Las Vegas to host record crowd over holiday weekend

LAS VEGAS - Record crowds are expected to descend on Las Vegas over the travel-happy Fourth of July holiday thanks to a booming economy, industry officials say.

The projected 258,000 visitors come compliments of the continual addition of hotel rooms and airline flights to the neon city, said Kevin Bagger, senior research analyst for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Visitors flush with cash in a healthy economy have been flocking to the gaming capital the past few years, drawn by new mega-resorts such as Bellagio, Venetian, Paris and Mandalay Bay. They're also visiting new off-Strip resorts at Lake Las Vegas and in Summerlin.

Year-to-date Las Vegas air traffic into McCarran International Airport is up 9.5 percent on the eve of the long holiday weekend, always a busy time for summertime travelers.

''This is the strongest Fourth (of July holiday) we've had,'' Bagger said.

Tourists will spend an estimated $191.6 million on items other than gambling, Bagger predicted.

Last year, more than 244,000 people visited Las Vegas for the nation's birthday generating a nongaming impact of $134.6 million, Bagger said.

This year's 14,000 more anticipated visitors also is a result of the holiday falling on a Tuesday.

''We treat it like a four-day weekend because a lot of people are taking Monday off,'' Bagger said.

This Fourth of July, however, will not set a record for visitors to Las Vegas over a holiday weekend. That was set Memorial Day when 267,000 checked in.

Visitation and hotel occupancy for the Fourth of July typically aren't as strong as other holidays such as Memorial Day or President's Day, which are at cooler times of the year and always fall on three-day weekends, Bagger said.

It's difficult to compare holiday weekends year-to-year, however, because each year the city seems to add more rooms, Bagger said.

Despite reports to the contrary, the town is not booked, said Rhonda Bagley, supervisor for the Las Vegas Tourist Bureau, a citywide room reservation service.

''It's extremely busy, but there are rooms,'' she said. ''Some of the bigger resorts are sold out, but there's still a nice selection available.''

Bagley added that room rates range from $69 to $249 a night. She predicted Sunday night will sell out.

And it is tough to find an airline seat leaving Las Vegas, Prestige Travel reported.

Summer travel plans are being bolstered by a rocketing economy that grew 5.5 percent in the first quarter, AAA Nevada reports.

Higher gas prices won't hold back an estimated 247,000 Nevadans who will travel at least 100 miles from home this weekend, a 3 percent jump from last year, AAA Nevada reported.

Gas prices average $1.66 a gallon for self-serve regular unleaded, 30 cents higher than last Fourth of July, according to a AAA survey.

''A four-day weekend and strong consumer confidence is creating a robust Independence Day weekend for travel,'' said Paul Moreno, spokesman for AAA. ''With schools out, families are eager to enjoy their favorite summer destinations.''

Las Vegas-area residents are heading away from temperatures above the century mark to national parks such as Zion, Bryce, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, as well as San Diego and Anaheim, Calif.

Reno-area residents can be found in popular Sierra Nevada spots such as Lake Almanor, Bucks Lake, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. The amusement parks and attractions of the San Francisco Bay area are also big draws.

Nationally, 37.5 million Americans will travel at least 100 miles from home, making this the second-busiest Fourth of July weekend for travel, the automobile association forecast. In 1986, 38 million Americans traveled over the Independence Day holiday.