Martin Stern, Jr. To Be Honored With Sarno Lifetime Achievement Award For Casino Design At G2E 2011
Architect Originated the Integrated Resort, Elevated Vegas Skyline
LAS VEGAS – The American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions announced today it will posthumously honor Martin Stern, Jr. with the Sarno Lifetime Achievement Award at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2011. The award is being presented for Stern’s work as a visionary designer of entertainment, hospitality and gaming venues that changed the landscape of Las Vegas. G2E is the premier trade show and conference event for the international gaming entertainment industry and will take place Oct. 4-6 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
“We are pleased to honor Marty Stern with the Sarno Award for his lifetime of achievements and contributions to driving forward the field of casino design,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the AGA. “He was a true visionary and transformed the Las Vegas skyline when he designed and built some of the largest and tallest casinos the world had ever seen.”
Stern founded Martin Stern, Jr. and Associates, an architectural firm that helped transform Las Vegas from a low-rise stretch into an extravagant vertical city. His first project on the Las Vegas Strip came in the form of a low-rise addition to the Sahara Hotel and Casino, which led to the Sahara’s high-rise hotel tower, drastically changing the landscape of Las Vegas Boulevard. His most enduring contribution came with the introduction of the integrated hotel resort, first seen in Las Vegas at The International Hotel and the original MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (now Bally’s Las Vegas Casino Hotel). Martin Stern, Jr. and Associates also designed other notable projects, including The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas and the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, N.J.
The Sarno Award, the highest honor afforded to any individual involved in the design and construction of casino resorts, is presented annually during G2E, which provides the only education content dedicated solely to casino architecture, design and décor, and construction. The Award is named for Jay Sarno, the grandfather of casino design, who envisioned such well-known casino resort properties as Caesars Palace and Circus Circus in the 1960s. The Sarno Award will be presented Oct. 4 during a luncheon from 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. in room Galileo 901.
G2E is attended by nearly 26,000 industry professionals from around the world. For more information on G2E 2011, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com and connect with G2E on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is the international gaming trade show and conference “by the industry and for the industry.” Organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, G2E made its debut in fall 2001, defining itself as the pre-eminent show for the gaming-entertainment industry.
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.
Reed Exhibitions is the world's leader in organizing a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. In 2006 Reed brought together more than 6 million industry professions from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 34 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 37 fully staffed offices. Reed’s portfolio of more than 460 events services 52 key industry sectors.