Steve Hill is the unofficial mayor of the Strip’s spreadsheet. He’s also an entertainment fan and consumer.
On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s president and CEO joined a hospitality panel discussion at Fontainebleau’s Nowhere lounge, a day ahead of the inaugural Michelin Guide Southwest ceremony at adjacent BleauLive Theater. Hill joined an industry chat alongside Michelin Guide International Director Gwendal Poullennec. The event was hosted by Vegas freelance hospitality journalist Melinda Sheckells.
Two days earlier, Hill caught “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere,” and his wife, Holly, caught an apple.
After the panel discussion, I asked Hill to assess why such prominent Strip productions as “Mad Apple” at New York-New York and “Awakening” at Wynn Las Vegas have been forced to close. Another smaller residency production, “Menopause the Musical,” has also shut down after two decades because of sagging sales.
Producers of midlevel shows are reporting ticket sales are at least half of their seasonal average. This has been the trend since spring 2025.
Hill mentioned Sphere as an industry pace-setter, having just visited the venue.
“The competition has broadened in Las Vegas, for sure, and the number of tickets that the Sphere sells is a pretty phenomenal thing,” he said. “I mean, when I was there Sunday afternoon to see ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ there were 5,000 people there.”
Hill said Sphere Experience movies “Postcard From Earth” and, more recently, “WOZ” have created a new standard for residency productions.
“From a comparative price standpoint, it’s those shows that run several times a day, that are fantastic shows, that have impact,” Hill said. “I hope what that does is elevate the commitment of competition with the Sphere. Some of the shows that are struggling, that have been around for a long time, can refresh.”
He added that shows that have closed — “Mad Apple” and “Awakening” are examples — will be replaced by “new offerings.”
The exec said the city’s evolution invariably leads to difficult business and artistic decisions.
“You see some of those closures, and it is sad. It’s nostalgic. We just had Le Cirque (at Bellagio) close over the weekend,” Hill said. “I’ve lived through the entire life of everything we’ve just mentioned, and it’s hard on restaurants and shows, hard on those who are so attached to them. But as we also understand, Vegas just continues to elevate its game.”
The marketing organization sees visitors planning Vegas trips more specifically than in past decades.
“One of the things that we’re finding, and the properties are telling us this too, is people way more than ever come for a reason,” Hill said. “They are not saying, ‘Let’s just go to Vegas,’ as much as they used to. They are going to find the events, the show, the restaurant, the experience that they are looking for. It takes that event to get them to make the decision to come here.”
We are acutely educated about these elevated experiences. Sphere shows, resident headliners at Strip theaters, touring superstars and Raiders games at Allegiant Stadium and Golden Knights games and headlining concerts at T-Mobile Arena are all options unavailable to tourists even a decade ago.
Fremont Street has been the steady destination for folks who hit town and are looking for an experience they didn’t plan for (or even anticipate). The free shows every night on three stages, Viva Vision LED productions on The Canopy and the Downtown Rocks concert series draw thousands to the Fremont Street Experience.
I asked how concerned the Las Vegas entertainment and hospitality community should be about relations with U.S. allies and tourism feeder markets, particularly Canada. Hill this month led a three-city marketing trek through western Canada, visiting Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
During the Vegas officials’ visit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney halted the negotiations in trade talks with the U.S., leading to an escalation of the trade war and tensions between the two countries.
“We were with tour operators, airlines and travel agents and our partners who are going to help bring Canadians to Vegas,” Hill said. “Frankly, this is wearing on them. I was there a year ago, and it was like, ‘Ah, you know, we’re going to work this out.’ But now, nerves are a little raw. Patience is wearing thinner. It makes no sense that this doesn’t work out.”
Cool Hang Alert
Afternoon magician Adam London had a something to say about my Neon magic cover story. His comment was that he is still performing at 4 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays at Ahern Hotel. London practices (and he’s getting good at it) sleight-of-hand mixed with charming shtick. No need to bring rubber duckies. He’s got that covered. Go to ahernhotel.com for intel (quack!).
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.