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October 8 update: four days out, prices edge up but stay low
Our Thursday reading, taken four days before Smart Monday, shows a mild last-minute rise. On the 12 hotels Google Hotels returned on both October 5 and October 8, the average nightly rate went from $100 to $107 (+6.8%), taxes and resort fees included.
| Hotel | Oct 5 | Oct 8 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Hotels Las Vegas | $99 | $132 | +$33 |
| The Signature at MGM Grand | $150 | $177 | +$27 |
| Desert Rose Resort | $95 | $108 | +$13 |
| New York-New York | $100 | $112 | +$12 |
| Rio | $71 | $76 | +$5 |
| Palms Casino Resort | $106 | $110 | +$4 |
| Planet Hollywood | $120 | $123 | +$3 |
| OYO Hotel and Casino | $66 | $68 | +$2 |
| MGM Grand | $132 | $131 | −$1 |
| Excalibur | $71 | $69 | −$2 |
| Luxor | $82 | $76 | −$6 |
| Holiday Inn Express Las Vegas, Stadium Area | $112 | $104 | −$8 |
| Average, same 12 hotels | $100 | $107 | +6.8% |
Lowest nightly rate shown by Google Hotels for a stay during IMEX week. LVT Price Watch readings of October 5 and October 8, 2026.
Mandalay Bay did not appear among the hotels Google Hotels returned on October 8, so we have no new rate for the venue. That alone does not tell us whether it is sold out: check availability directly if you want to stay on site.
Near the venue, Excalibur ($69) and Luxor ($76), both linked to Mandalay Bay by a free tram, are still the cheapest options. New York-New York ($112) and MGM Grand ($131) remain within reach.
If you only looked at the average this week, you would think IMEX week had just become 17% more expensive. Our raw average for the 20 hotels Google returned went from $128 a night on October 1 to $150 on October 5.
That number mixes two different things. One hotel, Mandalay Bay, where IMEX takes place, nearly doubled. And Google returned a different set of listings on October 5, including pricier condos and suites that were not in the October 1 sample. When we compare only the hotels present on both dates, the picture changes.
The same 16 hotels, four days apart
| Hotel | Oct 1 | Oct 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandalay Bay (IMEX venue) | $354 | $674 | +$320 |
| MGM Grand | $160 | $132 | −$28 |
| New York-New York | $158 | $100 | −$58 |
| Planet Hollywood | $101 | $120 | +$19 |
| Palms Casino Resort | $116 | $106 | −$10 |
| Holiday Inn Express Las Vegas – Stadium Area | $111 | $112 | +$1 |
| Virgin Hotels Las Vegas | $108 | $99 | −$9 |
| Club Wyndham Grand Desert | $98 | $98 | $0 |
| Desert Rose Resort | $98 | $95 | −$3 |
| Luxor | $85 | $82 | −$3 |
| Rio | $71 | $71 | $0 |
| Excalibur | $71 | $71 | $0 |
| OYO Hotel and Casino | $67 | $66 | −$1 |
| MGM Signature, private condo listing A | $208 | $195 | −$13 |
| MGM Signature, private condo listing B | $175 | $179 | +$4 |
| MGM Signature, private condo listing C | $126 | $106 | −$20 |
| Average, all 16 | $131.70 | $144.10 | +9.4% |
| Average without Mandalay Bay (15) | $116.90 | $108.80 | −6.9% |
Nine of the 16 got cheaper, three did not move and four went up. Take Mandalay Bay out and the market around IMEX is flat to slightly down.
Why the venue hotel behaves differently
Mandalay Bay is where IMEX happens. The organizer expects more than 6,100 buyers and 3,700 exhibitors from over 80 countries, and the rooms in the building are the ones everybody wants. What we record is the lowest rate Google Hotels displays, so when the cheapest room types sell out, the displayed price jumps.
Treat the $674 as a snapshot, not a trend. The displayed price for Mandalay Bay has moved around: $432 on September 27 (under a separate Google listing), $354 on October 1 and $674 on October 5. Our October 8 reading is at the top of this article.
What this means if you are booking for IMEX
If you want to sleep in the venue, book now and expect to pay a premium. It is the one property where waiting has cost money this week.
If price matters more than the commute, look next door. Luxor ($82 on October 5) and Excalibur ($71) are linked to Mandalay Bay by a free tram. According to Visit Las Vegas, weekday service starts at 11:30 a.m., so plan to walk for morning sessions. MGM Grand ($132) and New York-New York ($100) are a short ride up the Strip.
The prices above include taxes and resort fees, so compare totals, not the headline rate.
Prices in this article are snapshots from October 1, 5 and 8, 2026. Rates change every day, so check your exact dates before you book.
How we measured this
LVT Price Watch records, every Monday and Thursday, the lowest nightly rate that Google Hotels displays for a stay during each show we follow, taxes and resort fees included. Google returns 17 to 20 hotels per reading, and not always the same ones, so a raw average can move just because the sample changed. That is why we compare the same hotels on both dates. This article uses the readings of October 1 (11 days before Smart Monday) and October 5 (7 days before).
Three of the 16 are privately listed condo units inside MGM Signature. We kept them because Google shows them alongside hotels and travelers book them.
Planning the whole trip? Our IMEX America 2026 hotel guide covers where to stay around Mandalay Bay, and the Las Vegas Convention Price Index shows how rates move across the year.
Frequently asked questions
When is IMEX America 2026?
IMEX America 2026 runs October 13–15, 2026, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, with Smart Monday on October 12.
Are hotel prices going up for IMEX week?
At the venue, yes: the lowest rate Google Hotels showed for Mandalay Bay went from $354 to $674 a night between October 1 and October 5, 2026. Elsewhere, no: the 15 other hotels we compared on both dates fell 6.9% on average.
What are the cheapest hotels near Mandalay Bay for IMEX?
In our October 8 reading, Excalibur ($69 a night) and Luxor ($76), both linked to Mandalay Bay by a free tram. Prices change daily, so check live rates for your dates.
How We Research and Verify This Guide
LasVegasTrade.com is an independent guide for trade show professionals. Show dates, venue and attendance figures come from the official IMEX America website. Hotel prices come from LVT Price Watch, our twice-weekly reading of Google Hotels rates. This article contains affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never changes what we measure or recommend.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026.