Friday, March 29, 2024

Renee West, First Woman President of a Resort on the Vegas Strip, Leaving MGM

ABOVE: Renee West. Courtesy TEDxFremontEastWomen.

Las Vegas, NV, USA (March 13, 2015) – MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) announced the promotion of Nik Rytterstrom to General Manager of Luxor Resort and Casino. A veteran of the hospitality industry, Rytterstrom most recently served as General Manager of the company’s Goldstrike Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss.

Rytterstrom’s appointment follows the retirement announcement of Renee West. West, an industry leader, was the first woman to be named President of a Las Vegas Strip property. She will retire effective April 24.

West has been the President of Luxor and Excalibur resorts since 2010. She joined MGM Resorts in 2000 as Vice President of Human Resources at PrimmValley Resorts, and then was named President, the first woman in the company’s history to be a President of a property.  In 2005, she was promoted to President and  COO at Excalibur. In 2009, she was named President and COO of Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

“For 15 exciting years, Renée has been a well-respected and pioneering leader within MGM Resorts International, our industry, and our community. She put her mark of excellence on everything she did. We will miss her,” said Corey Sanders, Chief Operating Office of MGM Resorts International.

Rytterstrom has more than a decade and a half of hospitality industry experience. He began his career with MGM Resorts in July 1999 as Assistant Hotel Manager at Bellagio Resort & Casino, and then worked as a Front Office Manager and Hotel Manager at The Mirage Hotel & Casino.  From 2005 until 2011, he served as Vice President of Hotel  Operations at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss., where he successfully re-opened the resort exactly one year after Hurricane Katrina. From there, he led Goldstrike for four years. He is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“Nik has successfully driven initiatives to achieve the highest market share in Goldstrike’s history for three consecutive years. He was also responsible for substantially increasing Employee Engagement, guest service, quality assurance, and corporate citizenship. We are happy to welcome him to Luxor,” added Sanders.

Rytterstrom joins Ann Hoff, who was named General Manager of Excalibur in 2014.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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