Dive Brief:

• Phoenix led all other top U.S. markets in October for meetings and events growth, up 19.7% year over year in the month, according to Cendyn’s Sales Intelligence platform, formerly known as Knowland. 
• Las Vegas followed Phoenix, with meetings and events volume increasing 17.7% year over year in October, according to Cendyn. Dallas, Atlanta and New York rounded out the top five markets for meetings and events volume growth in the month. 
• National association events, as well as those in the technology, healthcare and financial sectors, drove group business to Phoenix in October, Cendyn reported. Heightened group and business travel this year has benefited hotels across the country. 

Dive Insight:

National association events made up 8.6% of event volume in Phoenix in October, the most of any other category. National association events also drove meetings and events volume growth in Las Vegas in the month, as did weddings, according to Cendyn. 

Demand from group travelers was “very strong” in Phoenix in the first half of 2024 and shows continuing momentum, local hospitality experts told Hotel Dive in July. 

October was the first month this year that Phoenix led all other markets in meetings and events volume growth, according to Cendyn. Las Vegas, meanwhile, took the top spot for growth in May and has placed in the top five for 10 consecutive months, Cendyn reported. 

During third-quarter 2024 earnings calls, Las Vegas resort operators MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts all noted that strong group business in the market contributed to hotel performance. 

Sporting events, in particular, “will continue to drive more visitors to Las Vegas,” MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle said. 

CEOs from top hotel companies like Marriott International and Hilton forecasted that, while this year’s election cycle may impact group travel in the immediate term, group and corporate travel nationwide will continue its recovery in 2025 and be a significant growth opportunity for hotels.

One major event hosted in Phoenix in October was The Lodging Conference, which saw some 2,900 hotel professionals gather to discuss a range of hospitality trends related to construction, regulations, technology, staffing solutions and more.