Defining Hospitality

DH - Eileen Madigan
===

Speaker: [00:00:00] What I do is inconsequential. Why I do what I do is I get to shorten people's journeys every day. What I love about our hospitality industry is that it's our mission to make people feel cared for while on their journeys. Together we'll explore what hospitality means in the built environment, in business, and in our daily lives.

I'm Dan Ryan, and this is Defining Hospitality.

This podcast is sponsored by Berman Fall Hospitality Group, a design-driven furniture manufacturer who specializes in custom case goods and seating for hotel guest rooms.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Today's guest has over 35 years of interior design experience leading and directing design teams at Leo, a Daly, Rosewood Hotel and Resorts, and Four Seasons. She had her own interior design consulting firm, Madigan International, and currently she is the Senior Vice President of Global Interior Design at Las Vegas Sands Corporation. and gentlemen, welcome Eileen Madigan. Welcome, Eileen.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Thank you, [00:01:00] Dan. Great to see you.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: I am so glad we were able to connect, um, as I've been doing this podcast for almost four years. I think this month is the four year anniversary.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Happy anniversary.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Thank you. I've been speaking to more and more people or trying to make an effort to speak to more and more people internationally

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: People who maybe might not be ex North America, but have a footprint, a global footprint. And funnily enough, I recently interviewed Bruno Viterbo who worked for Sands many moons ago, and he was just speaking so incredibly about design at that such a large global scale and how you and, and the nuance and the, and the attention and the care and the passion that's necessary to. Check all those boxes. Um, so I'm just super honored to have you on, um, as a representative of Las Vegas Sands. And I know, um, it's Las Vegas Sands [00:02:00] is the title or the name of the, the organization or the company, but really you guys are way more than that. So, um, it's an honor and very excited to have you on today.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Dan, thank you so much. I'm actually very honored, um, amongst all the interviewees that you had. Um, I'm, I'm just really taken back from the, the invitation to, to have this interview. I think that, uh, you know, I enjoy listening to all your podcasts, traveling around the world at different time zones. To feel connected to everyone's story just, uh, makes me feel like I'm a bigger part of a, a bigger mission.

So thanks for, for doing this for the entire hospitality community. It's such a, it's such an invaluable insight. Um, that means a lot to all of us. So thank you for taking the time to do this.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Well, it's, the pleasure is all mine. And, um, I, I don't know. I'm just honored to do it. It's crazy that so many people tune in and listen and are impacted in [00:03:00] all these ways. And, um, it just started as a, I don't know, just like a, oh, let me try this, and it turned into something really cool or it's turned into something really cool that I enjoy and it's definitely. I guess what I'd say is like, thank you for being a part of my favorite part of the week. So I doing this weekly. I appreciate it.

so you've had a career that's spanned multiple decades and now you're flying, you're, you're slingshotting yourself all the way around the world. Um, and really to follow up on my conversation with Bruno, it's all about like executing. Design and luxury, but at such an incredible scale across, um,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: gaming, retail, um, arenas like, you name it, you guys are all over and so many great new projects and it's such, it's hard for me to get my head around the scale of Las Vegas Sands, number one, from my past conversation and also just talking and speaking with you [00:04:00] as large as the scale is you're able to. Put hospitality at the center of all that as the filter. So before we get into our long conversation, um, what does hospitality mean to you?

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Hospitality means to me, a, a transformation of an experience through, uh, a written narrative that really captures the attributes of the location and the site. Um. Obviously through amazing design, but nevertheless, um, the attentive service is what kind of encompasses, I think, the overall defining hospitality.

But I think also, um, it's, it's an everlasting memory and I think that we all start out with projects. You know, looking forward to what is that everlasting memory. And I think that when we, you know, are in the design process and [00:05:00] we're working through all the phases and defining each individual detail and those experiences to what is the real takeaway.

And so I really think that at the end of the day, we're creating everlasting memories. And so that's kind of a. Um, overall kind of viewpoint on for me in regards to defining, uh, hospitality.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Wonderful. And I, and I'd love to get into the, like as far as how large the scale is of Las Vegas Sands and, and how you're able to kind of zoom in on.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: On the human scale, uh,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Going throughout all these large projects, but we'll get there in a minute.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Okay.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: I, I, we were speaking about just before I hit record is, you know, you've had. A 35 year career. Right. And you started, if I remember correctly, just before the 1991 recession, right?

So

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: 1990.

Mm-hmm. You and I have been through many cycles

Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: through each of the [00:06:00] cycles, I find comes tremendous opportunity. Um,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: our industry reshuffles itself and reorients itself.

One of the things that I've been fascinated by, uh. Is how much capital is out there in the world, and it's always just looking for the right spot to go.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: I find that our industry for the past five years as far as the hospitality design and development has been in a recession slash depression for five years.

Right. And it's been a really tough slog. But as we at Berman, Falk anyway are looking beyond. The borders of North America. We see tremendous opportunity. Um, so I was wondering if you could just for a moment, your company is Las Vegas Sands Corporation, but you're truly global, what are you seeing out there as we're in this state of flux right now from a global perspective?

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: There's a lot, uh, a lot happening. My focus is Asia. We have our properties in Macau, and then [00:07:00] we have our property in Singapore. So the last eight years I've really been focusing on that region. And you know, what we see is a significant change in, in China, um, and that, uh, a lot of the businesses in Hong Kong have moved out and they have gone to Singapore or have gone to other locations in, in Southeast Asia.

So that's been a really. Dynamic. Dynamic to see the transformation of Hong Kong, um, from, from a business perspective, from even a resource perspective of getting the right people that, that we need to execute our projects. So it's really, um, I think, uh. You know, China is obviously a major player in the economy and you know, what's happening there and what's happening to, in the United States is it impacts all of us.

Um, you know, during, during COVID, uh, Macau was the first [00:08:00] to, to shut down. And, uh, once we saw that, we knew it was coming to the United States. Uh, it was just a matter of time. And, um, you know, we. We still see, um, we're, we're seeing improvement in, in our business. Um, but is it a hundred percent back to where we want it to be in, in Macau?

