The summer slowdown that has made life difficult for casinos up and down the Las Vegas Strip has also cast a shadow over its most recognizable silhouette.

Casino operator Golden Entertainment said second-quarter hotel occupancy fell to 69 percent at The Strat, down from 73 percent a year earlier. In June, occupancy slipped to just 60 percent, down from 76 percent a year before.

Executives said the slump should ease later this year as group bookings and convention traffic pick up. The Las Vegas-based company is also counting on continued investment in The Strat’s casino floor and amenities to capture demand once visitation rebounds.

Charles Protell, Golden’s president and chief financial officer, said in earnings call Thursday that weaker Strip demand continued in July, but that bookings

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