Q: Tell us a little about your background and experience in the gaming and hospitality industry.
A: I’m a licensed architect with more than 25 years of experience in the industry, bringing a broad spectrum of expertise across design, architecture, construction, and development. I also spent more than 10 years working on the owner side, which gave me a valuable perspective on the priorities and challenges our clients face.
Having experience from both sides allows me to better understand what owners are looking for and help translate their vision into successful projects. Whether it’s resolving challenges, developing a design vision, or creating a memorable guest journey and experience, I enjoy bringing together the perspectives of the owner, designer, and project team.
Q: What makes Gensler unique within the gaming and hospitality industry?
A: At Gensler, we take the time to truly understand our clients and their vision. We want to understand who they are, where they come from, who their guests are, and what they want their development to accomplish.
We approach our clients as partners. Integrated resorts and hospitality projects are often multi-year journeys, and building that relationship from the beginning allows us to become an extension of the client’s team. We bring that understanding into our programming, planning, spatial organization, and ultimately the guest journey and experience.
That collaborative approach is a big part of what makes Gensler unique.
Q: Throughout your career, you’ve worked on some of Las Vegas’ most notable projects. Can you tell us about some of your experience?
A: One project that immediately comes to mind is Resorts World Las Vegas, where I served as Director of Architecture during the final 18 months of development. I oversaw the entire district while the project was under construction, working across planning, design, tenants, and guest experience.
A major focus was strategically positioning amenities and destinations throughout the property to create a seamless guest journey while also supporting the tenants’ goals and return on investment.
I’ve also worked on convention expansions, including MGM Grand, as well as adaptive reuse projects. One example was the conversion of the existing Cirque Theater into a four-story convention expansion. We maintained the exterior of the existing building while completely reimagining the interior.
Another area I’ve worked extensively in is rebranding and repositioning. For example, I worked on the Bally’s Tower along Las Vegas Boulevard as it was rebranded as part of Paris. We had to create a cohesive connection to the existing Paris property while being mindful of ownership’s budget and priorities.
Most recently, I completed the Omnia Nightclub project at Caesars Palace, a new addition to the property that connects to the existing nightclub through a bridge.
These experiences demonstrate that our work doesn’t have to start with a blank canvas. We can help clients with new development, expansion, adaptive reuse, repositioning, and rebranding.
Q: How does Gensler’s approach align with the needs and values of tribal nations?
A: It starts with engagement, listening, and learning. Through visioning sessions and close collaboration with tribal leadership and the client team, we work to understand their vision, values, cultural heritage, and aspirations for the development.
Our goal is to create designs that respect and preserve cultural heritage while remaining authentic to the nation’s identity. We explore how the nation wants its story and values to be expressed, whether through subtle references woven throughout the guest journey or through more prominent and immersive experiences.
It is a collaborative process. We learn alongside our tribal partners and translate those values into a design vision that feels authentic and creates a destination that is truly unique to the nation.
Q: What can attendees expect from Gensler at G2E this year?
A: We’re excited to be at G2E and connect with ownership groups, tribal nations, and partners from across the gaming and hospitality industry. We’re making the most of our time at the conference by scheduling meetings in advance and creating opportunities for meaningful conversations around the future of gaming and hospitality.
As the Senior Sponsor of the Native Networking Party, we’re especially looking forward to reconnecting with longtime partners and meeting new members of the tribal gaming community. You’ll also find the Gensler team throughout the Expo Floor, where we’ll be sharing more about our work, our innovative approach, and how we’re helping shape the future of the industry. Our Global Director of Hospitality & Gaming, Joyen Vakil, will also be participating in interviews on the Expo Floor throughout the conference.
Sustainability will be an important part of the conversation. Gensler has set a goal for 2030 to incorporate net-zero emissions into all of our projects, reflecting our commitment to creating sustainable, resilient, and climate-responsive destinations.
Q: What are you most looking forward to at G2E?
A: Connecting with the industry. We’re excited to meet with our existing partners, build new relationships, and spend time with the tribal nations and ownership groups that are shaping the future of gaming and hospitality.
We’re also thrilled to partner with Tribal Gaming & Hospitality Magazine and look forward to continuing the conversation throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you at G2E and continuing the conversations that help move our industry forward.
Call to Action
- Schedule time to meet with Gensler’s team at G2E by emailing Trisha_Litzau@Gensler.com
- To learn more about Gensler’s expertise across 33 specialized practice areas, visit Gensler.com
- Learn more about the Trends Shaping the industry in Gensler’s Design Forecast