Alex Dixon understands the importance of its appointment as CEO of a megare resort on Las Vegas Boulevard.
When Dixon’s late grandmother arrived in the city in the early 1950s, she found a work as a housekeeper but was not allowed to use the front door for hotel casino where she was employed. Today, Ernesten Sewell-Cook’s grandson is the new man responsible for Resorts World Las Vegas, a property of $ 4.3 billion at the northern end of the strip.
The 44-year-old Las Vegas native is urgently aware that he is the only black CEO of a casino hotel on the strip.
“I’m unique, but I’m not special,” said Dixon during an extensive interview with Review-Journal shortly after taking Roret at Resorts World. “I squeeze myself every day I go in the building because I live the American dream.”
Sewell cooks died just a few days into the new year and the family recently put her to rest. But she knew everything about Dixon’s big news.
“It’s beautiful … we have to share (this) with her,” he said. “It’s one of life’s moments with a full circle. I am a product from society, and I mean society in the greatest sense of the word. “
From Durango to C-Suite, a Vegas story
Dixon was a degree from Durango High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Howard University before becoming an investor for finance companies such as JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs.
Third-generation Casino Workers-His Father also worked in Las Vegas Casino drug eventually against the gaming and hospitality industry. At Caesars Entertainment, where Dixon worked for almost nine years, he was part of the opening day’s executive team at Horseshoe Baltimore Casino in Maryland. Later he went to work for MGM Resorts International and was head of MGM Springfield Casino hotel in Massachusetts when it was opened in 2018.
In April 2019, Dixon was dropped to lead Circus Circus Hotel casino, run by MGM Resorts at that time. His relatively short service at Circus Circus coincided with two life-changing events: $ 825 million sales of the property to billionaire Phil Ruffin and Covid-19.
The first one meant finding new career opportunities, which he eventually did with the Dubuque Racing Association, a non -profit organization based in Iowa that runs Q Casino & Resort, where he worked for the past three and a half years.
‘Greater than me’
But it was the casino industry’s response to the global pandemic that lays the foundation for where Dixon is currently sitting.
In March 2020, Dixon was named the Nevada Governor’s Task Force Covid-19, where he formed a band with Jim Murren, the former chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts. The two managers were part of a larger coordinated effort designed to safely and effectively open the state’s finances again. Murren, the experienced industry veteran who ran the county’s largest gaming and hospitality company at that time, turned out to be something of a mentor for the younger Dixon during his time at the working group.
Dixon says he appreciates Murren and others who believed in and guided him throughout his career.
“I have been trained, mentored and developed in great way by … (people) who do not necessarily look like me, but they have poured me in a way that I am so grateful,” said Dixon as he asked his thoughts about Being the highest -ranked Black Casino Executive on the Las Vegas Strip. Later he added, “I think it is a celebration for our society, period. Coming back (to Las Vegas) is bigger than me, because in the end I want to make sure people from every life can see or have a connection to part of my story, and it can help to inspire them to dream Big and think about how they can make their mark. “
In January, Genting announced Berhad, the Malaysia-based owner and operator of Resorts World, the formation of a four-person board of directors who would be chairman of Murren. The other members are: AG Burnett, former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and player lawyer; Michelle Ditondo, a long -term head of human resources who worked at MGM and Caesars; And Kong Han Tan, Genting President and Chief Manager.
Genting also announced Dixon as CEO of the property the same day.
“When Resorts World Las Vegas continues to establish itself as the foremost travel destination in Las Vegas, we are pleased to welcome this group of industry leaders who supervise and guide the leadership group to deliver unmatched guest experiences while promoting our commitment to compliance,” said Kok Thay Lim, chairman and CEO of Genting Berhad, in a statement about employees. “With over 40 years of collective experience in the global gaming and hospitality industry, we are convinced that Alex and Jim, together with the Board, will help drive the company forward to strive for our strategic goals for many years to come.”
‘Turn the page’
The two former members of Pandemic Task Force are again facing a scary, but not impossible, mission.
Since the opening in 2021, Resorts World Las Vegas has struggled to meet expectations, both financially and, is alleged, as a responsible gaming license holder in the state of Nevada.
The property’s opening day president, Scott Sibella, joined an illegal bookmaker in 2023, while president of the MGM Grand Casino-Hotel became public. Sibella’s legal and regulatory punishment included fines, federal provision and the loss of his gaming license, none of which was related to his time resort world.
In August, however, the game control board filed a complaint of 12 bills against Genting and Resorts World, and accused the casino for not following a proper subsequent rules for money during Sibella’s service. The case has not yet been assessed by the Nevada Gaming Commission, but NGCB has recommended significant fines and possible recall of licenses.
In the past summer, the property’s worst financial quarter resulted in two years, with revenue from year to year decreased more than 20 percent. Hotel coating and the average daily room interest rate also dipped for the quarter.
Dixon said that his new responsibility includes having proactive discussions with supervisory authorities to solve the matter while taking measures to improve internal operations and prevent future problems.
“What we do here today is to recognize the questions from the past, take into account them and make sure we put the policy in place to ensure that the issues that have generally been talked about never happen again,” Dixon said. “We add our culture with compliance and we turn the page.”
Bet on us
When he wrote the next chapter in Resorts World Story, Dixon said that he hopes to get purchases from stakeholders across the board, including guests, locals, employees, supervisory authorities and shareholders. For this purpose, he runs a new mantra at Resorts World – is investing in us.
“I think it is important that we take a long -term view of this story, because that is what our ownership group does. They take the long-term view of owning 85 acres on the Las Vegas strip, “is a smart game, he said.
For this purpose, Dixon has prioritized an essential part of the operation that is crucial to its success.
“There are so many opportunities that it is important that we take one step at a time, but the most important thing that I am focused on really helps us on our core business, which is games,” he said.
The property is hiring a Chief Gaming Officer.
Extending the property’s footprints, either through additional congressional space or hotel room product, is also not questioned, says Dixon, although none of them are currently in the works.
“We have a huge meeting business based on the space we have. But if we had more congressional space today, I think we would quickly be the dominant meeting place on the Las Vegas strip, ”Dixon said. “We have 40 acres of undeveloped land, and so if I had a wish list we would today break the ground into more congressional space.”
‘Not hard to find’
In the end, Dixon said he will measure success with two measurement values.
“We want a big, thriving team that focuses on the customer experience,” he said. “We want to be the employer chosen, the place to be, both for our employees as well as our customers.”
The second goal is to provide a financial return to investors, he said.
“We want to make sure we can deliver the financial return that is proportionate to the investment we have gone through,” he says, which means “develop (ing) a coherent strategy and implementation plan to deliver on investments that have been made us. ”
When he gets into his new role, Dixon said he sees opportunities everywhere he sees. But he knows it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
“It will take time, but the beauty of it is that we can control our own fate by adopting a large business plan to build conviction for ourselves and others and continuing to invest in our property,” he said. “We are open to business. We are not difficult to find, as Deion Sanders says. “
Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@ theplayerlounge.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2vegas-danzis.bsky.social.
