USA. Hotellier Gamal Aziz to lead MGM expansion of luxury brands internationally

USA. Hotellier Gamal Aziz to lead MGM expansion of luxury brands internationally
Wednesday, 30 May 2007


MGM MIRAGE (NYSE:MGM) has announced the formation of MGM MIRAGE Hospitality, LLC, a new corporate subsidiary principally focused on extending the company's renowned hotel brands and developing new luxury hotel brand concepts for destinations in the U.S. and abroad.

Ledyard, CT -- Foxwoods Resort Casino is rolling the dice with a $700 million expansion project which casino executives say is a sure bet. The creation of an all new resort is meant to rival the top casinos in Las Vegas and parlay the gaming destination into the meetings business big leagues when the new facility opens in spring 2008.

To make sure the property attracts upper echelon meetings, Foxwoods has entered into a multi-faceted strategic alliance with MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) to heighten the visibility of the project and create a distinct image separate from the existing resort. The resultant MGM Grand at Foxwoods will be a modern facility replete with an 824 room hotel tower, 21,000 square foot spa and bring the total number of meeting space square footage to 170,000. For meeting planners the project’s biggest draw may very well be a 50,000 square foot ballroom, which will be the largest pillar free ballroom on the east coast.

“This partnership brings us an upscale, established brand in the convention and entertainment business and will catapult [Foxwoods] to another level,” said Joan Esneault, Foxwoods’ Executive Director of Sales in an interview with Hotel Interactive.

MGM MIRAGE Hospitality will initially work with recently announced joint venture partners Mubadala Development Company of Abu Dhabi and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse of Beijing to explore hospitality business opportunities in various international markets. Currently, the new entity is exploring opportunities in Abu Dhabi, the United Kingdom and Las Vegas with Mubadala, and in the People's Republic of China with Diaoyutai. The MGM MIRAGE joint venture relationship with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation will also fall under the auspices of this newly formed subsidiary.

"Our company is very optimistic about the growth potential of our new international relationships," said Terry Lanni, Chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE. "We hold in our company portfolio some of the best-known, most highly regarded luxury hotel brands in the world. We can also benefit from the enormous wealth of development experience our team can bring to new concepts. We feel confident that experienced world travelers will be eager to experience our trademark hospitality in world cities beyond our existing gaming destinations."

In addition to his duties as President & Chief Operating Officer of MGM Grand Las Vegas, Gamal Aziz has been named to lead this new subsidiary as President and Chief Executive Officer of MGM MIRAGE Hospitality, LLC.

"Gamal is uniquely qualified to lead our growth and brand expansion internationally," Mr. Lanni continued. "His knowledge of worldwide luxury hotel operations and development, combined with his record in delivering quality resort products and guest services will drive our efforts as we pursue new global development opportunities."

Mr. Aziz possesses extensive hotel and gaming resort management experience and is recognized as a leader in the hospitality industry. He was appointed in 2001 as President and COO of MGM Grand Las Vegas and has overseen a dramatic multi-year evolution of the property. Under his leadership, MGM Grand garnered more AAA Diamond awards in 2007 than any other resort in the world, among them AAA Five Diamond designations for both the luxurious SKYLOFTS all-suite hotel and the eponymous Joel Robuchon restaurant.

Mr. Aziz was named "Nevada Hotelier of the Year" in 2005 and was named one of the "Top 10 Most Influential People in Las Vegas" by the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper in 2006.

Previously, Mr. Aziz served as Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage at Bellagio, playing a significant role in the development and opening of that resort. Mr. Aziz has also served in senior management positions with some of the nation's most prominent hotel and gaming properties, including Caesars Palace Las Vegas, the Plaza in New York and the St. Francis in San Francisco.

Mr. Aziz received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Cairo in Egypt.