Um, not necessarily. Um, in Singapore, it is off the charts. Um, you know, there's only two gaming companies in Singapore. Uh, were one of them. And, uh, the success that we've had, um. Uh, in, in this last earnings call is remarkable and it, it is an attribute to, um, our, um, chairman Rob Goldstein and Patrick Dumont, our president and COO uh, during COVID, they made the strategic decision to continue on with all of the CapEx, uh, renovation work, and it was.

Billions of dollars that they [00:09:00] committed to, to reposition the brand to more of an ultra luxury experience, specifically in Singapore, and then a luxury experience in, um, in Macau. And I think that that investment alone is now paying back, um, kind of tenfold to, to where we stand right now in the market.

But it, it's, it's, it's not, um, I know the United States has probably seen a lot of, recession kind of, you know, uh, qualities, attributes, but we're we're definitely, um, we, we felt it too. Everyone felt it, I think, of shimmer around the world, uh, and,

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: of the, one of the things a, as you were talking about, um, Rob and Patrick, who I, I don't know, and I'm

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: But

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: didn't catch their last names.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Okay.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: but as you're talking about Rob and Patrick, um, it. reminds me that earnings call of a earnings call many, many years ago with Steve Wynn, where he said, look, [00:10:00] we, we may be an American company, but if we're not shifting our focus to Asia, we're not gonna be in this game for very much longer.

Right there, there's a real, and the United States even had this pivot, pivot to Asia under President Obama. Um, and as the world becomes smaller and smaller, um. And more integrated. It's really important to continue with all of those investments. And from that perspective, as far as, like you said, off the charts, um, I don't listen to many hospitality earning calls or gaming earning call earnings calls.

Maybe ever. Maybe I should probably start doing that, but what, like, working for large firms in your past and now being at a global publicly traded company, like what do you look forward to or what do you, what stands out to you? And what do you pay attention to the most in those earnings calls?

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Well, uh, LA eight years ago I joined, um, Las Vegas Sands, and it's kind of an interesting story. Um, I was, uh, [00:11:00] uh, at Four Seasons, um, a VP of, uh, creative, uh. Uh, under, uh, Chris Norton, the president of, of, of Four Seasons at the, at the, at the time. And, um, they had a massive restructuring and they let 75, um, executives go, um, through really a downscaling.

And, you know, I was kind of one of the numbers, one of the 75, and I honestly, um, I was, uh, this was. About 10 years ago, and I I was really kind of taken back because I had the opportunity to grow and learn and, you know, network through the industry and kind of always landed my next job, um, in sync of where I was with my career.

But I found myself that I. Didn't have a, a job and four Seasons was incredible in regards to, um, the offboarding process. I can't thank them enough and they gave me a life coach, and it was the first [00:12:00] time in almost 20 years, 25 years, that I had a time to stop and think of, um, who I was. What I wanted to really, truly do and really define my value proposition.

And I, um, for all the young designers that are out there, I can't encourage you enough. I probably did it a little too late in my career. Um, but, you know, uh, defining your value proposition I think is really important, um, to, um, create a succession plan and continue to stride for, for, for excellence

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: that that's awesome. First of all, that it's called an offboarding process. Like, to me that sounds like a euphemism,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: that they actually give you a life coach, it truly is. And I think that's also what makes Four Seasons so special as well as like a, a very high benchmark within our industry.

So that's pretty remarkable. Number one.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: It is. Yeah.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: you, had, you worked with a life coach before.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: No, [00:13:00] I had not.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Because I've had many different coaches and I coach and mentor others. And um, it's one of those things where I never considered it first of all. And then when I have done it, um, it's really hard work because like. The,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: shined on me. And then I have to dig deeper and deeper and to get to that sense of purpose and like, and the why, what,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: but why we're doing it.

What gets us outta bed every morning? What gets us excited and how do you intentionally, and actually that's a word I picked up from you when we spoke earlier, this idea of intention, but how do you intentionally uncover those things and then create a path towards being in that? You're it, I don't know. I call it like a zone of genius or like where your best and truest self is and it doesn't happen overnight.

It's a lot of work. But what was the, when you first worked with that life coach, what was, what were some of the tough questions [00:14:00] that they asked you to when you started looking inward to yourself? Like when, when did that light go off and say, oh wow, this is something that's pretty awesome.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: I'd never, uh, taken the time. I've traveled the world. I've probably been in about 50 countries so far. Um, when I joined Rosewood, I kind of opened up my world to, to luxury design, which was a a a. Professional succession, kind of, you know, um, goal or plan. And when I, uh, joined them, I was with them almost 10 years.

I traveled the world and started to really understand different cultures and doing projects internationally. And when I really kind of had the moment to, to sit back and look at my career and the projects and the people I've been exposed to. Uh, my coach was like, you have an amazing stories and you have an amazing experiences.

Like you really have to really kind of brand this. And, [00:15:00] um, you know, we worked together in regards to creating even when I was out, um, creating excellence and, and you know, one of the things that I've seen is projects at a very, very high end level and, um. I chose that midway through my career. Um, and, and if I hadn't really taken that time to really understand that, that's what I really wanted to, to, to learn and, and, and really be a part of, um, I probably would have kind of plateaued with my, my career.

Um, so I, I. Took the, the, the leap and joined, um, Rosewood Hotels outta Dallas at the time and went on their journey of them being, um, purchased by New World out of Hong Kong. I, uh, went to Hong Kong and transitioned the team there to understanding sense of place and luxury and. Worked, uh, closely with Sonya Chang, um, in, in regards to [00:16:00] developing kind of all the brand nuances in regards to the guest experience.

So that was kind of once in a lifetime experiences. And then I went on, um, at that time they said Eileen, we're doing the Hotel Creon in Paris. Um, we, we need to, um. You need to stay there. You need to be there and make sure that that project, uh, twist my arm. So I found myself living in, in Paris. Um,

uh.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: in the hotel?

