Three former executives of U.S.-based casino operator MGM Resorts International are among five managers hired to help run Resorts World Las Vegas (pictured in an artist’s rendering), the entry of Malaysia’s Genting group into the Nevada gambling market, the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper reported on Thursday.
In an announcement last October, the Genting group indicated it might open the Resorts World Las Vegas casino complex – on the site of the abandoned Echelon scheme on the Las Vegas Strip – in 2020. It has been described as a “multibillion-dollar integrated resort” but a precise budget has not been mentioned in recent announcements. Investment analysts have previously mentioned a US$4-billion price tag. The news outlet described it as a 3,400-room property.
The five newly-revealed management recruits for the project are said to include Chris Nordling, former chief financial officer for MGM Resorts’ Las Vegas properties The Mirage, Bellagio and CityCenter. He will be executive vice president and chief financial officer of Resorts World Las Vegas.
The second ex-MGM Resorts staffer is Bart Mahoney, said to have more than 25 years of experience in food and beverage operations at MGM Resorts and at Wynn Resorts Ltd. He will reportedly be Resorts World Las Vegas’ vice president of food and beverage.
The third former MGM Resorts executive is Michael Peltyn, who had managed human resources at Bellagio, Aria and Vdara. He will be senior vice president of human resources at the Genting promoted property.
They will join former MGM Grand president and chief operating officer Scott Sibella, who had previously been recruited for Genting’s scheme.
The ex-MGM staffers’ arrival at Resorts World Las Vegas comes as MGM Resorts has been implementing its “MGM 2020” programme, which has been due to eliminate 1,000 job positions and reduce labour costs by US$100 million, according to company announcements.
The Review-Journal said other executives hired for Resorts World Las Vegas included Max Tappeiner, who worked at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas and at the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas. He will be senior vice president of operations at the new venue. Bill McArthur, formerly with the Venetian and Palazzo – two properties of casino firm Las Vegas Sands Corp – and gaming equipment manufacturer Scientific Games Corp, will be Resorts World Las Vegas’ chief information officer.
