the Strip, doesn't agree.
"These tourists really aren't spending enough to make a huge difference," she says. "People are traveling here, but a lot of them still don't have the money for these things due to our economic crunch."
Many of the visitors Action News spoke with, proved Dawn's theory to be true.
"We didn't really spend that much money," says Ian Roberts. "We all came with a budget."
Even so, no one's disputing that a packed Strip is a positive step.
Here's a breakdown from the LVCVA of the projected Memorial Day Weekend numbers for this year, as compared to last:
Memorial Day Weekend 2012:
Visitation: 321,000 people
Non-gaming economic impact: $203 million
Memorial Day Weekend 2011:
Visitation: 319,000 people
Non-gaming economic impact: $201 million
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