C&C 4455, a new organization headed by Cliff Atkinson and Chad Konrad of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, has received preliminary approval from the Nevada Gaming Control Board to oversee the casino’s operations. This change in leadership coincides with Culinary Union Local 226’s protracted labor strike at the resort, which started on November 15.
Cliff Atkinson, currently the property’s president, will take over as CEO, while Chad Konrad will remain CFO. The move awaits final approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission. Explaining the decision, Atkinson stated, “Since reopening (as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in 2021), the property has struggled. The deal with Mohegan simply did not work. The reason we are here is to successfully turn the gaming operations around.”
The new leadership plans to revitalize the property by focusing on locals, utilizing underused spaces, launching new entertainment offerings, and introducing a customer loyalty program.
Union Strike Escalates During Ownership Dispute
The ongoing strike by union workers, marking the longest of its kind in recent Las Vegas history, has intensified. Culinary Union representatives argue that Virgin’s ownership group, which includes Juniper Capital Management, the Virgin Group, and a Canadian pension fund, has sufficient resources to meet employee demands.
“These companies have extremely deep pockets,” said Ted Pappageorge, the union’s secretary-treasurer. “The idea that these Canadian economic entities would come to Las Vegas to try to destroy our standards of living that we’ve worked for decades to build is just unacceptable.”
Union leaders also criticized the absence of ownership representatives during the regulatory meeting. Paul Catha, a union member and Virgin employee, questioned why the owners were not required to participate in the application review.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas pushed back on union claims, stating the union has refused to negotiate in good faith. “Despite Virgin Hotels Las Vegas agreeing to many of the Culinary Union leadership’s demands…the Culinary Union has not seriously countered any of our economic proposals,” the casino said in a statement.
For now, the strike continues, with no resolution in sight. Meanwhile, the new management team emphasizes its commitment to stabilizing operations and tackling long-standing challenges.
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