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Um, no, no, no. It was under massive, massive, massive, uh, renovation. That project was, uh, uh, really if a pinnacle project of, of my career to be a part of that. And,

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Wow.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: The, the, um, working with Carl Lagerfeld on the, the private, uh, suites, uh, um, in the hotel was 124 rooms. And it was, uh, four different designers.

Um, and it was an incredible e experience. Um, they actually, um, if, uh, you don't really know that we hoisted the building up, um, [00:17:00] and dug underneath to create the spa and the pool and the proper back of house to service at the level.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: that.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Um, um, so it was incredible there. Initially they had these little French men, um, digging buckets of dirt, and then when they could get a backhoe into it, they started to really excavate the underneath.

So, you know, it's incredible to see those experiences

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: when you start, just so I'm clear and the, and the, and the listeners are clear, because I think working with a coach is incredible. And

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: if you read all of these personal finance books about like your 401k or saving for yourself, it's always pay yourself first.

Right? And in essence, doing that work with a coach. really paying yourself first, even more so than the financially financial idea of paying yourself first, because I think we all owe it to ourselves to really dig in on what makes us tick and why we tick. Um, so I, [00:18:00] I just wanna kind of tee that up for everyone.

'cause like you have had all these incredible international experiences. So when you started listing those out, and I'm sure you have more than you, you can highlight some of them, but like. From my experience, I went through this, um, figuring out like why, like what's most important to me, what's my purpose?

And I listed all these things that I love doing and that I've impacted others.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: this huge list, I couldn't even figure out like how to tie it all together. It was

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: ball of spaghetti. At Con, there were themes. I even made like a US open, like. like bracket and had each of these things that I love or might have or am good at, and had them fight each other and came to the end. And I couldn't even, I couldn't see it. And it took a coach to be like, ah, Dan, you love the journey, you love the journey. And then I was like, ah, that helped me focus. And then I went into. I love shortening other people's journeys and making sure that people are cared for their [00:19:00] journey. So how did, once you started listing out all these experiences, and you can name a couple more, how did you, working with that coach did it, what was the next step to get it into focus for you that you're like, oh, a light and had your light bulb moment.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: yeah, that's a good question because it, it was a process and you don't really realize it because your life goes on and deadline after. Planes, trains, automobiles, and you're,

you're traveling. Well, and also I didn't see it and you know, I, I'm kind of, I always have my head down working and, um, if anyone knows me, I, I'm like, what's the result?

Where's the result? Um, I, you know, where everyone can kind of do the task and it'd be like, okay, yes, we got the test done, but it's like a lot of people don't really understand that the test gets done. But what was the end result? Was it ultimately everlasting beneficial and positive? Or what did they, the getting the whatever topic done, um, did, [00:20:00] did it not work?

And I don't think people really understand results driven kind of, um, mindset, um, to really capture success.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Hmm.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: and it took me, it, it took me a while. It was an evolution

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: It took me months and scores of, of journaling, scores of pages of journaling. I must have this many books filled. I mean, it was, it was, it's intense. But anyway,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: I think, um, journaling, everything you do, and I journal, um, on an app, um, uh, every day, uh, once in the morning and once in the evening, um, just to get my thoughts down because there is so much going across my world. Um, it's massive and it's really fast paced and so. I have to be intentional to really be grateful and also, um, take the time for me and my own mindset to process everything because there's a lot of things going on and I have to [00:21:00] show up as a leader as.

Collaborative, positive and really, um, you know, kind of when, when, you know, times are difficult of deadlines and construction is not going so well or whatever it may be, that, you know, you're really in the right mindset to, to deal with anything and it's like, bring it on.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: I call it stepping out of the batter's box. Like,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: there, we're doing our thing, but it's really important for all of us to step, step out of the batter's box, get a different perspective, kind of shake off whatever's going, or be like, oh, let's do more of that. Um, but working with that in that offboarding with the coach, like how did that. I don't know. A like, help you leap into the position what? Into the position you're, you're now, like how did it change your, your perspective or what did you do differently or how did you look at things differently after that experience?

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: they taught me, I had a, [00:22:00] a wealth of, of one e experience and knowledge and I think never under underestimate your, uh, your skillset. Never underestimate your skillset and, um, especially for the young designers that are trying to learn, really take the time in your twenties to learn the process in your thirties.

Start to really learn how to manage. And in your forties really you start to understand how the businesses are run. Um, and if you can really start to unders, un understand the overall umbrella of what our business is, um, you just become so much more, you have so much more clarity in regards to what you're going after.

And you know, I think that the coach brought me clarity of strengths that I was probably undermining myself on and, um, really, um. They explained to me, Eileen, write your dream, dream job title and [00:23:00] then go online and research, you know, 10 firms or 10 companies you would like to work for, um, and make sure that the values are aligned to what you want as your ideal job.

And who gets the time to say, what's my ideal job? You are always kind of fitting into a job description, and if you could sit back and take the time to write your dream, dream, you know. with intention and a clear thought process, not rushed and, and everything, um, or at despair. Um, just really be open to what you really want.

It's amazing, um, how the world kind of manifests itself. And I remember listening to your conversation with Margaret and that ification of, of everything, and it's really, um, it, it's, it's amazing how that actually happens. And so. He said, go out to top of your mentors and, and your industry leaders and explain what you [00:24:00] wanna do, and,

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: it also took Margaret like slapping me to make me

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: yeah. Uhhuh.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Like I gotta think of things different. I gotta

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yeah. You have to,

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: that was, that was very early in my journey of like.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: And discovery and all that, and she was definitely, she played a, a seminal role in that.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: I know. Yeah. Yeah. anyways, so, um, uh, you know, yeah, I love her too. She's amazing. She's amazing.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: if I'm hearing you correctly, it's, looking at your career journey focusing on different elements of it, creating your own dream job, because I think that, especially for younger

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Um.

