Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

October 8, 2005

Sheldon Adelson and Macau

Posted by detroit1051

The October 17th issue of Fortune Magazine has an excellent article on Sheldon Adelson and LVS' Macau developments. It's long but very informative.

Adelson and Wynn will never see eye to eye:
"Wynn is very good at creating mystique," he says. "He�s in it for fun and design gratification. My creativity extends to matching my tie to my suit. But I�m very good at making money, and that�s what an economic enterprise is all about. I�m simply a much better businessman."


Fortune Magazine Article on Sheldon Adelson and Macau



Comments

Read archived comments (8 so far)
October 8, 2005 8:14 PM Posted by Mike E

I haven't read the whole article yet, but after a quote like that, all my hopes that Palazzo would be better built than the Venetian have diminished.

I don't want to rant, but I read a while ago that the commercial for the Palazzo will feature a parody of Adelson mocking Wynn where he stands at the foundation of his resort and says something to the extent of, "Putting your name on your resort is one thing, but putting your heart into it is another." Talk about contradicting yourself...

...and for the record, he can't match his tie to his suit, either.

October 9, 2005 3:00 PM Posted by Mark K.

As we already know, The Venetian isn't the best, and let's face it, the Palazzo isn't going to be the best either. Adelson just doesn't put enough 'heart' into the little thing that make a place great instead of good.

October 9, 2005 9:25 PM Posted by Tom M

So Adelson is a good businessman. So what? Who cares about the good businesmen in history. The people who are remembered are the visionaries and groundbreakers. And Wynn qualifies hands down. To me this is not a contest, there is room for both types of businesses in the market. Wynn is the high end product and Adelson has the businessman market. They are both trying to grab a piece of each other's turf but that is natural in a competitive environment. I have, however, read alot about the poor quality of the Venetian both here and in other web boards. I was impressed when I first visited the Venetian at the detail and public spaces. I did not pay much attention to the quality of construction. I do think it is a reflection of a bottom line mentality that it has not been kept up to standards. And where is Adelson's passion for the business and the customer experience. I fear that is missing in the quarterly reports and financials. Clearly Adelson is focusing most of his efforts on China. While he may succeed, his vision of a Chinese Las Vegas is not that of a "shrewd" businessman as suggested in the article, but a simple assessment of the Chinese economy along with gov't cleanup of Macau and a desire to expand the locale's gaming, makes this the most obvious business choice for anyone in gaming with half a brain. I hope they both succeed and that I get to visit there when its all completed. Or maybe it really will be like Las Vegas and never be completed.

October 12, 2005 5:30 PM Posted by MARLYMARR

Hey this is my first time posting anything to this site that i really like. I felt that Mr. Adelson's comment was laughable... a friend of mine who use to work at the Venetian in a key management position, and just so happens to work at Wynn now informed that the Venetian was downgraded to 3 diamonds, not something to boast about when claiming to have the best hotel in Vegas ya know!

January 9, 2006 3:48 AM Posted by vicky amery

Mr Adelson is a "Great Man" with a "Big Heart" & he runs the best Hotel complex far better & bigger than "Wynn"!

September 22, 2006 7:02 PM Posted by littlekid

"So Adelson is a good businessman. So what? Who cares about the good businesmen in history. The people who are remembered are the visionaries and groundbreakers."

So what. Who cares what's remembered of you when you are dead. How much will Bill Gates care about what people remember when he's gone? Go Adelson!

September 23, 2006 3:00 AM Posted by Mike E

Vicky, I hope your use of quotation marks when describing Adelson as a "great man" with a "big heart" were indications of sarcasm... unless of course, your idea of great men with big hearts are those who sue fathers of children dying of brain cancer which Adelson did several months ago.

Here on Forbes' list we have as number two the most charitable man this world has ever seen with the second most charitable in the top spot. Adelson isn't deserving to be anywhere on the same list as these people and if I could really post how I felt, this comment would probably go unapproved.

While the whole dealer tips thing at Wynn and Adelson's rise to the top has turned the tables a bit with the Vegas internet community, I suspect the same people praising Adelson would still take a stay at Bellagio over Venetian anyday (even after MGM's takeover of Bellagio).

July 28, 2008 9:22 PM Posted by William B

The comment about the Venetian being downgraded to 3 diamonds is a lie. Sounds like sour grapes to me. Read the AAA Travel Guide 2008 and you will see that it is a 5 Diamond property which would make them the largest 5 Diamond hotel in the world. That's no small feat. Wynn vs. Adelson makes for good healthy competition which is only good for Vegas.