Sahara joins the second Las Vegas hotel to abolish resort fees
Las Vegas Casinos Eliminate Resort Fees Amid Tourism Slump
In a bid to boost tourism and attract budget-conscious travelers, several Las Vegas casinos have recently made changes to their resort fee policies. The elimination of resort fees is part of a trend in the Las Vegas hospitality industry to focus on convenience, quality, and transparency for visitors.
Sahara Las Vegas, for instance, has eliminated its $55 nightly resort fee as part of an "All-In Rate Experience" deal. This offer, which is valid until October 31, 2025, has made hotel stays at Sahara Las Vegas starting at $69 per night. The general manager of Sahara Las Vegas, Paul Hobson, stated that the move is aimed at delivering memorable experiences without hidden costs.
Resorts World Las Vegas has also scrapped its $50 resort fee and added free parking to attract guests during this period of reduced demand. Other properties like The Venetian and participating MGM Resorts properties are offering a 25% discount on regular room rates. Virgin Hotels has announced 35% off on their room rates.
The recent tourism downturn in 2025, marked by a 6.5% year-to-date drop in visitors equating to about 1.1 million fewer travelers, has prompted these resorts to rethink their resort fee policies. The total visitor volume in Las Vegas is down 6.5% for the year, due to a combination of fewer foreign visitors, steeper Vegas prices, and tighter domestic purse strings due to inflation.
In addition to these changes, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) implemented new rules requiring hotels to clearly display total costs, including resort fees and taxes, upfront before booking. This regulatory change has made the impact of resort fees more visible and disrupted how hotels are ranked on travel agency sites, favoring those with all-inclusive pricing.
However, despite these pressures and some resorts eliminating fees, most Las Vegas properties have maintained resort fees, as they remain a substantial revenue stream. High hidden fees, such as charges for bottled water or other amenities, continue to draw criticism from consumers and media.
Resort fees in Las Vegas casinos originated as additional daily charges, typically around $44 to $57, to cover amenities like Wi-Fi, pool access, and parking. Over time, they became a widespread practice and a significant revenue source for casinos, though often criticized for being hidden or misleading to guests. The fees have contributed to the retail price of hotel rooms being higher than the initially advertised rates, affecting consumer perception and booking decisions.
The real purpose of resort fees was to manipulate online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Travelocity and Booking.com into listing resort properties first when customers searched for "lowest price" or "best value." This practice has been put to an end by the FTC with its "junk fees' rule, requiring hotels and other lodging operators to display a total price - including tax and resort fees - before the "Book Now" button is shown.
In conclusion, the elimination of resort fees by some Las Vegas casinos is a significant move towards transparency and a response to the current tourism slump. While most properties still charge resort fees, the trend towards all-inclusive pricing is expected to continue if the downturn continues as expected. Travelers can now make informed decisions about their hotel bookings, considering both the total cost and the value they receive.
[1] https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/sahara-las-vegas-eliminates-resort-fees-as-part-of-all-in-rate-experience-2328787/ [2] https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/resorts-world-las-vegas-ditches-resort-fees-as-part-of-summer-promotion-2329533/ [3] https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/mgm-resorts-offers-25-discount-on-room-rates-in-las-vegas-2329536/ [4] https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/virgin-hotels-las-vegas-offers-35-discount-on-room-rates-2329537/ [5] https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/how-resort-fees-in-las-vegas-came-to-be-and-why-they-persist-2329538/
- Sahara Las Vegas has eliminated its $55 nightly resort fee, offering an "All-In Rate Experience" deal with hotel stays starting at $69 per night.
- Resorts World Las Vegas has scrapped its $50 resort fee and added free parking as part of a summer promotion.
- The Venetian and participating MGM Resorts properties are offering a 25% discount on regular room rates.
- Virgin Hotels has announced 35% off on their room rates as a response to the current tourism slump.
- The elimination of resort fees by some Las Vegas casinos is a significant move towards transparency, aiming to deliver memorable experiences without hidden costs.
- Despite these pressures, most Las Vegas properties have maintained resort fees, which remain a substantial revenue stream, but face criticism for being hidden or misleading to guests.
