Visit Las Vegas Hosts “Vegas Insiders Club” event in Toronto

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) hosted an exclusive Vegas Insiders Club dinner at Nobu Toronto late last week, bringing together key Canadian airline, tour operator, and loyalty partners to share the latest destination updates and reinforce Las Vegas’ commitment to the Canadian market.

Attending the event were representatives from Air Canada, Air Canada Vacations, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Perkopolis, and TravelBrands, signaling the importance of collaboration as Canadian travel demand continues to recalibrate.

Representing the LVCVA were David Han, Diego Gantiva, and Karly Melo, who provided partners with a comprehensive look at visitation trends, new trade initiatives, and the robust pipeline of events, openings, and investments shaping Las Vegas through 2026 and beyond.

Visitation Snapshot

Las Vegas welcomed 38.5 million visitors in 2025, a 7.5 percent decline year over year, reflecting a period shaped by cautious consumer sentiment, economic uncertainty, and evolving policy conditions. December visitation totaled 3.1 million, down 9.2 percent, while leisure and international travel faced headwinds throughout the year.

Despite this, convention activity remained a stabilizing force. Las Vegas hosted 6.0 million convention attendees in 2025, nearly matching 2024 levels, reinforcing the city’s role as a leading global meetings destination. Annual hotel occupancy averaged 80.3 percent, well above the U.S. average of 62.3 percent, while average daily rate ($183.52) and RevPAR ($147.30) both ranked as the third highest on record, despite modest year-over-year declines.

Steve Hill, president and CEO of the LVCVA, said that: “Las Vegas operates at a scale that few destinations can match, and 2025 required us to remain nimble as conditions evolved.”

And Hill continued: “Despite a challenging environment, convention demand remained steady, the events calendar remained strong, and the destination continued to adapt in real time.”

Scale That Sets Las Vegas Apart

By the numbers, Las Vegas continues to operate in a category of its own. The destination now offers approximately 150,000 hotel rooms, maintains nearly 15 million square feet of meeting and convention space, and continues to lead U.S. cities in rooms filled on any given night.

Harry Reid International Airport set a new annual passenger record in 2024 for the third consecutive year, serving 58.4 million travelers, with international traffic up 13.6 percent year over year. While international capacity entering 2026 remains below peak levels, Canada continues to represent the largest share of international air service.

A Year Defined by Global Events

Las Vegas’ 2025 calendar delivered high-profile moments across sports and entertainment. WrestleMania 41 set new company records at Allegiant Stadium, drawing 124,693 fans over two nights, with WrestleMania 42 confirmed to return in April 2026. UFC International Fight Week once again reinforced Las Vegas’ status as the global home of mixed martial arts, while the Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered a worldwide cultural moment reaching millions across broadcast and digital platforms.

“What’s especially exciting right now is how much Las Vegas is evolving,” said Karly Melo, PR representative for LVCVA Canada. “From next-level entertainment and major global events to new value-driven offers tailored for Canadians, there’s a real opportunity for travellers to explore Las Vegas in new ways, or to rediscover it through experiences they haven’t seen before. The city is delivering more depth, more choice, and more reasons to come back.”

At Sphere, The Wizard of Oz debuted in August and has since sold more than 2 million tickets, generating over $260 million in ticket sales.

New Canadian Trade Incentives and Value Offers

To support Canadian travel advisors and drive booking confidence through 2026 and beyond, the LVCVA, in partnership with WestJet Vacations and destination hotels, has introduced a series of Canada-exclusive offers and trade initiatives.

Exclusive WestJet Vacations Hotel Offers:

Wynn and Encore Las Vegas

(Exclusive to WestJet Vacations)

• Offer: $60 USD resort credit plus room upgrade
• Minimum length of stay: 2 nights
• Book by: March 31, 2026
• Travel by: September 30, 2026

SAHARA Las Vegas

(Exclusive to WestJet Vacations)

• Offer: $100 USD food and beverage credit
• Minimum length of stay: 3 nights
• Book by: January 29 to February 28
• Travel by: January 29 to December 31, 2026

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

• Offer: $50 USD resort credit per night
• Minimum length of stay: 2 nights
• Book by: March 31, 2026
• Travel by: Up to February 28, 2027

Resorts World Las Vegas

• Offer: $100, $150, or $200 USD beverage credit, tiered by length of stay
• Minimum length of stay: 2 nights
• Book by: Up to February 10, 2026 (extension anticipated)
• Travel by: No current travel deadline

MGM Resorts International – Preferred Savings

WestJet Vacations continues to offer preferred hotel savings across select MGM Resorts International properties.

• * Details: Available directly through WestJet Vacations
• * More information: https://www.westjetvacations.com/en/deals/hotel-savings/mgm-resorts

Canadian Dollar at Par – Downtown Las Vegas

Select downtown Las Vegas hotels, including Circa Resort & Casino, are offering

Canadian dollar at-par exchange, delivering immediate, tangible value for Canadian travellers booking accommodations.

* More information: https://www.visitlasvegas.com/experience/post/downtown-hotels-offering-at-par-exchange-rate-for-canadians/

Trade and Industry Initiatives

In addition to consumer-facing offers, WestJet Vacations and Las Vegas partners are actively engaging the Canadian travel trade through several strategic initiatives, including:

• A Bruno Mars booking incentive currently running in Toronto and Vancouver, rewarding top-performing travel advisors
• A Blue Jays Home Opener activation with WestJet, reinforcing Las Vegas’ connection to major Canadian sports moments
• A year-round Vegas Insiders Club program, supporting ongoing advisor education, engagement, and sales growth

“Our goal is to stay present, stay relevant, and stay supportive of the trade,” said David Han, Senior Account Representative, LVCVA Canada. “These initiatives are about building confidence, rewarding performance, and keeping Las Vegas top of mind for Canadian advisors and their clients.”

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

The outlook for 2026 and 2027 is anchored by a strong convention pipeline, including approximately 1.2 million tradeshow attendees expected at the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2026, bolstered by the return of CONEXPO and continued growth in technology and construction shows.

Major sporting and entertainment events on the horizon include WrestleMania 42, UFC International Fight Week, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the National Finals Rodeo, alongside increased international visitation tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary.

More than $7 billion in new development is underway across the destination, including the A’s Ballpark and Bally’s Las Vegas project, the transformation of The Cromwell into The Vanderpump Hotel, the rebrand of Mirage to Hard Rock Las Vegas, and major renovations at properties such as Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan, Flamingo, MGM Grand, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, and Green Valley Ranch.

In the photo

Seen here, from l to r, are Viktor Spysak, Air Canada; Shannon Cunningham, WestJet; Sandra Costa, Porter; Nancy Jeronimo, Air Canada Vacations; Debbie Kenton, Perkopolis; David Han LVCVA Canada; Rose Gonzalez, Air Canada Vacations; Diego Gantiva, LVCVA Canada; Karly Melo, LVCVA Canada; Sam Youssef, TravelBrands.