PERSONALITIES connection and interaction . “ Where I would always say hello to people , now I spend an extra minute or two . I spend more time to really focus on an individual … The most valuable thing we all have , and you learn this through the pandemic , is the time that we that we have with everybody around us . So , try to spend that time wisely .”
Wynn Tower suites
PROBLEM SOLVER At age 55 and some 35 years into his hospitality career , Gullbrants is more focused on developing leaders . “ I ’ d say I ’ m much more introspective . How could we have done that better or approached that differently ?” he says . “ When I ’ m presented with a problem today , the first thing I think about is one of the brightest people we have on our team that can solve this problem … My earlier self would have been proud to make a quick decision , be decisive and be done with it .”
Gullbrants still understands his need to be decisive and act , but with critical decisions he says he strives for more balance , bringing in a diverse group of people to vet the best solution – an approach that became even more clear to him during the pandemic . “ If you don ’ t have those right people on your team , who are the outside resources to make sure you make the very best decision without sacrificing sense of urgency and speed to solution ?”
When asked how the pandemic has changed him as a leader , Gullbrants says he sees more value in human
VEGAS ITERATIONS While Wynn Resorts is rebounding in Las Vegas , the casino resort group was also taking a big hit in July with its two properties in Macau , which continue to suffer from COVID-related lockdowns , the latest coming in mid-July .
Elsewhere , the planned Wynn resort in the U . A . E .’ s Ras Al Khaimah region is the first of its kind in the MENA region and set to open in 2026 . It marks the most significant foreign direct investment in Ras Al Khaimah and will include more than 1,000 rooms , entertainment , and a gaming zone .
Back in Vegas , Gullbrants says the city and its offerings continue to evolve with a greater emphasis on sports and entertainment . There are now NHL hockey and NFL football teams based in the city with rumors persisting about the NBA basketball league and Major League baseball coming in the next year or two . The city also recently announced an F1 series racing even and is preparing to host the 2023 Super Bowl .
“ The global stage that these events put Las Vegas on is certainly something we ’ ve never seen before , and that continues to evolve ,” Gullbrants says . “ When you think entertainment , sports and unique experiences , as well as great food , incredible hospitality , going big and large – the first thing that should come to mind is Las Vegas .”
More specifically for Wynn , next year it will create automobile- and speed-related programming around the next F1 race , including an exotic car auction and a massive activation at 37 acres of land owned by Wynn directly across the street from the resort .
At the same time , its 1,480-seat Encore theater over the last two years has been the highest- grossing theater in the world for a venue with less than 5,000 seats . It has partnered with entertainment agencies to non-stop bring in big acts like singer Lionel Richie or comedian Sebastian Maniscalco . “ We have this niche that we ’ ve cracked and created for ourselves with comedians because people are longing to just have a great night out and laugh with others ,” Gullbrants says .
66 hotelsmag . com September 2022