According to the research, gambling ($400), dining ($327), shopping ($300) and shows ($187) accounted for the largest portions of the total spend, while golf, spa visits, local transportation and sightseeing comprised the balance.
LAS VEGAS – Expedia, Inc. released the findings of a survey of its North American Las Vegas-bound travelers that revealed average discretionary spending of $1,663 on gambling, dining, shopping and entertainment.
More than 1,400 respondents who had recently returned from travel to Las Vegas booked through Expedia.com and Hotels.com provided input. The email survey asked about the travelers’ activities and spending habits during their visit. The snapshot of leisure traveler spending habits in Las Vegas was taken over a two-week period in September, 2012.
“Our data shows that in addition to hotel and transportation, the Expedia customers that we polled spent $1,663 during their average three-day visit to Las Vegas,” said Daniel Wathen, Expedia’s director of market management in Las Vegas. “Interestingly, guests spent the lion’s share of their discretionary budget, 42 percent, at their booked hotel. The balance was typically spread out over four additional properties.”
According to the research, gambling ($400), dining ($327), shopping ($300) and shows ($187) accounted for the largest portions of the total spend, while golf, spa visits, local transportation and sightseeing comprised the balance. Respondents reported more than 60 percent of the gambling spend was wagered at the hotel they booked.
As a point of reference, the recently released Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s (LVCVA) annual visitor profile, which provides a snapshot of travelers to Las Vegas, reported an average ancillary spend of $349 on gaming, $265 on dining, $149 on shopping and $43 on shows
Nearly 80 percent of Expedia’s respondents had attended college and were roughly split between under and over 44 years of age. More than half were married and nearly 80 percent were employed full time or retired. The Expedia survey was sent to English speaking customers who booked on the company’s US and Canada websites.
“This study underscores the economic value of the Expedia customers we polled,” Wathen said. “These guests are well-educated consumers with discretionary income who appreciate receiving good value for their hard-earned money. We have known that intuitively, but now we have the data to support it. This data will give hoteliers in every tourist destination greater understanding that will allow them to create packages and specials that have the highest appeal to these valuable leisure guests.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