What I find is, okay, you gotta go out and you gotta grind and you gotta do your thing right?

And you just have to like make it work. But I think as I, I loved how you said the twenties, thirties, forties, because at a certain point in like the late twenties, early thirties, I think the blank paper exercise to me is where, where you [00:25:00] take a blank piece of paper and make a line of the things you love and you're good at and the things you really don't like, and then focusing on the things that you love and you're really good at is a great way to like. Refocus where you're going and whether I love tactically thinking about researching all of the different jobs out there and finding your dream job, because all of those things are inspiring as well. And you said something before we recorded that really struck me because for everyone out there, it's like I, that adage I said about pay yourself first and invest in yourself. Um, you also, we all hear this thing. It's um. It's not what you know, it's who you know. Right. But what I'll say is you do know, have to know stuff

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: also about what

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: who you know, but

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Your skillset? Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: that into a really profound different way that kind of res that really resonated with me is that it's not what, what you know, but who you know. It's neither of those,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Mm-hmm.[00:26:00]

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: you. Right.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Who knows? You.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: So how did you f I've never heard that before,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Uhhuh.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: that come from? And I think that that really, and and what does that mean to you?

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: a coach, a coach told me that. And so, um, I didn't get it. I was like, what are you saying? Like, you know, I network all the time. I know all these people. I've got, you know, my contacts and everything. And when I went to reach out to, um, several people in the industry, um, one of 'em is a, a, a dear friend and I admire him immensely, is Tom Pheasant.

And Tom and I did the mansion on Turtle Creek, um, renovation project. And um, and I kind of knew Tom when I was living in Washington, DC um. But, uh, uh, he, I reached out to him and told him everything I was doing and he's like, you know what? I got a project. Let's team together and let's go after this at this RFP.

So I said, okay Tom, this is gonna be an amazing opportunity. Let's go for it. [00:27:00] Um, and then probably like a week later, he calls me and says, Eileen. I've got a different kind of opportunity and I think you're the perfect person. And I said, okay. And he said, um, uh, a client of mine, Rob Goldstein, Mr. Goldstein, I've, I've, um, and, uh, client of mine, uh, is looking for somebody with exactly your international experience.

He is the president and CEO, he's now the chairman of Las Vegas Sands. He, um. He says, um, you know, uh, I want you to talk to him. And I said to Tom, Tom, I, I know nothing about gaming. I know nothing about massive integrated resorts. I'm really not the person. I do small luxury boutique kind of. Projects and understand that business model.

And I said, I know, I know I probably know somebody in the industry that would be interested in this position, but I'm happy to talk to him. [00:28:00] Um, and I'll reach out to him. We'll coordinate the call. So I called, um, we, we, we spoke and. It was probably about a two and a half hour conversation, and we just went through, um, kind of where Sans was at the time with their, um, design and development, uh, team.

And, uh, even on the phone, I said, Mr. Goldstein, I'm not your person, but I know, I know somebody in the industry that can, that would be perfect for this position. And he says, no. I want you to come out to Las Vegas, just come out and meet me in Las Vegas. And so I said, okay, I'll go, come out. And so I came out, um, for a, a one day interview that ended up turning into three days.

And every time I went to meet with somebody, um, I then met with the CFO, who's now the, the, the president and, and COO right now, um, Patrick Dumont. Um. Uh, the next day they kept on saying, keep, keep. Um, can you stay one [00:29:00] extra day? I mean, can you stay one extra day? And I was like, sure. So the, ultimately the, the last day I, I met Mr.

Adelson and Dr. Adelson and interviewed with them. And so, um, it was, uh, you know, uh, talk about being kind of, you know, flexible and, and definitely, uh, willing to kind of have these introductions. Um, I, um. Obviously at the end of all of it, I found the company very intriguing. And, um, they offered me the position.

And you know, at first when I spoke to Mr. Goldstein, um, he says, you know, I mean you're, when I was saying, you know, I don't think I'm the right person for you. He said, no, you're exactly the right person. You know, luxury inside and out. You've been in that industry for 20 some years now. We need you to scale luxury for us.

We need to change our product. Um, we need to change how we do our, our, um, [00:30:00] overall process of design. And we need you to come in and spearhead this. So the first, I would say 90 days, I wrote, observed everything in Macau and in Singapore was very strong management style. And I came in and, um, really developed the, the whole philosophy and the methodology to move forward to where we are today.

Um, offering the, um, all customized design in every one of our properties. Um, and at the level that we do it is, uh, very, um, it's ultra luxury, high-end finishes, multi materiality.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: I heard you say in the past, like working on, um, turtle Creek and all these other great smaller boutique bespoke properties. This, it's, it's intimate, it's small, it's like, and you can go so deep into all the detail of what makes that all special. But you also said that when in hospitality, I think it was like a transformational [00:31:00] experience, right? So I can't imagine. my head around something as a one, one property going deep into details to get my head to expand and transform into these, like the global scale, the just the si, the sheer size of some of these properties with hotel gaming, restaurant retail. Like did you, aside from like getting onboarded there and,

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Hmm.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Thinking about this, like I know when I spoke to, um. When I spoke to Bruno, he mentioned that like wing chow had like a way of like looking at the people in a rendering and, and, and not looking at the design. But imagine what was the moment for you to, like, what, how did you get your head around being able to get around such scale and think about going from a small one project to this like

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes. gargantua?

Well, I, my, I, I am pretty pragmatic if everyone knows me, um, they're like, where's her Excel [00:32:00] spreadsheet, because she definitely kind of gets everything organized. So, you know, having to, to pragmatically like, kind of lay everything out. And I studied, I studied all the properties. All the, the layers of each of the floors to fully understand what, you know, how the buildings work.

And, you know, we have two properties, you know, the Macau properties and, and the, in the Singapore properties. So we're, we're not in, you know, you know, 75 countries or 150 countries and, and all over the place and.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: you're there. Right. But what I will say, I want the listeners to know. those properties, you have $20 billion in CapEx across 70 projects within those two projects. So I guess at a certain point, spreadsheet and going line by line and knowing all of the detail is super important, but

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: so massive.

