Las Vegas tops U.S. travel searches as visitor numbers begin to rebound
Priceline data shows Las Vegas leading this month’s U.S. travel searches, overtaking Orlando and New York, while recent visitor statistics indicate a modest recovery.
According to recent Priceline analytics, Las Vegas has become the top-searched U.S. travel spot this month, surpassing long-standing favorites Orlando and New York, while Seattle secured the fifth position and Portland ranked among the top five for hotel value. The city’s visitor count, which fell 12% in July of the previous year, rose 2.7% year-over-year in July 2026, and hotel occupancy climbed to 77.2%, up 1.1 percentage points, though convention attendance slipped 5.6%.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded a 1.1% drop in leisure and hospitality costs, countering perceptions of soaring prices. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority chief Steve Hill attributed recent declines to higher jet fuel and gas prices, a 30% drop in Canadian tourists since 2019, and a more than 10% fall in visitors aged 21-29 since 2022. Live entertainment, especially the Sphere, remains a strong point, generating $379 million in 2025.
