Las Vegas Resort Magnate Sheldon Adelson Passes Away at 87
January 12, 2021
Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon G. Adelson passed away Monday evening after a two-year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 87.
Known as one of the most successful luxury resort developers and transformational figures in Las Vegas history, Adelson founded Las Vegas Sands Corp in 1988. Under his leadership, the company innovated the successful integrated resort and convention center development model that has since become a staple in the Las Vegas resort industry, and one that has been replicated in other leading destinations.
Said his wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, in a statement: “Much has been written and said about how Sheldon, the son of poor immigrants, rose to the pinnacle of business success on the strength of grit and genius, inspiration and integrity. His was an all-American story of entrepreneurship. When Sheldon launched a new venture, the world looked on with anticipation.”
The young Adelson’s innovative and hard-working entrepreneurial spirit led him to launching the first technology and computing trade show, Comdex, in Las Vegas in 1979, which soon became the largest Las Vegas convention that drew in more than 200,000 attendees annually.
After selling the show in 1995 for nearly $862 million, he took those profits to help set the stage for luxury casino and conference-centric enterprises that included purchasing the aging Sands Hotel and Casino, building the 1.8 million-square-foot Sands Expo & Convention Center behind it, and imploding the Sands to make way for trend-setting opulence of The Venetian Hotel & Casino, which opened in 1999.
Besides The Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas, his successful properties included lucrative Sands resort-casinos in Asia, specifically in the popular Chinese gambling destination of Macao and Singapore.
Many from the hospitality and convention community remember Adelson fondly as a generous philanthropist and loyal employer who cared about his workers. After COVID-19 caused Nevada resorts to close in March 2020, the casino magnate continued providing full pay and benefits to all 10,000 Las Vegas Sands Corp. employees as well as the 1,200 employees working in the resorts’ independently owned restaurants.
“Sheldon Adelson was a recognized leader in the exhibition industry for decades,” said David Audrain, executive director of SISO and CEO of ExpoDevCo. “Not only did he create and build Comdex as one of the largest and most recognized events and brands in the world at the time, but he also helped many people working for him become successful leaders themselves. SISO awarded Adelson our most prestigious Krakoff Award in 2014.”
He continued, “Sheldon Adelson will most certainly be remembered as a major force in our industry who understood and supported the needs and opportunities for growth and success. SISO sends our deepest condolences to his personal and business families.”
Douglas Emslie, chair of SISO and Tarsus Group managing director, added, “Sheldon Adelson was a true legend in the exhibition industry. He built one of the major exhibition brands in technology and the Sands Convention Center that not only revolutionized the resort, casino and exhibition markets in Las Vegas, but also in Macau and Singapore. He was a major personality, a showman, but most of all one-of-a-kind entrepreneur."
Maureen Robinson, director of sales at South Point Hotel Casino & Spa, remembered Adelson as the man who brought conventions to Las Vegas.
“I worked with him on his first Comdex show in 1979 and went back and forth on how much in commissions he should get,” Robinson mused. “I again ended up working for him when I went to work at the Sands Hotel in 1992. I watched him blow that up and begin on the Venetian, which I was lucky enough to open up. He was one of the greatest business man I knew! I only respected three men in Las Vegas: Kirk Kerkorian, Sheldon Adelson and Michael Gaughan – business men that cared about their employees.”
According to multiple news reports, Adelson was considering selling his Las Vegas Sands resort properties last fall.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
Comments
Sheldon was loyal to his…
Sheldon was loyal to his staff, certainly a visionary but one who would put his money where his mouth is. He never accepted failure and was an icon for the Trade Show industry because he was never afraid to be different. Of course he never wanted to be first, as Sheldon used to say, "Pioneers wind up with arrows in their back". He was a mentor to me and taught me more about marketing in a week than I could ever have gotten with a year of experience.
Sheldon will be dearly missed.
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