Michael Sagild and David Vely join MGM Hospitality

MGM Hospitality, the branded luxury hospitality division of MGM Resorts International, has added two key industry veterans to its management team to extend efforts to meet growing demand for its MGM Grand, Bellagio and Skylofts brands in the Middle East / North Africa and Asia Pacific regions.

Based in Hong Kong, Michael Sagild will direct MGM Hospitality’s Asia Pacific development activities, which pivot off the division’s success to date in reaching agreements to develop and manage luxury resorts and properties in China and Vietnam. Mr. Sagild and his team will focus on new opportunities to partner MGM Hospitality brands with projects in other Asian gateway destinations.

Mr. Sagild, who joins the group as Managing Director, Asia Pacific Development, comes to MGM Hospitality from Stein Group International, where he was Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Stein, he was Chief Operating Officer for Minor Hotels and Resorts in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. Sagild previously led the Asia Pacific region for Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, and he has extensive experience in hotel operations in the Asia Pacific region with Hyatt and Shangri-La.

Mr. Sagild is a graduate from Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, Switzerland, with a degree in Hotel Management. He has also completed the Advanced Management program at Cornell University.

In Dubai, David Vely will pursue new opportunities for MGM Hospitality in the Middle East / North Africa region, where the division has reached agreements to develop and manage luxury resorts and properties in various locations, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Egypt. The division continues exploring projects in other destinations in the region, and negotiations are well underway on numerous additional projects in the region.

Mr. Vely will serve as Senior Vice President for Development, Middle East / North Africa. He most recently held the position of Head of Development for Majid Al Futtaim Hospitality based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was responsible for leading the development strategy throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. Mr. Vely also held executive positions with Accor in the Middle East and Europe. Before joining, Accor, Mr. Vely participated in Sheraton Hotel and Resort’s Management Training Program.

Mr. Vely has a Masters in Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management-Northwestern University. He is also a graduate with a degree in Engineering from Grande Ecole D’Ingenieurs Paris-Laval (ESIEA).

“There’s a growing appetite globally to bring the refined luxury, excitement and service standards synonymous with the MGM Hospitality brand portfolio to leading international hotel and resort destinations,’’ said Michael Evans, MGM Hospitality Executive Vice President of Global Development. “Both Michael Sagild and David Vely bring tremendous understanding and experience that will help us identify, evaluate and secure many new opportunities in their respective regions. Together, both gentlemen have decades of hotel experience and they understand the needs of developers to create destinations that deliver extraordinary and differentiating guest experiences.’’

MGM Hospitality currently has active projects in development in Beijing, Sanya, Chengdu and Tianjin, China; Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt; Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Ho Tram, Vietnam. MGM Hospitality’s first completed project, MGM Grand Sanya on Hainan Island, is scheduled to open in 4Q 2011.

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