Former SLS boss Kreeger takes gaming market knowledge to Macau

In his new position, Kreeger reports to former Station Casinos exec Kevin Kelley, who is chief operating officer of Galaxy Entertainment, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported. Company President Mike Mecca also has a history in Las Vegas as former president of Planet Hollywood. Kreeger left SLS Las Vegas on Dec. 31, after spending more than two years at the resort. He arrived from Revel in Atlantic City, which closed over Labor Day weekend 2014.

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Kreeger used his read of the Las Vegas gaming trends to bolster locals’ business at SLS

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Kreeger stepped in for ex-SLS President Rob Oseland, who opened the resort in August 2014 and left after less than three months for the Alon project. While at SLS, Kreeger helped develop the Foundry venue, ended and authorized such market-driven decisions as ending the partnership with retailer Fred Segal and closed the hotel’s buffet and Ku Noodle restaurant.

Most prominently, Kreeger was at the helm when the resort’s owner, Stockbridge Capital Partners, forged a deal with W Resorts, which has taken over the former Lux Tower. The move marked the first W hotel in Las Vegas; the company had been eager to have a presence on the Strip for more than a decade. Kreeger said at the time that connecting the two hotels was vital to boosting SLS’ business.

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Before returning to run SLS, Kreeger spent more than 20 years in Las Vegas with MGM Resorts International and Station Casinos

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In his tenure, Kreeger opened one of the great success stories among locals’-targeted hotel-casinos, Red Rock Resort, in 2006.

A pair of execs also familiar with Vegas, Terry Downey and Robert Schaffhauser, have since taken over leadership at SLS. They previously operated Aliante in North Las Vegas, itself a hotel seeking to snare locals.