Las Vegas bigwigs in tourism hub talks

DETAILS of meetings by Tourism Minister Kate Jones with Las Vegas casino heavyweights about a global tourism hub proposed for Cairns have emerged.

A tabled report in Queensland Parliament showed Ms Jones (below) and senior departmental officials met highranking Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Hard Rock Asia and MGM Resorts International executives.

They included Caesars Palace Las Vegas government relations regional vice-president Karlos R. Lasane and regional president Gary Selesner, Hard Rock Asia chief executive Edward Tracy, MGM Resorts International senior vicepresident Uri Clinton and global development director Jody Collins.

In relation to the Caesars meeting, the report said: “The minister gained an insight into the Las Vegas gaming and entertainment market, current developments within the industry and the appetite of Caesars Entertainment for expansion.

“The meeting permitted the minister to speak about tourism in Queensland and to engender confidence in Queensland’s global tourism hub market processes.”

Ms Jones also sought MGM Resorts International’s “views about Queensland’s global tourism hub projects and market processes.

“The minister was provided detail about MGM Resorts International’s corporate responsibility program and how their focus on partnerships when entering markets has promoted mutual benefit to themselves and the local community,” the report said.

In the meeting with Hard Rock, the report said Ms Jones discussed the global tourism hub market processes “and the opportunity for Hard Rock to expand into the Queensland market”.

The government is currently considering expressions of interest for the hub.