Las Vegas faced a notable drop in visitors last year, with attendance falling by 7.5% to 38.5 million, leading to financial difficulties for many hospitality workers. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority attributed the decline to economic uncertainty among travelers and a reduction in international visitors, particularly from Canada, where some have canceled U.S. trips in response to former President Trump’s trade policies. n nThe downturn, described as one of the most challenging periods for the city outside the pandemic, has resulted in quieter casino floors and reduced work hours for employees. Brian Torres Sauzo, a food runner at Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, noted growing anxiety among staff about job stability due to diminished shifts. n nWhile convention activity remained steady in 2025, the overall loss of around three million visitors compared to 2024 has had a measurable impact on local spending. Some casinos are now launching initiatives to attract Canadian tourists back to the city. n nSharon Beckworth, a housekeeper at Harrah’s, said workers are under pressure to maintain performance despite fatigue and stress, fearing job loss in an uncertain climate. Both she and Torres Sauzo are members of Culinary Union Local 226, which represents 60,000 hospitality and casino employees across Nevada. n nUnion leaders, including secretary treasurer Ted Pappageorge, warn that federal immigration enforcement actions could further damage the city’s appeal. He cautioned that aggressive tactics, such as deploying federal agents in disruptive ways, could deter tourism and severely harm the regional economy. n
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— News Original —nThe neon glow of Las Vegas has lost some of its shine. The number of visitors to the world-famous city fell by 7.5% last year, to 38.5 million. n nThe Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority blames the downturn on travelers’ caution about the economy and a drop in foreign tourists. Canadian travelers, for instance, have retaliated against President Trump’s trade war by cancelling trips to the U.S. n nLast year was “one of the more complex operating environments the destination has navigated outside of the pandemic period,” the authority said. n n“The casinos are empty,” said Brian Torres Sauzo, a food runner at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. “There’s a lot of fear for people, not just where I work, but friends who work in other casinos — just how little work there’s been and what that means long term for them.” n nThe visitor’s authority said convention business was steady in 2025. But overall, the downturn adds up to about three million visitors who didn’t spend money in Las Vegas last year, compared to 2024. Some casinos are looking for ways to entice Canadians to return to the city. n nQuiet casino floors mean some workers report getting scheduled for fewer hours. n n“Some days you’re sick, you’re tired, you’re stressed, but you still got to work through that,” said Sharon Beckworth, who works in the housekeeping department at the hotel-casino Harrah’s. “You got to do what you got to do to keep your job because you don’t know what’s going to happen.” n nBeckworth and Torres Sauzo are members of the Culinary Union Local 226, which represents 60,000 hotel and casino workers in Nevada. n nUnion leaders are concerned the Las Vegas economy could take another hit if the federal government’s aggressive immigration tactics come to Nevada. n n“There’s got to be a course correction here,” said the union’s secretary treasurer, Ted Pappageorge, who has been watching the unrest in Minneapolis. “If there were 2,000 federal agents running around breaking down doors, shooting people, I think folks would decide not to come to Las Vegas. It would be crippling for our economy.” n nThis article was originally published on WBUR.org. n nCopyright 2026 WBUR