Breaking Las Vegas News: Major Strip Development Project Announced—What It Means for Tourists and Locals

H2: Las Vegas rolls out “Welcome to Fabulous” campaign as visitor numbers slip The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has launched a national advertising blitz designed to reignite travel to the Strip after a 5.7 percent year-over-year dip in July passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport. The 60-second spot, debuting during the Dallas Cowboys–Philadelphia Eagles game, leans on the city’s iconic neon sign and the promise of “fabulous experiences at every price point,” according to LVCVA CEO Steve Hill. H2: Why tourism is softening in 2025 • Visa integrity fee: International travelers from non-waiver countries now face a US$250 surcharge, pushing a family of four’s paperwork costs above US$1,100 and lengthening wait times for approvals. • Airline pullbacks: WestJet’s Las Vegas seat capacity from Canada is down 23 percent, while Flair Airlines has slashed flights by 62 percent as demand wanes. • Sticker-shock narrative: Viral social posts highlighting $30 cocktails and rising resort fees have hurt sentiment, even though mid-week room rates now rival pre-2010 levels, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle told analysts. H2: Resorts fight back with value deals and fee rollbacks To counter the “Vegas is overpriced” storyline, major operators are dangling incentives: • Caesars Entertainment’s new US$300 bundle covers two nights, taxes, resort fees and a food-and-beverage credit. • Multiple Strip garages have re-implemented free parking, a perk rarely seen since 2016. • Select properties are testing “no-resort-fee” mid-week windows through November. H2: Experiential marketing takes over the Strip—and beyond From Sept. 12, resort marquees will glow purple for an hour each evening, while Fremont Street’s Viva Vision canopy will broadcast the new ad. Out-of-home placements are already live in New York’s Times Square and will hit Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard on Sept. 15. Travelers arriving at Harry Reid Airport that day will walk through a DJ-scored selfie tunnel, part of what R&R Partners CEO Michon Martin calls “our biggest brand activation since ‘What Happens Here, Stays Here.’” H2: Sports venues join the push The Las Vegas Raiders will transform their Allegiant Stadium entrance into a “Fabulous Tunnel Walk” for the Sept. 15 home opener, merging the NFL audience with the city’s tourism comeback narrative. H2: What it means for prospective visitors • Cheaper mid-week stays: Sunday-to-Thursday ADRs are trending 18 percent below weekend peaks, making fall shoulder season the most affordable window since 2020. • Competitive airfares: Airlines from Canada, Mexico and Brazil are promoting flight-plus-hotel packages co-funded by the LVCVA. • Event-packed calendar: Life Is Beautiful, U2 at Sphere and new Sphere-exclusive production “Wizard of Oz” headline September, adding urgency to book early. H2: Outlook—can “fabulous” outshine headwinds? Analysts say a 2–3 percent rebound in fourth-quarter visitation is achievable if visa-policy talks progress and operators sustain value messaging. “The brand equity is still there—people just need proof Las Vegas hasn’t lost its deal factor,” notes UNLV tourism professor Amanda Belarmino. For travelers eyeing the city, 2025’s fall season could offer a rare combination of lower prices, lighter crowds and marquee entertainment—all wrapped in a refreshed neon glow.