“About four months ago I was sitting at Spago, on the balcony having dinner with my wife looking across at the Jockey Club,” MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle says. “There were very few lights on, but it’s still going.” This scene is more than a casual observation; it depicts the dramatic trajectory of a man who has gone from bussing tables to spearheading one of the biggest names in the hospitality and entertainment industry.
It all began at an unassuming timeshare called the Jockey Club, which came into existence in 1974. Despite the inevitable evolution of Vegas that has since given rise to sprawling casinos and vibrant nightlife, the Jockey Club persists as a persistent flicker in the neon-drenched cityscape of Las Vegas. Hornbuckle’s humble beginnings in this city took a turn when he left Connecticut and started working there after high school.
The Las Vegas that greeted Hornbuckle years ago is hardly recognizable today. Sure, the casinos are as omnipresent as ever, but the city’s allure has expanded far beyond the clatter of slot machines and the flip of cards. What now beckons the masses is a cascading array of attractions including football, F1 races, and the imminent relocation of the Oakland A’s to the city. Fine dining and clubbing have also upped the ante, transforming Vegas into a multifaceted entertainment hub.
As the CEO of MGM Resorts, the company that owns the iconic Bellagio among other properties, Hornbuckle is no stranger to this evolution. His journey has been nothing short of remarkable, acknowledging that his past did not predict such a future. “I didn’t grow up in a great environment in terms of economic profile,” he recalls. “I was not the world’s best student. I can assure you my high school principal would not have thought me to be the most likely to succeed in the class.”
Hornbuckle’s passion for the hospitality industry was kindled early on at the age of 18 while working as a bartender in Connecticut. It was this experience, combined with the allure of a hotel school in Vegas, that propelled him towards his present-day role. This trajectory was fueled by both passion and sheer hard work, the antidote to what some might have considered the long shot of a lifetime.
His entry into the industry came at a pivotal moment when others sought opportunities far from the glittering desert city. Hornbuckle stayed, a decision that ultimately bore fruit as he worked his way up through Hilton and eventually into the expansive realm of MGM Resorts.
Over the course of 45 years, Hornbuckle has been central to the innovative pulse that drives the Vegas experience. He opened The Mirage in 1989, pushing the boundaries of what a resort could be. His strategic vision led to MGM Resorts’ expansion into Macau and Maryland and the creation of the M Life rewards program. His efforts following the repeal of PASPA in 2018 marked a significant advancement in the gaming sector through the BetMGM joint venture with Entain.
Furthermore, Hornbuckle has heralded the arrival of sports to the Vegas scene. Serving on boards for both the T-Mobile Arena and the Clark County Stadium Authority, he has played key roles in introducing professional sports teams like the NHL’s Golden Knights and the NFL’s Raiders to the city, further diversifying its appeal.
Vegas thrives on an energy that’s imbued with boundless potential, something that Hornbuckle acknowledges as a driving force behind these developments. “It created a mindset that anything could be done,” he remarks.
Vegas’ transformation now embraces the sports world with open arms, building on a foundation laid by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, marquee boxing events, and college tournaments. The WNBA’s San Antonio Stars were relocated and rebranded as the Las Vegas Aces, proving yet another success story in this sporting evolution. Hornbuckle sees this as a formula for success, underpinned by the fact that Vegas convention goers exceed seven million annually, with attendance rates soaring past other destination cities.
The integration of sports into the city’s fabric is but one facet of Las Vegas’ ever-evolving story. From its days as a mob-run casino stronghold to its current status as an entertainment revolution hub with world-class shows and nightclubs, Vegas continues to redefine itself. Now, with MLB’s nod for the Oakland A’s move and an already thriving sports presence, Las Vegas stands poised to become a sporting capital to rival its status as the nightclub capital of the world.
The burning question remains: what comes next? Hornbuckle sees potential in an emerging experiential side of the business, where the allure of the unique Vegas experience can blend with interactive digital advancements, truly setting it apart from anything that can be replicated at home.
Yet this forward momentum is not without its challenges. Economic recessaries loom, and while a downturn may impact Las Vegas differently from MGM Resorts’ regional properties, the CEO remains vigilant and proactive.
Hornbuckle’s leadership extends beyond Vegas, as chair of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, where he grapples with industry issues such as international travel restrictions and infrastructure investment. His voice is not just for MGM but for the tourism sector at large.
Reflecting on his ascent from the Jockey Club to the pinnacle of an empire, Hornbuckle’s path is more than a career—it’s a testament to resilience and ingenuity. His legacy will not only be the expansion of operations across markets and channels but also the personal journeys of those he has mentored along the way. As he leads MGM Resorts through this transformative period, the CEO looks ahead with the city’s characteristic optimism, seeing not just the hurdles but also the excitement and opportunities of each new leap forward.
