Much has been said about MGM Mirage’s backpack toting CEO. Jim Murren brought CityCenter to life and possibly saved the MGM Mirage Casino empire. He may seem a little less formal than your typical casino executive, but he has nothing on “Rockin’ Don.” Harrah’s Entertainment has a guy out in Atlantic City, that breaks the mold of casino heads. Don Marrandino is the new eastern regional president of Harrah’s Entertainment and that puts him in charge of all four of Harrah’s casino properties in Atlantic City. Every good casino boss needs to be aware of how lure customers in and get them to spend, but every once in a while one must wonder how one’s voice sounds on the new Donny Osmond single.
Marrandino has the resume you would expect from a casino president. He has traveled from Atlantic City to Las Vegas to Reno and back to Las Vegas. He has worked for brands like Bally’s Station, Hard Rock, and Wynn. Eventually he was running five Strip casinos from Caesars Palace. That’s pretty good.
Here’s the impressive part. He’s partied with former Van Halen front man, Sammy Hagar, opened a bar with country singer, Toby Keith, calls Night Ranger singer, Jack Blades, his “little big brother,” and help revive the careers of Donny and Marie Osmond when he booked them to an extended run at the Flamingo Casino. Donny Osmond described Marrandino as “Mr. Too Cool for the Room.”
This sounds like fun, by Rockin’ Don has a serious job. He has to find a way to revive Harrah’s Entertainment’s Resorts and Casino in Atlantic City. He believes he knows how, put the “entertainment” back in Harrah’s Entertainment. “Entertainment can help lead the way out of this,” he said. He’s already booked rapper Snoop Dogg into the House of Blues, and is trying a cooking show with chef Emeril Lagasse.
He also is not shy about stating how he thinks Atlantic City can revive its image. He considers the boardwalk to be a top asset and it is not what it should be. “People walking on the Boardwalk need to feel safe and see it clean.” He is also for buying up the houses that are run down in the tourist area. In any case, Rockin’ Don is going to make his mark in Atlantic City and Harrah’s Entertainment….and a Donny Osmond song.
 |
|
|
 |
