Casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas today said Alexander Mirza has been named head of Caesars Hospitality Ventures and will also head Caesars Global Life.
Caesars Global Life is a new unit to develop nongaming luxury hotels, restaurants and other lifestyle amenities in resort destinations around the world.
Caesars said most of the developments will revolve around licensing, franchising and management agreements. For instance, Caesars in March announced a partnership with restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa to develop a Nobu hotel and restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
The Global Life unit is expected to continue to expand beyond the Caesars' brand to include the development of boutiques and lifestyle brands on Caesars Entertainment-owned real estate in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
For example, Caesars recently announced that it is opening four new restaurant concepts operated by BR Guest Hospitality, a New York-based restaurant company led by founder and President Stephen Hanson and owned by Starwood Capital Group. The new restaurants include Bill's Bar & Burger, Dos Caminos, Atlantic Grill and a casual restaurant featuring celebrity chef Sam DeMarco.
Caesars also recently signed a non-binding letter of intent with New York-based entrepreneurs Rowen Seibel and Chris Barish to create a joint venture operating bars and lounges in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
In a statement today, Caesars said the primary objective of the new unit is to expand the company's presence overseas, especially in Asia and Latin America, where it says Caesars is widely recognized for its luxury brand.
In his roles, Mirza will oversee hotel, restaurant, bar, and nightlife development for the company, as well as international hotel management and licensing. Mirza was formerly a partner in Accenture's Travel practice, senior vice president of corporate development at Hilton Hotels Corp. and vice president of strategic planning at Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
For the last 12 months, Mirza has served as vice president and executive associate to Gary Loveman, chairman and CEO of Caesars Entertainment.
"Our brands and reputation are our most substantial assets overseas, and this plan will allow us to leverage them into growth opportunities in hospitality and gaming," Loveman said in a statement.