So like

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yeah.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: What was there a moment when you were like, [00:33:00] you, you got your feet under you and you were like, oh, wow. Now I, I see the matrix, so, so to speak.

Speaker 2: Hey, everybody. We've been doing this podcast for over three years now, and one of the themes that consistently comes up is sustainability, and I'm just really proud to announce that our sponsor, Berman Fall Hospitality Group is the first within our hospitality industry to switch to sustainable and recyclable packaging, eliminating the use of styrofoam.

Please check out their impact page in the show notes for more info.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: Yes. Well, when I came in and I really saw, um, what we were doing, we were really, um, you know, Rob Goldstein was really like Eileen, how do we get the design level to our competitors? And I went through the whole process and I really looked at the whole organization. And I wrote an initial business plan about the people, the process, the product, and then ultimately the pro profitability.

And when I came in and I really assessed the people, [00:34:00] and this is internal and external teams, that I was really assessing of who we were, what design firms we were contracting, and who were the people managing in-house, managing the projects. 'cause we outsource everything. And when I really looked at the team, you know, I had to recognize that to pull off and achieve the luxury level, we, I needed to hire a whole team of people that knew luxury in the industry.

So I reached out to all of my, um, network, and I reached out to a number of people and brought, um, a number of people on board, um, that said, IIN, I'll come from the journey. Um, it's gonna be an interesting ride. I'll come for the journey and, and, and, um, you know, let's roll up our sleeves and get, get into it.

So I, um, once I looked at the people, I really started to look at our external vendors from our furniture manufacturers to then our design consultants. And really [00:35:00] established a, a list of kind of white glove designers. And I went to them and I had to do a sales pitch and I had to convince them that we were the right partner to team with.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Mm.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: That, and I go back to like early on David Collins days when I was in London convincing them to, to do our PISA project for us in, in Macau at the Londoner. Um, they were a little bit skeptical, um, but then they took the journey with us and, and, um, they're like, I mean, it's amazing what. You have achieved in such a very short period of time.

But we then looked at, um, we looked at the process and we were, um, unfortunately stopping design firms at concept and schematic. And, and now we keep design firms on through the entire process. They are on the journey assuring the quality of the finishes. The quality of the detailing is not compromised.

Um, we play, uh. We had to overhaul all of our budgets and that really drove, uh, you know, our finance [00:36:00] department crazy. 'cause they were like, really we're gonna spend this per square foot. But, um, to achieve the, the, the offering that we're at, the level that we're doing at it, um, they recognized that they had to make that significant investment.

Um, so we looked at that, then we looked at all the schedules and under revamped the process with the schedules. We, here we are, where we are today, probably 180 projects completed.

dan-ryan_7_08-01-2025_124121: Jeez.

eileen_1_08-01-2025_094121: yes, in the last, um, um, you know, uh, eight years, we've done a significant amount of renovation in Macau. Um, you know, the, the Cotai, um.

Property was underperforming. And uh, that was my first project when we came on board. And to really take that, um, kind of mass level product and really tier it to the next le um, level of premium mass. And now we tier all of our gaming product. Um, we tier all of our guest [00:37:00] rooms, um, throughout. So we're, we, we've become smarter at what we do.

Uh. Space planning is a critical, critical part of the process that we, um, uh, take a lot of time

dan-ryan_8_08-01-2025_132249: okay, so these incredible projects that you're working on in. China and Singapore. Um, I'm very intrigued also by how you're taking what you've learned over the past eight years and now I, I just read that you're building a new all suites tower in Singapore. Is that connected to Marina Bay Sands or is it, is it totally separate?

Is it nearby? I mean, Singapore is not that big, but

eileen_2_08-01-2025_102249: No, it's a, um, it's a major, um, investment for us. It's a 55, 55 story, um, building. It's, uh, across the street, um, from the current Marina Bay Sands. Um, um, and so you can cross the street and, um, it, we have a 15,000 seat arena. [00:38:00] For, um, it's a, for entertainment state-of-the-art entertainment. And then, um, uh, the 55 story stands on the other side of the arena.

Um, and the, the offering there is really to benchmark the future of sands and their focus on ultra luxury, uh, hospitality, ultra luxury, um, gaming, um, as well as, uh, you know, luxury, uh, retail.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: as you talked about that arena, um, in Singapore, um, I just want everyone again to get their head, your head around the scale here. It's 12. You're overseeing 12,000 guest rooms, three arenas, 3 million square feet of luxury retail and gaming, and. I heard you say something.

I love, I love alliteration. So like where, where you talk about people, product and profitability. Um, what I loved about, as you're assembling all of these teams, it's really the people. I mean if you, for, for what you're [00:39:00] trying to execute and establish that, obviously all three of those are important, but when you're, when you're addressing a new project such as this new all suites tower that's going up across the street.

Are you, are you spending most of your time in the beginning really thinking about the people and then you collaborate with them to figure out what the product is? Or are you guys coming into that as you're assembling your team with a vision already in place?

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: We come in and, um. When I, when I first kind of joined, um, the, the mission that was created is design excellence, and it's a philosophy and it's is, um, and a methodology. And it was a, a, a tough road to get everyone on board with design excellence, but. Um, it has tenfold been indoctrinated in design excellence, operational excellence, and, uh, riveted through all of our businesses, across the, um, uh, across sands.

And so [00:40:00] that was, that is something that I'm very proud of. Um. It took a a while and it wasn't an easy road by any means, but I am determined not to give up. And I think if everyone, everyone that works with me, say she's tenacious and she will not give up. She is. Um, and every time I meet with my team and we're up against a difficult situation, I said, this is gonna make us stronger and better.

Let's keep going. Let's get the answers, let's find the solution. It's right under our nose and. My team, um, my hats go out, um, to Catherine Blazedale, who runs the Hong Kong Design Office, and, um, Evan Burton and uh, they're just an, an incredible. Team of people. I stand here and kind of, you know, people see the, the numbers and everything that we do, um, in leading the efforts of all of this.

