The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) said Friday that it attracted 39.7 million visitors last year, beating the 2007 record by a half-million visitors.
The LVCVA indicated last month that 2012 would be a record year for visitors.
Last year’s visitor count was a 2.1% increase from the approximately 38.9 million who came to Las Vegas in 2011. Las Vegas’ 4.9 million visits from convention delegates was a four-year high.
Visitors generated more than $40 billion in Las Vegas-area spending.
Las Vegas hotels’ average daily rate rose about 3% last year to $108 a night, while occupancy advanced 0.6 points to 84.4%, according to the LVCVA.
Las Vegas is by far the largest U.S. hotel market, with 373 hotels totaling about 169,000 rooms, according to Smith Travel Research. Orlando is the second-biggest market, with about 119,000 rooms.
Follow Danny King on Twitter @dktravelweekly.
Correction: Las Vegas drew 39.7 million visitors in 2012.