8 hours ago
Las Vegas resort magnet Sheldon Adelson will be honoured for his extraordinary contribution to travel and tourism when he makes a rare public appearance at the 2013 International Tourism Summit in Jerusalem.
Born into a poor neighbourhood in Boston, Massachusetts, Adelson became an entrepreneur at an early age, creating successful businesses and going on to build casino resorts in Las Vegas and Asia.
Now considered to be one of the most influential businessmen entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the world, with a reported net worth topping $25 billion, Adelson’s career spans more than six decades and has included creating and developing to maturity more than 50 different companies.
Under his leadership, COMDEX became the world’s largest trade show with a presence in many different countries.
Adelson, 79, is also the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, a company which has evolved to become the leading global developer of destination properties.
Las Vegas Sands Corp
Las Vegas Sands Corp operates The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
In 1988, Adelson acquired the Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in a bid to bring Las Vegas to a new source of business from the exhibition industry.
The Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the first privately owned and operated convention centre in the US was built the following year.
In 1991, Adelson razed The Sands, a former hangout for the likes of Frank Sinatra, and invested $1.5 billion to construct The Venetian, a stunning Venice-themed resort hotel and casino.
The Venetian, which was named North America’s Leading Casino Resort by the World Travel Awards in 2010, has since added the 1,013-suite Venezia tower; with 4,049 suites; 18 restaurants and a shopping mall with canals, gondolas and singing gondoliers.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
In 2011, Adelson opened a casino resort on a historic steel plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as one of five stand-alone casinos to be awarded a slots licence by Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in 2006.
Adelson was involved in spearheading a major project to bring the Sands brand to Macau, China.
The one-million-square-foot Sands Macao opened in China as the first Las Vegas-style casino in May 2004.
The Venetian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao are also in the Sands portfolio, as well as the most recent addition: Sands Cotai Central, which boasts the world’s largest Conrad, Sheraton and Holiday Inn hotels.
Marina Bay, Singapore
In 2010, Marina Bay Sands opened its doors placing Singapore firmly in the travel and tourism spotlight.
In 2012, the new development scooped a World Travel Award after being voted World’s Leading Casino Resort by thousands of travel industry professionals.
Located along the Marina Bay waterfront, Marina Bay Sands features three cascading hotel towers topped by an extraordinary sky park, ‘floating’ crystal pavilions, a lotus-inspired Museum, retail stores featuring cutting-edge labels and international luxury brands, trendy Celebrity Chef restaurants, endless entertainment at the theaters, the hottest night clubs and a Las Vegas-style casino.
Business visitors can enjoy the extensive Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) facilities featuring state-of-the-art technology, highly flexible exhibition halls, and a convention centre that can host over 45,000 delegates.
World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke, left, presents Marina Bay Sands president George Tanasijevich with the World Travel Award for Asia’s Leading Casino Resort, Marina Bay Sands
Commenting on the historic, multi-billion dollar development, Adelson stated: “Las Vegas Sands Corporation is excited and ready to join Singapore on a historic journey.
“As a catalyst for the economic future of Singapore and a launch pad for its tourism industry, Marina Bay Sands will help Singapore solidify its standing among the world’s greatest destinations,”he added.
Marina Bay Sands seamlessly combines business and leisure into a singular destination unlike any other.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Second Jerusalem International Tourism Summit 2013
Adelson will be among international tourism leaders expected to gather in Jerusalem, to attend the 2013 International Tourism Summit.
The event will serve as a summit of innovation and showcase discussions about the latest ground breaking technologies and trends introduced by key players of the tourism world.
This year a special emphasis will be placed on ‘Urban Tourism’ as well as innovative technologies in the world of tourism and travel.
Global leaders, academics and experts in the field of hospitality will conduct panels discussing a wide range of issues affecting the tourism industry and a special panel will focus on technology in tourism, including tourism-related ‘apps’.
The event will leverage Israel as a Start-Up Nation, and Jerusalem as a leader of technology.
Take a look at the list of speaks signed up for the event, here.
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