Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Knowland: Las Vegas, Oahu lead May meetings & events growth

Top 25 and secondary markets averaged around 3,600 square feet for meeting space

Knowland: Las Vegas, Oahu lead May meetings & events growth

LAS VEGAS SAW 18.5 percent year-over-year growth in group business this May, while Oahu Island, Hawaii, ranked second with a 17.9 percent year over year increase, according to Knowland. The average meeting space in the top 25 markets was 3,615 square feet, compared to 3,625 square feet in secondary markets.

The top 25 markets averaged 128 attendees, while secondary markets had 127 attendees, Knowland said.


Las Vegas led the top 25 U.S. markets in meeting growth in May, with an average space of 7,803 square feet and 287 attendees, the report said. Key drivers included technology events like the Electronic Distributor Show and national associations such as the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Key markets and trends

Technology, national associations, weddings, consulting and finance sector events drove growth in Las Vegas, while Oahu Island, Hawaii, was buoyed by travel, weddings, education, social services and consulting.

  • Nashville up 1 percent: Financial/banking, healthcare, manufacturing, national association, and technology.
  • Denver up 1 percent: Technology, national association, financial/banking, healthcare, and charity/non-profit/social services.
  • Seattle up 2 percent: National association, technology, charity/non-profit/social services, and education.

Top secondary markets and key drivers

Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, saw an uptick of 149.4 percent in event bookings in the secondary markets, with education as the leading industry driver.

  • Florida Keys (113.9 percent): Wedding
  • Texas East (87.1 percent): Wedding
  • New Mexico North (81.3 percent): Social services
  • Lexington, Kentucky (47.7 percent): Education

Knowland recently reported a 38 percent year-over-year increase in meetings and events for Nashville in April. Las Vegas experienced steady growth at 22.8 percent, while the industry overall saw a marginal 1.3 percent increase in meeting volume year-over-year.

More for you

U.S. Hotel Construction Drops to 40-Quarter Low: CoStar

CoStar: U.S. hotel construction hits 40-quarter low

Summary:

  • U.S. hotel rooms under construction fell year over year for the ninth month, CoStar reported.
  • About 137,956 rooms were under construction in September, down 12.3 percent from 2024.
  • In September, 12,746 midscale and 4,559 economy rooms were under construction.

U.S. HOTEL ROOMS under construction fell year over year for the ninth consecutive month in September, reaching the lowest level in 40 quarters, according to CoStar. Still, more rooms are under construction now than after the Great Recession.

Keep ReadingShow less