Clark County�s gross gaming revenue climbed to nearly $636 million, up 14 percent over the same time period last year.  Strip properties experienced the greatest jump in overall gaming revenue, which rose 15.2 percent over July 1999 to $397 million.

The destination�s hotel properties enjoyed 94.1-percent occupancy in July, a 1.7-point increase over occupancy levels last July.  Benefiting from �overflow� bookings at hotel properties, area motels achieved an occupancy level of 75.8 percent, a 13.1-point increase over the same month last year.

Convention attendance in July was up 31.6 percent, to 152,392, over July 1999.  Meanwhile, the actual number of conventions held during July decreased 5.7 percent to 246.  The economic impact of July conventions was just under $163 million, a 34.5-percent increase over last year�s figure.

�Conventions and trade shows play an increasingly prominent role in both filling rooms and feeding the Las Vegas economy,� said Rossi Ralenkotter, vice president of marketing for the LVCVA.  �Our thriving convention industry proves that, as Las Vegas grows in popularity among tourists worldwide, meeting planners and business people also appreciate its evolving appeal.�

Visitors to Laughlin, Nevada, located 90 miles southeast of Las Vegas on the Colorado River, numbered 401,747, a 2.9-percent rise over last July�s figure.  The occupancy level for the month stood at 92.9 percent, a 4 point increase over July 1999.  Overall gaming revenue climbed 7.1 percent, to $44,829,000, compared to July 1999.  For the year to date, Laughlin�s gaming revenue measured $342.5 million, an 8.1-percent increase over the same time period in 1999.