Hard Rock International Senior Vice President of Casinos and Hotels Alex Pariente represented the corporation in Las Vegas during the Global Gaming Expo to receive the award for best land casino operator. After being awarded, he talked exclusively about the recognition and ended up, once again, showing his affection and good expectations for Brazil.
GMB – Hard Rock has just won another Best Casino Operator award at the Global Gaming Expo. What does it represent for the corporation?
Alex Pariente – The award is very important to us, above all because it is recognition by industry colleagues of the importance of a global operator, both land-based and now digital. We are very excited, especially at this milestone in Las Vegas, where we will have a presence on the Strip through the Mirage. So, it was good news for both the company and the industry to have the opportunity to collaborate and also compete with very prestigious operators with a lot of history in the industry.
So will we soon see the iconic guitar shining in Las Vegas?
Let's hope. As our chairman always says, “may we define certain cities where to operate and establish our icon.” That is, it serves as an architectural expression. Hopefully in the future we will see a similar venture in our dear Brazil.
How do you see this possibility and the proximity of the bill in the Senate?
The most important thing is that we have to be very happy for the Brazilian population. Once again there is the opportunity to choose leaders and the country is in a very critical process especially this month and, as I always say, the people must define what is best for their destiny.
If the conditions are created to allow a gaming operation as part of entertainment, we have a very successful vertical in Santa Catarina, through Hard Rock Live Florianópolis, where we recently presented Guns N’ Roses to 33,000 people. And we have eight or nine share ownership hotels that we are developing in other cities, such as Londrina, São Paulo, Campos do Jordão, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife and others.
So, in the next few years we will be very busy in Brazil through hotel developments and Hard Rock Live. If we have the opportunity and the conditions are right, maybe it could be through sports betting, online and physical play, as long as the legislation and regulations are consistent. So we are very happy and expectant, trying to do the best for Brazil and for the company.
It would be a dream for Brazil to have a Hard Rock casino!
It is also a dream of any operator. It is the largest market in South America, with more than 200 million people and everyone knows Brazil's potential. If the government legislates gambling as part of entertainment to promote more tourists, I think the Brazilian economy will benefit. And that will be very good for everyone – operators, for the Brazilian public and for the country.
Source: Exclusive GMB