But my team across the regions are my lifeline and, um, they. They are an incredible, uh, team. They [00:41:00] believe in what we do. They're very energized in regards to the quality of work we do, the uniqueness in the design, and really the design challenges. Um, you know, not, not everything is, you know, design firms, you know, kind of roll out wonderful designs.

We work towards, we get the operational brief. Um, we create a design brief, um, and. We have their budgets and our schedules, and I'm always driving home before fundamentals of a successful project. If any one of those things is offline at any phase project of the phase.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Now, what are the four fundamentals?

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Um, it's the operational brief, the, the design brief, which we write the narrative, and that's what I do a lot with, um, is really, um, creating the experiential

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Ah.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: That everyone walks into. So. You know, we're really in there trying to sculpt the spaces out and, [00:42:00] you know, is it a gaming space that needs high energy or is it a calming space up in our guest rooms that we really need to transition the experience?

So we're in there writing the overall experience for the, for the guest. And for the project, um, driven by the, the business and driven by what the operations is, is asking for. And then we're also looking very much at our own competition because lots of our guests come from Macau to Singapore, Singapore to Macau. And so we're looking at differentiation in our product and then we look outwards towards the competition and how we then create. know, obviously the design direction, the design vision, so it encompasses a lot of things and the human scale obviously is, um, something that we pay very close attention to when we get into the details.

But. We're very focused on the story of what the experience is when you open a Jewel box mini [00:43:00] bar and all the crystal and all of the specialty mixology drinks and everything. We're in there with the design, uh, operations team and the design team creating all of the, the nuances. It's, it's a labor of love, um, and it takes a lot of time and I think that for what we do at the scale that we do is remarkable.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Hmm.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: We're in it day in and day out. I review all the projects once a week with each of the vice presidents of the regions to ensure that we're meeting our project schedules and the aesthetic of, of the design. it's a very, um, streamlined process. Um, it's a very fast process. Typically, most of our projects are about a 36 week design time for a multi. Hundreds, hundreds of thousands of square feet. But you have to remember, we do one design scheme for our guest rooms. Uh, we don't do multiple schemes. We [00:44:00] create tiers that we create nuances. Um, so scaling is, is, it seems overwhelming, but when you really start to hone in. I compartmentalize all the projects and really try to personalize those projects so that they have the right story and the interest to capture our ultimate, you know, we are a gaming company at the core of what we do. Um, the foundation of the company is, is a massive developer and willing to, to go into markets and create infrastructure and then create the integrated, uh, resorts. So, um, it's an interesting. An interesting company and then, you know, not talk about, you know, you never know where you are in your career and you can take on all this work that we do. About three years ago, Patrick Dumont came to me and said, ibe, um, you know, we have the largest privately held fleet of, of planes. And he said, we're not getting the design right. IBE can, how can you, [00:45:00] how can you go over to

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Oh yeah.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: the, the aviation and, and, and help them out? And, um. And all of the, the project managers and architects and everyone in the, in the, um, DPM office was like, oh boy, they're, they're gonna get the, the design excellence, uh, wand put on them.

And, and it's gonna be a, an interesting experience. And, um, the, all the aviation team are incredible gentlemen, and

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: I,

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: um,

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: must say.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Planes like no tomorrow,

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: It is incredible. When I am like in Vegas for HD Vegas and I oftentimes there's some, something going on at a suite up at Mandalay Bay, which kind of overlooks the airport there and to see all those Sands Jets just parked there. Old, they're seven 40 sevens.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Air buses,

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: yeah,

they're, it's unbelievable.

And, um. Wow. So you get to take that design excellence and focus that on every aspect.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Every aspect of it. So my role has kind [00:46:00] of, kind of morphed into a lot more than

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Hmm.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: like really focusing on design.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Well, what wa I'm curious, what was the biggest, um, improvement or leap forward, um, on the, on the aviation side of things as you started looking at it?

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Um, you, you know what, they were kind of piecemealing everything in regards to, you know, uh, let's replace the carpet. Let's like, you know, fix a few things here and there. when we, um, you know, was asked to say, okay, take the room product from Marina Bay Sands and integrate it, it's a seamless experience

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: wow.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: up at, with the Rolls Royces.

We customize all of our Rolls Royces. So we do get involved in that. Um, then we did the Jets and so it was this seamless experience that we wanted to really create for at that level. We call it our private jet, um, clientele. And so we really wanted to really focus on that. And I think, uh, the design, you know, everyone was compartmentalized [00:47:00] in the different departments and really not having this holistic umbrella of the kind of transformational experience, uh, you know, design. So we, we've overhauled, uh, six planes so far in two years, which is really unheard of. Um, and talk about. You know, learning a whole new industry when you're, you know, well into your senior career here, um, to understand how aviation works, it's fascinating.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: God, and all the constraints that must be in there is just unbelievable.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: everything has to be weightless.

Um, and so they weigh everything when it comes off of the renovation. They said, I mean, you only have so many X pounds. You can't put one more ounce into that plane. So whatever you do that comes back on the plane, it has to equal that same amount of weight. So we're always, we're always really looking at, um, methods of, um, we do, uh, a process called hydro dipping, which is like a photography, [00:48:00] um, kind of millwork that they create.

And it's unbelievable. They do it like in car panels, like on your dashboard and stuff like that, um, is typically like a hydro dipping. And, um, it, it's incredible the level of, uh. Uh, detail that you can get with the, with the product. And so it's kind of, it's kind of interesting to see that perspective. So, um, my hats go off to Kev, Kevin Tyger.

