By Editor,James Gordon

Copyright dailymail

Las Vegas hotels are in full damage control mode, slashing prices, handing out perks, and even offering free parking as the once-booming tourist hotspot faces a sharp decline in visitors who say Sin City has become a rip-off.

In a dramatic effort to reverse the downturn, major casino operators like Caesars Entertainment and the Sahara have rolled out a series of eye-catching deals.

The offers include everything from $300 stay-and-dine packages to $1.99 margaritas, 15 percent spa discounts, and even free rides on the High Roller observation wheel – all in hopes of winning back fed-up travelers and jaded locals.

The scramble to woo guests comes as visitor volume to Las Vegas plummeted 11 percent year-over-year in June and 12 percent in July, marking the second straight month of double-digit declines, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

Hotel occupancy is down, airline traffic is falling, and retail and restaurant sales are slipping – all while the perception grows that Vegas has priced itself out of reach.

‘We’re going through a downturn, and we’re not happy to be going through a downturn,’ admitted LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill during a recent news conference. ‘I’m going to bet on Vegas. We’re all confident in the future of this city.’

Leading the charge to win back visitors is Caesars Entertainment which this week launched a limited-time promotion aimed at Nevada residents, offering free self-parking Sunday through Thursday at all eight of its Las Vegas resorts until October 30.

Residents with a valid Nevada ID can also enjoy 25 percent off food and drinks at more than 100 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including pool venues, as well as 15–20 percent off spa treatments, and steep discounts on attractions like the Eiffel Tower viewing deck and the Fly LINQ Zipline.

Caesars is also pitching a $300 stay-and-dine package available through December 31 at Harrah’s, The LINQ, and Flamingo, which includes a two-night stay with $200 in food and beverage credit, all taxes and resort fees included.

‘There’s no better time to visit Vegas, and this package is an incredible value in the heart of The Strip,’ said Dan Walsh, senior vice president and general manager of the three Caesars properties.

At the north end of the Strip, the Sahara Las Vegas is resurrecting its popular ‘All-In Experience’, bundling perks like $69 room rates, no resort fees, $25 daily dining credit, free room upgrades, late check-out, complimentary pool access, and discounted tickets to shows like Magic Mike Live.

‘The ‘All-In Experience’ struck a chord with our guests this summer,’ said Paul Hobson, general manager of Sahara Las Vegas.

‘We’re bringing it back this fall to deliver even more value and ensure every stay feels effortless, memorable and uniquely Las Vegas.’

The dramatic promotions follow months of growing frustration from travelers, many of whom say Las Vegas has lost its value appeal citing hidden resort fees, inflated drink prices, and bizarre surcharges.

In August, the Daily Mail revealed that the Bellagio Hotel, one of Vegas’s most iconic luxury resorts, was charging $25 just to eat off a plate when ordering room service – an additional fee for crockery, on top of the food, tax, service, and delivery charge.

‘You’re starting to change the mentality of the visitor where they’re thinking, ‘Well, I could go to Las Vegas, but it’s going to be a pain in my neck – or I could go to Cancún,’ said Michael Schoenberger, a professor of hospitality management, to Business Insider.

Despite the drop in visitors, the casinos themselves continue to rake in money, thanks in part to high rollers and strong gaming revenue.

In July, Nevada’s non-restricted gaming licensees won $1.36 billion, a 4 percent year-over-year increase, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The Las Vegas Strip alone brought in more than $749 million, up 5.6 percent from July 2024, buoyed by a staggering 79 percent increase in baccarat revenue.

‘Our gaming revenue is really hanging in there pretty strongly, and so not following the visitation drop, which is great,’ said LVCVA’s Steve Hill.

‘It matters to all the properties, and it matters, obviously, from a tax base perspective.’

But outside the casinos, the picture is grimmer.

According to the Nevada Department of Taxation, food and beverage outlets saw a $191 million decline in sales over the past 11 months. Clothing, shoe, and jewelry retailers are down another $140 million.

Retail Association of Nevada president Bryan Wachter told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that declining tourist volume is hitting workers too.

Wachter suggests that with inflation households start to pulling back on non-essential spending with trips to Vegas often being the first to go.

International travel especially from Canada has collapsed. Traffic from Canadian flights is down 18.5 percent year-over-year.

Mayor Shelley Berkley said what was once a steady stream of Canadian tourists has shrunk to a ‘drip.’

Retail expert Neil Saunders of Global Data told the Daily Mail that Las Vegas as a destination has itself to blame for the slowdown.

‘What used to be a reasonable trip is now much more expensive,’ Saunders explained.

‘There are all kinds of fees that people have to pay at hotels and some of the service standards and generosity with things like free drinks while in casinos have tightened.’

‘Some people now don’t see Vegas as worth the money and that hits visitor numbers.’

A visitor recently shared her shock after she was charged $26/£19.11 for a bottle of Fiji water from the minibar in her room at the Aria Resort & Casino.

And a British magician was also left outraged after he was billed $74.31/£54.63 for two drinks at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Mexico and the UK have seen modest upticks in air travel, but it’s not enough to offset the broader slump.

All told, Las Vegas is projected to lose out on $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, according to industry forecasts.

Caesars, Sahara, Resorts World, Station Casinos, Circa, and others are betting big on bundling, transparency, and old-fashioned value.

So far, even $3 beers and free parking may not be enough to lure back visitors who feel burned by the city’s pricing strategy.

‘It’s a cumulative effect that’s just now starting to show up,’ said Andrew Woods, director of the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s Center for Business and Economic Research.

‘Vegas is one of the first markets hit when the economy tightens — and one of the last to recover.