New York City or Las Vegas?
There seems to be a consensus among travel experts about where to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but the list invariably includes those two cities.
Is it tradition-laden New York City with its wall-to-wall people and its famous ball drop? Or is it the Vegas, aka the entertainment capital of the world?
And Las Vegas officials are preparing for what could be record-setting crowds.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Harry Reid International Airport are projecting more New Year’s Eve visitors this year than last year.
“While New Year’s Eve falls on a Tuesday this year, midweek holidays tend to see slightly different travel patterns, with some travelers opting for extended trips leading up to or immediately following the holiday,” airport spokesman Luke Nimmo said in an email.
The LVCVA is forecasting around 343,000 New Year’s Eve visitors this year, compared with 342,000 a year ago.
“When the holiday falls on Friday through Monday, it offers an easier long weekend for many travelers to book,” said Kevin Bagger, vice president of the LVCVA Research Center. “But we still tend to see pretty strong occupancy for the night of New Year’s Eve, even when it falls midweek like this year when it will fall on a Tuesday night.”
NYC will be jam packed like it is every year, with Times Square under the spotlight like always. Expect the crowds to be heavy once again, especially considering NYC is coming off a record year for tourism.
“New York City’s tourism sector continues to thrive, reflecting the resilience and global appeal of our city,” said NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Coker. “In 2024, we saw growth in both visitation and spending, reaching an estimated total direct spend of more than $51 billion across the city and state. This recovery supported over 388,000 leisure and hospitality jobs and generated more than $6.8 billion in tax revenue, benefiting local businesses. As we look ahead to 2025, we expect this momentum to continue, further strengthening New York City’s role in driving the state and local economy.”
Some of the other top cities in the U.S. for New Year’s Eve include Orlando, home to Mickey and Minnie and one of the most iconic amusement parks in the world; Denver and its Mile Hile Celebration and the Mile High Tree; Seattle, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and more.
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