He runs that all for me. And, uh, we meet once a week, go through everything. But, um, yeah, I have, uh, I have to say, uh, my, my heart and my extended right and left arm go out to my team

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Yeah.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: all happen day in and day out.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Um, I, I wanna go back to the, the four point, what did you call it, the four point strategy, four point plan.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Um, we do, we do an, um, operational brief. We do a design narrative, um, and the operational brief comes first

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Mm-hmm.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Then we do the design narrative. So then we really look at the floor plans and we look at the [00:49:00] project and says, what does this really want to be? And really, uh, then look at our differentiation between our market segment in regards to

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Competition.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Our competition. Um.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: yeah, one of the things I wanted to jump in there on the competition is I think, going back to the beginning of this conversation, where in North America there seems to be a recession in CapEx and new, a lot of new product. Coming on that's in just new product in general, regardless of innovative, luxury, whatever, just there's been just a lot of headwinds.

Um, but one of the things I appreciate so much about what's, how Asia has developed and the hospitality and gaming product that's come out of there, that comp, I love competition. I think competition makes everyone better. And I love that you're looking. And, and that plays such an important role of looking at the competitive set because you're always one upping.

I'm finding that in the United States over the past five years [00:50:00] without a lot of new, new inventory or just new product coming on, we, we've been missing out on a lot of that, I don't know, competitive crucible, if you will. Um, so if I, if I were to shift your focus from Asia to North America, what's exciting you most about what you see in North America Coming down the pipe.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Ooh. Well, um, we, for, for us, we were going to go for the New York, um, uh, gaming license. Um, our board of directors and, and executives had decided to, um, decline from, uh, submitting an RFP. Were actively, we're actively, uh, pursuing, uh, Texas.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Oh wow.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Dallas, um, we have a site in Irving. Um, in regards to that, um, we, the, the family, um, Dr.

Adelson and Patrick Mont just acquired the, the Dallas Maverick. So we are in the, in the thick of, [00:51:00] uh, in BA. Um, we've just signed a deal for the NBA Macau, um, and, uh, we, uh, completely gutted the, uh, Venetian arena to, uh, accommodate about. 10,000 seats and it was an entertainment venue that we converted over to entertainment and sports.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Cool.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: in October there will be, um, massive NBA, um, offering there in, in Macau. So. It's really interesting to, to see the sports, the entertainment. Then obviously the gaming and the hotel aspect of the restaurants and the guestrooms and everything. There's always something that is really, um, kind of, uh, evolving our brand and our, um, overall, um, strategy for the company to really be seen as a luxury, uh, hospitality gaming company and. That's what we're set off to, to do. But going back to your [00:52:00] human scale, um, you know, our ceilings are enormous and you go into a gaming space and you know, I. Am trying to lure designers to come over 'cause there's not a lot of gaming designers and when I take 'em through the process and say, just really look at the floor and the ceiling, which is totally atypical of, of designing a, a project into in a room is, you know, you really, it's a room without walls.

Um, because you can't see through anything in particularly when you're working with a hundred. Thousand square feet or 200,000 square feet. So the design is in the ceiling and in the floors. And we really look at, um, proportion scale is a huge, huge, um, part of our reviews and how we push the design firms. To really hone into those details. And some need to be exaggerated to get the look and the feel that we need to do. And then some really, we get into multi materiality, that we're [00:53:00] really layering all that sophistication to give that glamor and give that luxury, uh, feel. And a lot of times initial designs, I'll say, no, it's, it doesn't have enough.

Go back and we want more. And they're like, more. And I'm like, yes, we need more. And so, um, it's, it's really quite. you know, a fun ride to go through the, the evolution of the phases and with the design teams to create the story, keep it consistent through many a months of development to then really have a strong offering when you hand over the, the area to the, to the branding team and to the, um. To the, to the operations and have them take it. And um, you know, there's nothing like handing over a space and letting. The people come in and populate it and experience it and

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Totally.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: the what you've done, uh, in a very short period of time. Uh, we're very ambitious on our construction schedules.

We [00:54:00] have the construction process and, and, um, implementation of the installations. Down, we get everything fabricated in China. Everything is, uh, all the panels are made over there and it's a kit of parts that actually come to us. Um, but we do a lot of life size, large mockups to ensure that the design is right and if we have to go back and. Modify things, we go back and modify it. Every guest room we do a white box to make sure that, uh, it's a white box model, um, full scaled model to make sure scale and proportion is understood. Um, so at that human scale we're, we're, uh, really monitoring scale and proportion and then do these lifesize models

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: just so I'm clear, the white box is not necessarily a model room. You're just, you're building out the form so you can walk in there and feel how, how it is. I, I wish people would do that more, but it seems to just make [00:55:00] a, a, a tight schedule even tighter when you start doing that. Yeah.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: We found it to be the answer of rolling out a thousand rooms

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Hmm. you know, you, you could be in, you know, overwhelming to do 2000 rooms, but we do that white box and get the scale and the proportions of whatever it is, viewpoints, archways, whatever we are, we're working on. And then we roll into a model room and between the model room and the white box, we don't look back. We, we go ahead and execute the 2000 rooms and that's how we're able to do things at speed. So we do carve out that time, and I have to say, I'm gonna knock on my desk here in the wood. Um, we have done probably, would say, uh, well over a dozen plus gastro model room first to types and everyone has gotten approved.

Wow.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Sightsee, uh, executives love it and we move forward with

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Hmm.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: So it's a [00:56:00] very decisive group of, of, of strategic, um, thinkers and, and achievers to get that, um,

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: One.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: of design and the speed that we do it at.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: One thing I'm surprised by, but also grateful for is that with all of the virtual reality, augmented reality, just immersive experiences that happen, I'm very happy to see that still most model rooms are done in a way where it's. That human scale where you're going in and touching and feeling because of the renderings I've seen in those engines for vr and the headsets are absolutely incredible, but you miss

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: real nuance, touch and feel.

And maybe that's coming, but like what's your, what's your opinion on that or your experience on that?

