Canadians are expanding their horizons for bachelor and bachelorette parties, and Vegas is feeling the pain.
Driving the news: In a bid to lure back Canadian tourists, a Las Vegas casino operator is running a promotion where it will accept Canadian currency on par with the U.S. dollar until Aug. 31.
The deal applies to the hotels and bars at all three Circa Resort & Casinos in Vegas, including $500 worth of cash for gambling. Even guests staying at other hotels can redeem the deal as long as they have their Canadian ID.
Why it’s happening: Many Canadians have been avoiding U.S. travel of late, and visits to Vegas in particular have plummeted. The number of Air Canada and WestJet passengers flying to Sin City fell by over 30% in June of last year compared with 2024, while the number of Flair passengers fell by 62%.
That’s a problem for Vegas’ economy. A University of Nevada professor estimated that Canadians contributed US$3.6 billion to the local economy in 2024.
Why it matters: It’s not just Canadians choosing to spend their travel dollars elsewhere. Last year, the city saw its worst tourism year in over two decades, outside of the pandemic.
Price hikes may have slain Vegas’ golden goose. Tourists say that prices for everything from hotels to a Starbucks coffee on the strip have skyrocketed. Even the gambling odds are worse than they used to be.