Stuart Mann, dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration under the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is scheduled to deliver a keynote address during the opening session, said Liao Chao-hung, Director of the Taipei-based Asia Management Research Center (AMRC).
The summit, the first of its kind in Taiwan, is cosponsored by the Taiwan Office of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, the Chinese Culture University and the AMRC.
Liao said that Macau and Singapore had attracted international funds and applied international casino management systems to develop their gambling and entertainment industries, but the key to maintaining sustainable operations will be whether they are able to cultivate their own high-caliber management talent. He said that if casinos are legalized in Taiwan, the new industry would create at least 50,000 jobs.
An official from the Nevada trade office said that the four premier casino-hotels in Las Vegas have decided to invest some us$ 33 billion in Asia to expand their gambling and entertainment operations in this part of the world.
After exploring the Macau and Singapore markets, executives of the Las Vegas hotels will also attend Monday’s summit in Taipei to gain a better understanding of the country’s potential in developing a casino industry.