Las Vegas Strip nightclubs dominate list of top revenue-producing bars in nation

The 31,000 people at the annual Nightclub & Bar Convention in town this week won't have to travel far to find the top establishments in their trade — they're right here in Las Vegas.

Strip nightclubs take eight of the first 10 places in a ranking of the top 100 nightclubs and bars in the country, based on revenue, according to a recent report from trade publication Nightclub & Bar. It also hosts the convention and trade show held Monday through Wednesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In all, 22 businesses in Las Vegas made the top 100 list, with 15 of them in the top 30. The ranking is based on estimates of the establishment's total revenue in 2011.

Nightclub & Bar said the entire group of 100 venues brought in $1.4 billion last year, a 9.2 percent increase from the prior year. As a whole, the bar and nightclub industry saw a 1 percent growth in revenue in 2011, the group said.

The top spot on the list went to Marquee, the new nightclub and dayclub at The Cosmopolitan.

The $60 million venue, which opened in December 2010, generated more than $70 million in 2011, a record for the Nightclub & Bar list.

Marquee was one of 22 venues that were newcomers to the list, showing these establishments "immediately attracted crowds, realizing and then sustaining significant revenue."

The rest of the top 10 venues in the nation with their estimated revenue were:

2. XS, inside Encore, with revenues of $60 million to $70 million.

3. TAO, inside the Venetian, $60 million to $70 million.

4. Pure, in Caesar's Palace, $45 million to $60 million.

5. LIV in Miami Beach, Fla., $35 million to $45 million.

6. LAX, in the Luxor, $60 million to $70 million.

7. Haze, in Aria, $35 million to $45 million.

8. Surrender, at Encore, $35 million to $45 million.

9. The Bank, in the Bellagio, $25 million to $35 million.

10. LAVO, in New York City, $25 million to $35 million.

The other Las Vegas venues on the top 100 list were:

12. LAVO, in the Palazzo, $25 million to $35 million.

13. Tryst, inside Wynn, $25 million to $35 million.

19. Vanity, at the Hard Rock Hotel, $15 million to $25 million.

20. Ghostbar, at the Palms, $15 million to $25 million.

21. Drai's Afterhours, in Bill's Gamblin' Hall, $15 million to $25 million.

23. Moon, in Palms, $10 million to $15 million.

30. The Gold Lounge, In Aria, $10 million to $15 million.

35. Playboy Club, at the Palms, $10 million to $15 million.

42. Rain, at the Palms, $10 million to $15 million.

46. the Chandelier Bar, at the Cosmopolitan, $10 million to $15 million.

59. Studio 54, formerly at the MGM Grand, $5 million to $10 million.

60. Krave, at Planet Hollywood, $5 million to $10 million.

67. Stoney's Rockin' Country, $5 million to $10 million.

81. Lagasse's Stadium, at the Palazzo, $5 million to $10 million.