A mere four months following the acquisition of the two destinations by the private equity group, Apollo Global Management has appointed Patrick Nichols as the Chief Executive Officer of The Venetian and Palazzo, situated in Las Vegas.
Nichols transitions to these properties from his role as General Manager of The Cosmopolitan at MGM Resorts International. He takes the reins from George Markantonis, who has overseen The Venetian for the past seven years. Markantonis will remain present during a handover phase before Nichols formally assumes his position on August 1st. Subsequently, he will continue to contribute as a special consultant to Apollo’s board of directors.
“We are certain that Patrick’s vast expertise in managing and growing entertainment, hospitality, and group business endeavors will further develop the solid groundwork established under George’s guidance and expertly advanced by the team,” remarked David Sambur, a senior leader at Apollo, regarding the selection.
During his tenure as Chief Strategy Officer at The Cosmopolitan, Nichols spearheaded numerous operational and strategic initiatives.
“I have personally witnessed the capabilities of The Venetian team, and I am eager to collaborate alongside our top-tier management team and our associates at Apollo to propel the resorts into their subsequent phase,” he stated.
In February 2022, Apollo procured The Venetian for $6.25 billion through a partnership with the real estate investment trust, VICI Properties.
This location is massive! Previously called The Venetian, the property was held by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. It features an astounding 7,100 guest rooms, a gaming floor encompassing 225,000 square feet, and a staggering 2.3 million square feet of meeting and event space – easy to get turned around in!