Academic, Researcher, Writer and CEO of Denstone Group
This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Oliver Lovat for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving market of Las Vegas. Oliver breaks down why the city had to change—and how it's pivoted to meet the rising expectations of a younger, more demanding customer base.
From navigating a crucial strategic inflection point to the seismic shift triggered by COVID, Lovat explains how Las Vegas went from catering to visitors looking for comps to focusing on full-paying customers who fuel profitability. He dives deep into why Gen Z and millennials now dominate the scene, and what that means for everything from hotel strategy to casino operations.
You’ll hear insights on:
*Why reducing labor costs has been part of the new Las Vegas economy
*How occupancy rates don’t tell the whole story
*Why Vegas, despite higher prices, remains a top-value destination
*The growing influence of members-only clubs and curated experiences
*How sports and time-limited events are reshaping the marketing playbook
*The crucial role of event staffs
*And of course, the irresistible draw of the Sphere
It’s a compelling overview of modern hospitality, business strategy, and cultural reinvention—all told through the lens of one of the most dynamic cities in the world.
Oliver is a leading academic, researcher, writer and strategy consultant.
He is an expert in customer-facing real estate and the evolution of Las Vegas, serving as faculty at City, University of London Business School in London, as regular contributor at UNLV and previously as faculty at The University College of Estate Management, lecturing on strategic asset management.
Oliver has spent the past 20 years in investment, development, finance and strategy, transacting across multiple jurisdictions, asset classes and ownership structures. His recent focus has been developing and implementing strategies for retail, gaming and hospitality environments, including international casino companies.
He is a special features writer at Global Gaming Business, columnist at Gaming America and Gambling Insider Magazines, and has a selection of published papers on strategic trends in Las Vegas.
Originally from Scotland, Oliver spent 15 years working in London before moving to the USA in 2015 to work specifically in gaming and hospitality.
He holds a BA in Social Sciences, MSc in Real Estate Investment, MBA with a focus on Finance and Strategy and is a Fellow of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Finance and Investment).