Amid the ever-changing landscape of the gaming industry, still affected in more than one way by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Las Vegas saw the opening of the first ground-up resort development on the Strip in more than a decade in June last year, as the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas, owned by Genting, debuted in the gambling mecca with an innovative experience featuring some of the latest technology in the market.
Half a year has passed since the historic opening and, in an exclusive interview with Yogonet, Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World Las Vegas, reflected on the venue’s first months of life and what lays in the future for the ambitious gaming complex.
The executive discusses how the Resorts World Las Vegas team managed to overcome the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, leading the business to persevere during unprecedented times, while delivering a safe and rewarding experience for its customers.
Moreover, Sibella explains how the casino’s latest technology offerings allow it to stay ahead of the curve in the industry’s race to innovation, including a fully cashless experience, and reflects on what new opportunities await for the venue this year.
What would be your year-end assessment for Resorts World Las Vegas, especially amid the industry’s recovery and the company’s first year of operations?
Resorts World Las Vegas has thrived since opening in June of last year. Although the resort opened its doors during unprecedented times, our team made the most of it and we have persevered amid the circumstances. As with the rest of the hospitality industry, we’ve had to adapt to the changing times.
Being the first resort to be built on the Strip in more than a decade gave us a natural advantage to become the safest and cleanest property in town. The Genting team brought international perspective and family-owned culture to Las Vegas, giving guests a truly integrated resort experience and adding a new dynamic to the city.
COVID-19 restrictions have pushed us to become a safer, more wellness-focused resort. I believe this has affected our guest journey in a positive way, allowing for quicker and safer service in all avenues of the resort. Our team members are constantly looking for the most efficient ways to assist our guests.
Though the restrictions may seem like a negative effect of the pandemic, we are using them to our advantage to better utilize our technology and continue to enhance our customer service standards.
What do you see as the main expectations and new challenges for 2022, both for the gaming industry and Resorts World Las Vegas in particular? What do you think will be the main issues driving the agenda of land-based casinos?
I predict in 2022 that gaming will continue to move in a more technology-focused, cashless direction. Resorts World Las Vegas is equipped to adjust with these trends as our casino has integrated some of the top casino technology in the world, offering cashless gaming, RFID bet tracking, ticket-in-ticket-out (TITO) technology between slots and tables and more.
We look forward to welcoming our international guests in 2022 once travel opens up for the destination and we intend to work closely with our parent company, Genting, to establish relationships with their Asian customers.
We understand the pandemic is unpredictable and can bring challenges, but we feel prepared to overcome any hurdles and continue to usher in this exciting era of Las Vegas.
What is the company looking forward to in 2022, in terms of existing operations and new projects? What new milestones should we expect the venue to achieve, and what are its main plans and goals for the year?
We are thrilled for 2022 and what our first full year of operations has in store for us. We look forward to opening new venues within the resort as well as welcoming new entertainers to the Resorts World Theatre such as Luke Bryan and Michael Bublé.
We plan to continue our relationship with guests and develop a list of returning clientele. We hope to even further establish our brand in the market and attract more Las Vegas visitors to our wonderful resort.
