Seasoned casino executive
For over 30 years, Dave Hanlon has been a leader in the casino and entertainment industry, where he developed a reputation for integrity, high energy, and an aggressive, hands-on style as he turned creative ideas into business solutions. Under his leadership as President and CEO, several leading hotel and casino companies have realized vastly improved products, services, and profitability.
Mr. Hanlon began his career with the investment banking and brokerage firm Smith Barney in New York and Los Angeles. Later, he spent three years developing and coordinating financing for billion-dollar projects as Director of Corporate Finance for Fluor Corp., a multinational company specializing in the design and construction of petrochemical plants and refineries.
Mr. Hanlon joined the casino industry as Chief Financial Officer for Caesars World in 1978, during the era when regulated gambling began its rapid expansion. With plenty of opportunity to harness his entrepreneurial talents and competitive drive, he became one of the key players in opening up Atlantic City. Over the next six years, he moved up to Executive Vice President in parent company Caesars World, Inc., where he had total responsibility for operations on the East Coast. During this time, he strengthened the company’s gaming and hospitality operation while divesting the parent company of underperforming subsidiaries.
In 1984, Mr. Hanlon took over as President of Harrah’s Atlantic City and ran both of the company’s major operations—Harrah’s Marina and Trump Plaza—with more than 9000 employees. During his four-year leadership, Harrah’s was the most profitable casino and hotel operation in the entire Atlantic City market.
In 1988, Merv Griffin recruited Mr. Hanlon to lead the financially collapsing Resorts International, which had casino and resort facilities in both Atlantic City and the Bahamas. As President and CEO for the next five years, Mr. Hanlon completed two complex billion-dollar corporate restructurings, while simultaneously completing a successful operational turnaround, selling off international properties, revamping the service infrastructure, and physically transforming and upgrading the resort facilities. When he left in 1993, the company had an industry-leading management team with employee turnover reduced by almost 60 percent and one of the strongest balance sheets in Atlantic City.
Mr. Hanlon began his career with the investment banking and brokerage firm Smith Barney in New York and Los Angeles. Later, he spent three years developing and coordinating financing for billion-dollar projects as Director of Corporate Finance for Fluor Corp., a multinational company specializing in the design and construction of petrochemical plants and refineries.
Mr. Hanlon joined the casino industry as Chief Financial Officer for Caesars World in 1978, during the era when regulated gambling began its rapid expansion. With plenty of opportunity to harness his entrepreneurial talents and competitive drive, he became one of the key players in opening up Atlantic City. Over the next six years, he moved up to Executive Vice President in parent company Caesars World, Inc., where he had total responsibility for operations on the East Coast. During this time, he strengthened the company’s gaming and hospitality operation while divesting the parent company of underperforming subsidiaries.
In 1984, Mr. Hanlon took over as President of Harrah’s Atlantic City and ran both of the company’s major operations—Harrah’s Marina and Trump Plaza—with more than 9000 employees. During his four-year leadership, Harrah’s was the most profitable casino and hotel operation in the entire Atlantic City market.
In 1988, Merv Griffin recruited Mr. Hanlon to lead the financially collapsing Resorts International, which had casino and resort facilities in both Atlantic City and the Bahamas. As President and CEO for the next five years, Mr. Hanlon completed two complex billion-dollar corporate restructurings, while simultaneously completing a successful operational turnaround, selling off international properties, revamping the service infrastructure, and physically transforming and upgrading the resort facilities. When he left in 1993, the company had an industry-leading management team with employee turnover reduced by almost 60 percent and one of the strongest balance sheets in Atlantic City.
Harrah's Resort Atlantic City. Photo credit: Booking.com
Las Vegas and IGT
In 1994, Mr. Hanlon stepped into the design and manufacturing side of the gambling industry and became President and CEO of International Game Technology (IGT), the world’s leading manufacturer of microprocessor gaming machines.
In that position, he broadened the company’s international base by leading it into emerging markets in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. While improving the quality of the core products, he spearheaded the development of new products and new markets and propelled IGT’s leadership in the industry both domestically and internationally.
In that position, he broadened the company’s international base by leading it into emerging markets in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. While improving the quality of the core products, he spearheaded the development of new products and new markets and propelled IGT’s leadership in the industry both domestically and internationally.
Rio and beyond
In 1996, Mr. Hanlon moved to Las Vegas and took the reigns as President and Chief Operating Officer of Rio Suites Hotel Casino, which, until then, had been an off-the-Strip minor player in the Vegas market. He and his team quickly guided the Rio through a $300 million expansion and total transformation. Together with the Rio team, they broke the traditional Las Vegas mold by developing a trendy, upscale, young-adult resort with a focus on world-class quality, luxury, and entertainment.
Despite ongoing construction on the property, profits increased 100% in two years, and the Rio soon became a dominant player in the Las Vegas market. Kudos came in from across the industry: the Zagat Guide called the Rio the “best hotel in Las Vegas”; Travel and Leisure magazine ranked the Rio the “world’s best hotel value”; and trade magazine Casino Player ranked the Rio the “best overall casino hotel in Las Vegas” two years in a row and described it as “one of the top resorts in the gaming industry.”
Despite ongoing construction on the property, profits increased 100% in two years, and the Rio soon became a dominant player in the Las Vegas market. Kudos came in from across the industry: the Zagat Guide called the Rio the “best hotel in Las Vegas”; Travel and Leisure magazine ranked the Rio the “world’s best hotel value”; and trade magazine Casino Player ranked the Rio the “best overall casino hotel in Las Vegas” two years in a row and described it as “one of the top resorts in the gaming industry.”
Logo of Empire Resorts. Photo credit: Google Images
Mr. Hanlon then served four years as President and CEO at Empire Resorts, Inc., a publicly traded company formed to design, build, and operate a major Native American gaming and destination resort only 90 miles from New York City. The planned facility was projected to cost over a billion dollars.
Mr. Hanlon has engaged in a variety of other professional activities. He has served on the boards of several public companies as well as not-for-profit organizations. He returned to his alma mater Cornell University as the Executive-in-Residence at the School of Hotel Administration. He also served as a member of the School’s Industry Advisory Board, as well as the Board of Directors of the Cornell Football Association and was elected to be a Lifetime member of the Cornell University Administrative Advisory Board. He was also an advisor to the Wharton Entrepreneurial Program.
Mr. Hanlon has engaged in a variety of other professional activities. He has served on the boards of several public companies as well as not-for-profit organizations. He returned to his alma mater Cornell University as the Executive-in-Residence at the School of Hotel Administration. He also served as a member of the School’s Industry Advisory Board, as well as the Board of Directors of the Cornell Football Association and was elected to be a Lifetime member of the Cornell University Administrative Advisory Board. He was also an advisor to the Wharton Entrepreneurial Program.
Personal life and education
Mr. Hanlon is just as accomplished in his personal life. He played football at Cornell and later served on active and reserve duty as an officer in the US Army. His love of adventure takes him deep sea diving, mountain climbing, skiing, and big-game hunting. He has two grown children, Lara and DJ.
He holds a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell, earned an MBA in Finance and an MS in Accounting from The Wharton School, and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
Currently Hanlon is actively engaged in consulting and development for a variety of major casino, hotel, resort, entertainment, hospitality, and real estate projects.
He holds a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell, earned an MBA in Finance and an MS in Accounting from The Wharton School, and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
Currently Hanlon is actively engaged in consulting and development for a variety of major casino, hotel, resort, entertainment, hospitality, and real estate projects.
