We use to go to Vegas at least 4 times per year. Then they started tightening up the gambling odds, doing away with "gamblers specials" at their coffee shops and making it more difficult to earn comps. They've even been talking about introducing drink comp tickets on the slot machines that kick out a free drink ticket once earned instead of the having waitresses walking the floors. All the changes they've made got us to cut our Vegas trips down from 4 weeks per year to 4 nights per year with those being over our anniversary.
We've discussed the new changes and looked at alternative destinations. What we will "probably" do is change from what's been our favorite resort these past three years, Elera, and move back to our home resort HGVC LV Strip. We can still rent a car and park at the resort for free, which will allow us the ability to reach Southpoint, which has some of our favorite restaurants, and the Stratosphere, which has better pay tables on their video poker. At this point neither of those casino's charges for parking. If we want to go someplace on the strip we'll use the bus to get us there.
Vegas has a large number of guests who drive in plus, with MGM, anyone achieving their first tier recognition level of Pearl receives free parking. I doubt parking charges will hurt their bottom line. The businesses that might feel the pain are the restaurants and shops but, that will depend on how many people actually drive from resort to resort. We use to take the car out daily and go to a different resort where we would shop and dine. Now, if I have to pay to park the car, there's less chance I'm going to any restaurant or shop at any store where I'll have to pay a parking fee, just to walk in. I'm not getting dressed up to ride the bus to go out to dinner and, I'm not a big fan of standing in a cab line. However, I'm VERY certain we're in a very small minority when it comes to Vegas tourists. Most of those we know who go to Vegas don't rent a car, take limo's or shuttles to/from the airport and either walk or take cabs when they go out. I just don't see this hurting Vegas to the point the casino's will change course. I believe they've spent time looking at their typical clients and know exactly what they're doing.