Las Vegas adapts as the economy slows

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported this morning that Clark County's Regional Transportation Commission has put forward a plan to speed up public transit. With ridership up due to higher fuel costs, they want to make local buses even more attractive by adding a number of express routes to get commuters to The Strip nearly 70% faster than current schedules.

Unfortunately, the new service won't come online until the fall of... 2009. :-(

KNPR'S STATE OF NEVADA has aired programs the last two days about the effect of the slowing economy on Las Vegas' economy. Yesterday Dave Berns focused on room rates; today he looked at falling casino revenues and airline cuts.

AND A FEW DAYS AGO the Review-Journal published these worrisome paragraphs about Vegas tourism:

According to the Official Airline Guide, seat capacity at McCarran is expected to decline 12 percent in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the number of available hotel rooms on the Strip is expected to increase 18 percent by the end of 2009.

That has investors wondering how resort operators intend to maintain the 90 percent occupancy rates to which they've grown accustomed with fewer available airline seats for customers and drive-in traffic slacking off as gasoline prices approach $5 per gallon in parts of Southern California, the No. 1 source of Las Vegas visitors.

So... if you don't live in Vegas, check out hotel and other deals here. And come visit us... if you can find a flight!