AN iconic vacation spot has launched a brand-new event to bring travelers back after claims of skyrocketing fees.
Surcharges were spotted for items like coffee and cocktails, and even some for hotel check-ins or to get money from the ATM.
Las Vegas is offering sales to bring tourists back to the city (stock image)[/caption]
Several Americans that visited Las Vegas over the past year have said they were stunned by costs they encountered in the city, with a 21-year-old first time visitor allegedly hearing of a $95 ATM fee.
“I didn’t see it myself, but somebody was telling me that they went to withdraw cash. It was a $95 ATM fee,” he told Fox News.
A Washington native also explained to the outlet that she was in Las Vegas for “The Wizard of Oz” at the Sphere, where she claimed to have paid a $50 fee to check in at her hotel early.
Texas resident Katherine paid $14 for a latte as well.
“Having a coffee that was $14 was crazy,” she said.
“I just wasn’t expecting that. It was just a latte with a few extra flavors.”
Amid the controversy, Las Vegas is now rolling out a first-ever “Fabulous 5-Day Sale” for travelers.
It features hundreds of deals on entertainment, resorts, and food for Las Vegas residents and tourists that ends on September 26.
Caesars Properties are specifically offering exclusive deals for residents that include free parking and 25% off food and drinks at any one of its locations.
Hotel rooms through the company are also 15% off through March of next year.
MGM Grand has up to 50% off select room rates, and The Palazzo is offering 33% discounts on rooms and a $50 cocktail credit.
Even the Waldorf Astoria has 20% off suites and a $50 bar credit.
The Mob Museum has 20% off general admissions tickets, and a ride in the Papillon Helicopters over the city is down to $95.
VEGAS VACANT
The 5-day sales event comes as Las Vegas struggles with a tourism decline over the past seven months, per data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Comparing coffee prices in Las Vegas, New York & Los Angeles
• Cold Brew
- Las Vegas: $6.74
- New York: $6.48
- Los Angeles: $6.06
• Frappuccino
- Las Vegas: $15.07
- New York: $14.49
- Los Angeles: $13.56
• Latte
- Las Vegas: $4.63
- New York: $4.45
- Los Angeles: $4.16
Visitor rates dropped by about 11.3% compared to the same period last year.
Some tourists like Wendy Rosas, a New York native, said she started to suspect that Las Vegas was struggling to bring in attention due to sales on a hotel room recently.
“I could tell tourism is low because of the sales we saw while we were booking the hotel,” she told ABC affiliate KGTV.
It’s unclear if the added fees and surcharges are a contributing factor, but current economic uncertainty is leaving many Americans extra careful about their spending.
TRAVEL TURMOIL?
Overall travel spending is also down across the United States this year.
The US economy is projected to lose about $12.5 billion from a lack of international visitors in 2025, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.
Data collected by the council projected $169 billion in international visitor spending for the year, down from $181 billion in 2024.
Americans have also been reducing their travel spending but paying for more meals out, per Investopedia.
Still, many restaurants have been blasted for added fees and surcharges in recent months.
A confused diner found a $5 fee on their receipt in April that came with a rude message, for example.
Others blasted “silly & disingenuous” surcharges for sustainability at several establishments.
