MGM Grand Las Vegas is Top Gaming Voice Award Winner

LAS VEGAS – MGM Grand Las Vegas received three Gaming Voice Awards, including Best in Show for print advertising, at the third annual American Gaming Association (AGA) Communications Awards Luncheon held today at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  The awards, sponsored by Goldman, Sachs & Co. with support from HVS Executive Search and Wells Fargo Bank, recognize outstanding achievement in advertising and corporate communications in the gaming industry. 

Floyd Glisson, chairman and CEO of Acres Gaming, and Gordon Graves, chairman and founder of MultiMedia Games Inc., both received the award for Top Performing CEO from HVS, a hospitality and human resources consulting firm. 

Glisson became chairman of Acres Gaming in April 2000 and has served as CEO since July 1998.  He served as president from July 1998 to April 2000. Graves has been providing technology solutions to the gaming industry since 1976.  His company designs online systems for lotteries, linked progressive games for commercial casinos and electronic bingo games for Indian casinos.

The Casino Management Association (CMA) named Sal Semola, chief operating officer of Greektown Casino, as the Eastern United States Gaming Professional of the Year.  Gregg Solomon, senior vice president of operations at Mandalay Resort Group, was named CMA Western United States Gaming Professional of the Year.

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Casino of the Sun in Tucson, Ariz., Isle of Capri Casinos, MGM MIRAGE and Park Place Entertainment each won one Gaming Voice Award each. 

The AGA Gaming Voice Awards recognize excellence in publications such as annual reports, consumer materials and Web sites.  More than 100 entries were submitted for the third annual Gaming Voice Awards, and finalists included most of the world’s largest gaming companies.  Winners in eight categories were selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges featuring experts in investor relations, public relations, advertising and new media.

“The gaming industry has become exceedingly competitive over the past few years, making effective communications imperative for companies to distinguish their properties and succeed in the crowded international marketplace,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association.  “Gaming industry communications are on the cutting edge of innovation and creativity, and have been effectively used to convey the benefits of our businesses.  These awards helps us showcase excellence in this vital field.”

More than 250 advertising, public affairs and corporate communications executives from the gaming industry attended the AGA Communications Awards Luncheon, held in conjunction with the third annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the gaming industry’s largest international trade show and conference.

“This awards event has become the premier competition among corporate and financial communication professionals in the industry,” said Steven Kent, vice president, Goldman, Sachs & Co. “As a sponsor of the AGA Communications Awards, we’re proud to support and reward the winners for outstanding communications in gaming.”

Phil Satre, chairman of Harrah’s Entertainment, accepted the award for HVS Top Performing Board of Directors on behalf of his company.  Irving Babson, the creator of Gaming Business magazine, was posthumously honored with a Gaming Voice award for lifetime achievement in communications in gaming.  Gaming Business was the predecessor to IGWB, and Babson also started the International Gaming and Business Expo, the gaming industry’s first trade show.  Babson’s daughter, Stacey Babson-Smith, accepted the award on her father’s behalf. 

The following is a complete list of Gaming Voice award winners, their supporting agencies and the category for which they were honored:

Best Consumer Broadcast Ad Campaign
Winner: Isle of Capri Casino for “Benefits, Scratch with Ricardo Montalban,” Agency: Chess Communications Group, Baltimore, Md.

Best Member/Customer Publication
Winner: Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa for “Borgata Style,” Agency: Schadler Kramer Group, Las Vegas

Best 2002 Annual Report
Winner: MGM MIRAGE, Agency: Schadler Kramer Group, Las Vegas

Best Web site
Winner: Park Place Entertainment for www.parkplace.com

Best Consumer Print Ad Campaign: Single
Winner: MGM Grand Las Vegas for “Halo,” Agency: Cramer Krasselt, Phoenix, AZ

Best Consumer Print Ad Campaign: Multiple
Winner: MGM Grand Las Vegas for “Various,” Agency: Cramer Krasselt, Phoenix, AZ

Best Consumer Print Ad Campaign: Outdoor
Winner: Casino of the Sun for “You Can Always Spot a Player,” Agency: Off Madison Ave., Tempe, AZ

Best Consumer Print Ad Campaign: Best in Show
Winner: MGM Grand Las Vegas for “Various,” Agency: Cramer Krasselt, Phoenix, AZ

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.

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