During President Donald Trump's recent visit to Las Vegas, he highlighted the advantages of updated tax policies for tipped workers while stirring controversy with comments targeting Canada, a crucial market for the city. "Canada's nasty, they are, they're nasty," Trump expressed to an audience at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa.
These remarks align with a pattern of escalating tension between the two nations as they find themselves entangled in a trade dispute that has intensified over the past few weeks. Following a breakdown of negotiations, the United States enacted a 50% tariff on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. In retaliation, Canada announced tariff increases on American imports, scheduled to take effect on September 8.
The White House issued a statement claiming that "Canada has been ripping off the United States for decades," accusing Canada of a long-standing record of trade abuses. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged these tensions in a statement, saying, "I recognized from the beginning that America has changed, and that we will not return to our old relationship."
Las Vegas stakeholders are closely monitoring U.S.-Canada relations, particularly as international travel to Harry Reid International Airport dipped by 7% last year and has further declined by 9% in 2026. The city's primary Canadian airlines, Air Canada and WestJet, reported a significant decrease in passengers, with Air Canada seeing a 22% drop and WestJet an even steeper decline of 28% in 2025. The negative trend has persisted into 2026, with Air Canada down 13% and WestJet falling 23% through July.
Recognizing the need for proactive measures, local leaders are striving to foster positive relations with Canadian visitors amidst the federal government's tough approach. Steve Hill, the CEO of the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority, has made multiple trips to Canada to address concerns and revive interest in travel to Las Vegas. Alongside MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle, they continued this outreach with a visit to Canada earlier this month.
"Las Vegas loves you, we need you, the reason I’m sitting here is [because] we want you," Hornbuckle stated during an appearance on Your Morning Vancouver on August 18. He emphasized the importance of Canadian tourists, who have long been a primary source of international visitors.
In efforts to entice Canadian travelers, three downtown Las Vegas casinos—including Circa, The D, and Golden Gate, owned by Derek Stevens—launched the "Vegas At Par" promotion. This initiative offered hotel and gaming discounts to Canadian visitors by matching currencies, benefiting travelers who took advantage of the exchange rate of $1 USD to $1.3 CAD. Stevens, who has connections to Michigan near the Canadian border, expressed on X earlier this year that "Las Vegas misses Canada."
Overall, Canadian travel to the U.S. declined by an alarming 25% in 2025, with arrivals dropping from 39 million in 2024 to just 29.1 million the following year. Canadian spending in the U.S. decreased by $3.3 billion last year alone.
Statisticians Laura Presley and Carter McCormack reported that the change in the U.S. administration in early 2025 and the subsequent implementation of America First policies severely impacted travel sentiment from Canada. By the end of 2025, border crossings back into the U.S. constituted two-thirds of all Canadian resident border crossings from abroad.
As Las Vegas approaches a critical season of travel, highlighted by holidays and significant events such as sports games, the city faces increased pressure to boost its tourist numbers. In particular, hockey could serve as a key draw. The Las Vegas Golden Knights, fresh from their third Stanley Cup Finals in nine years, will host five games against Canadian teams during October and November, including matchups with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames.
Brendan Bussmann, a consultant at B Global Advisors, noted that hockey fans represent one of three primary groups of Canadian travelers, alongside business and leisure tourists. While he observed Air Canada performing better than WestJet—indicating a rise in business travel—he remains optimistic about the long-term importance of the Canadian market for Las Vegas. "I think [Canada] will continue to play a significant role in the overall international mix, at least in the short-term," he commented.
He added that despite the ongoing diplomatic tensions, people will still visit Las Vegas for sports, vacations, and other attractions.
