Las Vegas Sands announces election of Wing Chao to its Board of Directors

"Wing Chao is a world renowned master planner and architect. We have admired his work and remarkable achievements for a long time," said Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon G. Adelson. "We are very excited that Wing is joining our board at a time in which our company continues to implement our current development plans and explores future growth opportunities in Asia as well as other parts of the world."

Chao retired from Disney in 2009. While there, he oversaw master planning, architecture and development of Disney's land holdings in California, Florida, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. He also was vice chairman of development for Disney Parks and Resorts, Asia Pacific. In all, Chao played a key role in developing and implementing projects worth more than us$8 billion.

Chao has worked with many of world's most renowned architects and designers in creating resort hotels, parks, retail/dining/entertainment centers, sports complexes, new town development, and cruise ships. He was a key member in the successful negotiation with the French government to build the Paris Disneyland Resort. Subsequently he also played a vital role in the successful negotiation with the Hong Kong government for the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort which opened in 2005.

Wing Chao is also widely admired in the hospitality industry, where among his many awards and distinctions he has been recognized as one of the top 20 Hospitality Industry Leaders and Innovators by Hospitality Design Magazine. He holds Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees from UC Berkeley and a Master of Architecture degree with a focus in urban design from Harvard University.