The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced that tourism dropped by 10.2% in October. The drop is the largest since October 2001 when Vegas saw tourism decline by 14.1% in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks. In addition, the average hotel room price in Southern Nevada dropped by more than 14% to $115.68, and the room occupancy rate was down more than eight points compared to last year, to 83.8%.

If you are not feeling the pinch of the economic downturn – you might want to consider flying (or driving) to Las Vegas this winter. For me, business is pretty much as usual. I have a job (we are pretty stable), my parents are retired and there is no risk of job loss there. My family in general has not really been effected. But this, I understand, is not the norm in America.

So I look to Las Vegas as my model for the economic downturn. I was in the city of sin this weekend for a Nine Inch Nails concert at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Let’s compare my last trip with this recent trip.

• On my last trip to Vegas, I paid $4.08/gallon for gas. My car gets good mileage and I only need to fill up on my way back (in Baker). So I paid about $60 for gas for the trip. This trip, gas was about $1.80/gallon. I spent $25 on fuel round trip.
• Rooms – when I went in December of ’07, my room rate online was $120/night at the Flamingo. Today I checked the rate – $45/night. I am going to try and use my Harrah’s points and get a free room. The thought of action from a low-stakes guy like myself should be the difference maker. I decided not to stay the evening.
• Word on the street – food is cheap – I hope so. I don’t plan on eating unless it’s free. When you go to a buffet, you are normally looking at a 15-40 minute wait in line before being seated. This trip, I had dinner at the Paris buffet. This was Saturday night at 7pm – I walked up to the register and was seated in less than two minutes. Not a single person in line. Not a line anywhere – Planet Hollywood, Paris, or Caesar’s Palace.

This trip was short – got to Vegas, played some poker, had dinner, concert, came home. Total time – 15 hours. I have another trip planned for January 1st. We’ll see how that trip pans out.

Overall – I like this empty Vegas. I found poker and craps, there were no lines, and EVERYONE was real nice and polite. Keep the customer happy.