Las Vegas Transforms from Budget Vacation Spot to Luxury Destination
Las Vegas, once known for affordable hotel rooms and buffets subsidized by gambling, has transformed into a luxury destination catering primarily to wealthier visitors. Since the 1990s, the city has seen rising hotel rates and event-driven tourism, with 75% of visitors in 2023 coming from households earning six figures, up from 28% in 2019. This shift has made trips less accessible for middle- and lower-income travelers, as illustrated by longtime visitor Ed Schaplow, who found costs increasingly prohibitive.