“I live the American Dream”: A third-generation casino employee becomes CEO-Las Vegas Review-Journal

Alex Dickson understands the importance of appointing his CEO of Megaresort on Las Vegas Boulevard.

When Dixon’s late grandmother arrived in the city in the early 1950s, she found a job as an housekeeper, but was not allowed to use the front door of the hotel casino where she was hired. Today, the grandson of Ernesta Xel-Cook is the new man who is responsible in Resorts World Las Vegas, a $ 4.3 billion property at the north end of the strip.

The 44-year-old Las Vegas native is aware that he is the only black CEO of the casino hotel on the tape.

“I’m unique, but I’m not special,” Dixon said during a wide interview with the review shortly after taking the rudder at Resorts World. “I pinch every day when I go to the building because I live the American dream.”

Sewell-Cooks died just a few days in the New Year and the family recently laid her to rest. But she knew everything about Dixon’s big news.

“It’s beautiful … we have to share (this) with her,” he said. “This is one of the moments of life in life. I am a product of the community and I mean the community in the largest sense of the word. “

From Durango to C-Suite, Vegas History

A graduate of the Durango High School, Dixon won a bachelor’s degree from Howard University before becoming an investment banker for financial companies such as JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs.

The third-generation casino worker also worked at the casinos in Las Vegas, after all, gravitates to the gambling business and hospitality. At Caesars Entertainment, where Dixon has been working for nearly nine years, he was part of the executive team on the day of opening at the casino of the horseshoe Baltimore in Maryland. He later went to work for MGM Resorts International and was a general manager of MGM Springfield Casino-Hotel in Massachusetts when he opened in 2018.

In April 2019, Dixon was eavesdropped to manage the circus circus casino, which was run by MGM Resorts at the time. His relatively short term in Circus Circus coincided with two life events: the sale of $ 825 million to billionaire Phil Rufin and Covid-19’s property.

The first meant to find new career opportunities that he eventually made with Dubuk the non -profit racing association based in Iowa, which runs Q Casino & Resort, where he has been working for the last three and a half years.

“Greater than me”

But the reaction of the casino industry to the global pandemic laid the basis of the place where Dixon is currently sitting.

In March 2020, Dixon was appointed to the special Govid-19 Governor Governor of Nevada, where he formed a liaison with Jim Muren, the former chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts. The two leaders were part of more coordinated efforts designed to open the country’s economy safely and efficiently. Murren, the seasonal veteran of the industry, which led the biggest game and hospitality company in the county, turned out to be something like a mentor of the more Dixon Dixon during their working group.

Dixon says he appreciates Muren and others who have believed and guide him throughout his career arc.

“I have been trained, mentored and developed in great ways of … (people) who do not have to look like me but have poured into me in a way that I am so grateful,” Dixon said when he asked him He thinks that he is the highest-ranking CEO of Black Casino on the Las Vegas tape. Later, he added: “I think this is a holiday for our community, a period. Return (in Las Vegas) is more big than I am because, in the end They dream of big big ones and think about how they can make their own sign. “

In January, Genting Berhad, based on Malaysia owner and operator of Resorts World, announced the formation of a board of directors of four people, which will be chaired by Muren. The other members are: AG Burnett, former chairman of the Nevada Game Control and Game Law; Michel Ditonondo, a longtime CEO of Human Resources who worked at MGM and Caesars; and Kong Han Tan, President and Chief Operations Officer of Genting.

Genting also announced Dixon as CEO of the property the same day.

“As the World Las Vegas resorts continues to establish itself as the most important resort destination in Las Vegas, we are excited to welcome this group To observe, “said Cock Cock Tay Lim, chairman and CEO of Genting Berhad, in a statement about Hirings. “With over 40 years of collective experience in the global game and hotel industry, we are sure that Alex and Jim, along with the board, will help to focus on the company ahead in the pursuit of our strategic goals for years to come.”

“Turning the page”

The two former members of the pandemic group are again facing a frightening but not impossible mission.

Since its opening in 2021, Resorts World Las Vegas has been struggling to meet expectations, both financially and, allegedly, as a responsible holder of Nevada Games License.

The president of the opening day of the property Scott Sibella left in 2023 after his relationship with an illegal bookmaker, while MGM Grand Casino-Hotel’s president became public. Sibella’s legal and regulatory penalties included fines, federal probation and loss of his game license, none of which is related to his time governing resorts.

However, in August, the game control board filed a complaint of 12 against Genting and Resorts World, accusing the casino of not adhering to the rules of money laundering during Sibella’s term. The question has not yet been raised in the Nevada Games Commission, but NGCB recommended significant fines and eventually cancellation of licenses.

Last summer, it led to the heaviest financial quarter of the property in two years, with revenues dropping over 20 percent in the year. The hotel’s employment and the average daily tariff are also immersed for the quarter.

Dixon said his new responsibilities include proactive discussions with regulators to resolve the issue while taking steps to improve internal operations and prevent future problems.

“What we do here today acknowledges the problems of the past, taking into account them and making sure that we are setting policies to make sure that the problems we are talking about are never happened again,” Dixon said. “We infuse our culture by conformity and turn the page.”

Bet on us

By writing the next chapter in the world history of resorts, Dixon said he hoped to have entrance from stakeholders throughout the board, including guests, locals, employees, regulators and shareholders. To this end, he presses a new mantra at Resorts World – bet on us.

“I think it’s important to take a long -term look at this story because it makes our property group. They perceive the long -term opinion that owning 85 acres of the lane in Las Vegas, “he said.

To this end, Dixon gives priority to an essential element of the operation, which is crucial to its success.

“There are so many options that it’s important to take a step at some point, but the main thing I’m focused on is really helping us in our main business,” he said.

The property is in the process of hiring a chief play director.

The expansion of the property print or through the extra space of the convention or product of the hotel room is also not beyond the question, says Dixon, although it is not currently in work.

“We have a huge business for meetings based on the space we have. But if we had more conventional space today, I think we will quickly be the dominant location of the Las Vegas tape meetings, “Dixon said. “We have 40 acres of undeveloped land, so if I had a list of wishes, we would have broken into more conventional space today.”

“It’s not hard to find”

In the end, Dixon said he would judge the success of two indicators.

“We want to have a great, thriving team to focus on the customer experience,” he said. “We want to be an optional employer, the place we must be for both our employees and our customers.”

The second goal is to provide financial returns to investors, he said.

“We want to be sure that we are able to achieve the economic return that is commensurate with the investment in which we have gone,” he says, which means “develop (ING) of an agreed strategy and implementation plan to achieve a plan for Performing an investment that is made within us. “

As he settles in his new role, Dixon said he sees opportunities wherever he seemed. But he knows it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

“It will take time, but the beauty of this is that we can control our own fate by accepting a great business plan to build a conviction for ourselves and others and continue to invest within our property,” he said. “We are open to business. It is not difficult for us to find, as Dean Sanders says. “

Contact David Danzis at [email protected] or 702-383-0378. Follow @ac2vegas-danzis.bsky.social.