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: we do a lot of VR in our public spaces to, to, 'cause they're just so large. Um, but I do agree with you. Um, [00:57:00] you, you don't look at all the nuances and the level of detail and the sophistication that we need to be looking at it with. Without doing, we call it the white box or the, the model room. You don't see those two materials that come together that might not, um, be the most like refined, you

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Yeah. And, and you can't feel, you can't feel that jewel box minibar open up and how the glasses and the crystal and the, and the, the bottles of whatever are interacting with everything. I question, when is the, um, all suite tower supposed to complete in Singapore?

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: 2030

and

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Oh, wow.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: open in 2031. We just did our gr um, groundbreaking with the Prime Minister of Singapore and the minister of, uh, uh, sustainability, um, with all of our executives. Um, it was a great event two weeks ago. So we're, are, um, that is what is, um, keeping me up late at night, traveling to different parts of the world to, to really, uh, [00:58:00] really.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Awesome.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Expectation

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: It must be completely over the top. Um, so I wish you a lot of luck with that. Um, Eileen, I have a question. I wanna go back, like your career and all the places and people from David Collins to Four Seasons to, uh, sands, to, uh, everyone that you had just mentioned

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Mm-hmm.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: and more the Creon.

Um, if you were to go back and appear in front of your. Younger self in 1990. Before you embarked on this journey, what advice do you have for yourself?

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Get ready because it's gonna be an amazing experience. And little do you know where you're going to be and who you're going to meet and in yourself. Um. You know, trust your gut like you do. Um, don't ever not, uh, trust your

gut. Um.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Um.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: and, um, enjoy the ride. It is an incredible experience and, Take time to be, [00:59:00] um, just grateful, um, because it is, um, the industry and the people are incredible and I would've never have recognized that, uh, being that young is that. You know, everyone in our industry really wants to support each other, and I think that's a commonality through your, your podcast here. Um, and I welcome anyone, um, from a mentorship if you, um, I really encourage my team to get mentors to, to really get that outside perspective and, um, really, um, embrace what's happening. You know, you're gonna go through all of the things like, you know, everyone says, or, you know, there's a saying, you know, life is like nine innings of a baseball game. You know, you start off at the first, you're 10, you're your 22nd, third, third inning, fourth inning, and, and you know, when you start to really compartmentalize a nine inning baseball game to 10 years of your life, you have to really go after [01:00:00] it and, and really pursue. opportunities that might be difficult. You have to go outside your box. You have to go outside your comfort zone. In fact, those are the times when real things start to pivot your, your personal and professional growth. And it, it might not seem like at the time that it's, it's fun and it's worth all of it, but believe me, it's just a little bump in the road that sets you off to keep, keep climbing, keep going.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Totally. And then my other takeaway as I. Mentor, not necessarily as a, as a coach, but as I mentor or interact or collide with others and impact them in some way, shape or form. I'm gonna start saying, 'cause I've gotten so much out of, uh, having a coach, but that was in probably until my thirties. Mm-hmm. I'm like, I think it's good to start on that earlier, like get a, get a life coach.

Get a, get someone to help you. Like peel back the onion and get into what makes you tick and where you want to go. [01:01:00] And don't just stay there like people change. We all evolve. Do it again and again. And it's always good to kind of, um, I don't know, dust, dust yourself off and, uh, get a, get a slightly new perspective.

So I thank you for reminding me about that. I really appreciate that.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: And you might think like, you know, when you, when you're working with a coach or I don't need a coach, I'm, you know, have my own succession plan. I'm getting promoted. I'm getting promoted, but it. It helps you look outside yourself and it helps you really, um, get, like you said earlier, a different perspective, a different way of thinking.

And I told you when I, um, I've got this, this book here, um, Dan, which I'm a big believer of, uh, a dear friend of mine that is a coach Sivan O'Leary. Um, with. Bridging partners, um, uh, the seven levels of energy. And, um, I do this with my team and my team will come in and say, Anine, I'm a level one, I'm a level [01:02:00] two.

And I'm like, okay, so I know what, where their mindset is. And then I said, okay, we need to be, you know, where we need to be. We need to be at a five. And, you know, great days we're, we're at a seven. But, um, it's a really interesting way to articulate and assess a room when you walk into it with this methodology. Understanding this to, to really, um, navigate the discussion and then slowly turn the discussions

around

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Well, I know, I know what I'm ordering now 'cause I haven't heard of that book and I love reading those things. So,

um, and I'll put a link for it in the show notes for everyone. Um. Eileen, this has been so wonderful, and to just hear about your experience and career and, and where you are now and flying, flinging yourself all over the globe.

Um, I really appreciate it. Our listeners really appreciate it, and I just wanna say thank you and if people wanted to get in touch with you or learn more, um, and be, and potentially become [01:03:00] someone who, you know,

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: Yes.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: what's the best way for them to do that?

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: exactly. That's a great way of segue. Um, Eileen dot Madigan at Sands. Um, and you can find me on Instagram, Eileen Madigan on Instagram. Uh, so, uh, um, that's basically where you can find me at my email address or, and I'm on LinkedIn as well, and it's again, Eileen Madigan. Um, so. Uh, thank you Dan. I love what you do for the industry and for all of us.

Um, you bring a little bit of home when I'm at different parts of the world, so it's great to always see, hear your initial jingle. Um, and I love that a little upbeat kind of, uh, thing, and I'm like, there's Dan. There we go.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Yes.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: you have

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: my God. It's shocking to me. Every time I hear it I'm like, ah.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: I

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: But I'm glad you love

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: a happy, happy little

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Yeah,

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: you

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: I love it too.

eileen_4_08-01-2025_102703: and everything. and And, I, I appreciate you taking the time and, and having the interest in my story and, uh, I hope if anything it can, uh, you know, [01:04:00] obviously help ev the listeners and, and look forward to staying connected.

dan-ryan_10_08-01-2025_132703: Perfect. Well, I appreciate you so much, and also to our listeners, without you logging in and listening and watching and all the things that you do, I wouldn't be here talking to these incredible people like Eileen. So thank you. Keep tuning in and if this change your perspective on hospitality or gaming or global gaming or anything, please pass it along.

We grow by word of mouth and we appreciate you. Thank you.