Marnell imprint on gaming properties nationwide

Robert Macy

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

His imprint dominates the Las Vegas Strip and other gaming venues. But Tony Marnell says his latest $200 million fling, the expansion of his Brazilian-themed Rio Hotel, is his best bet yet.

"This ranks right at the top," Marnell said recently, taking a break from surveying crews working feverishly to put finishing touches on the Rio Hotel's new Masquerade Village. "We've done some pretty exciting things in this city over the years, but this certainly ranks at the top."

Exciting indeed.

Marnell, 48, heads the construction and design company behind a who's who of hotel-casinos -- New York-New York, Bellagio, The Mirage, Excalibur, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Caesars hotels in Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe to name a few.

His company, Marnell Corrao Associates, Inc., is known as the world's largest designer and builder of resort hotel-casino properties, having built more than 55,000 rooms for the industry.

"He's been instrumental in a number of projects in Las Vegas," Scott Renner, a gaming analyst for Salomon Brothers, said of Marnell. "You can't mention a new generation of developments in Las Vegas without mentioning his name, because he's had an influence on them. The Rio has provided him an outlet to express his penchant for quality."

While he's just wrapped up construction on the unique $430 million New York-New York resort, and is busy helping build Bellagio, Mirage Resort's $1.25 billion showplace hotel, Marnell's paying particular attention to the Rio.

The Brazilian-themed all suites hotel opened here in 1990 with a single tower.

Marnell took over the Rio's day-to-day operations 10 months later.

"It was not living up to its expectations," Marnell recalled, taking a break in Mama Marie's, a restaurant named after his mother. "We thought we'd come in and run the day-to-day operations the way we'd planned."

Beefing up food service, creating a carnival atmosphere and offering entertainment such as Tony Bennett, The Beach Boys and Donna Summer, the Rio has become one of the hottest properties in town.

The prestigious Zagat Survey of U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas has ranked the Rio No. 1 in the categories of Best Overall, Best Dining, Best Rooms and Best Service.

"We have always felt very strongly that the product the Rio offers in Las Vegas is at or near the top of anything in the market," Renner said recently in a telephone interview from his Tampa, Fla., office. "In everything that we've seen it appears to me, and we are expecting, the new project will be very very successful, and will continue the tradition of quality they've established."

After two expansions, Marnell, chairman and chief executive officer of Rio Hotel and Casino, Inc., has taken his boldest step yet -- an imposing $200 million, 41-story adjoining tower. The new tower gives the Rio 2,563 suites, making it the 13th largest hotel in the world.

Marnell -- with 25 percent interest in Rio Hotel & Casino Inc. -- is the largest stockholder in the public company.

With the current resort maxed out on its 40-acre site, Marnell and associates are considering a new resort on 35 acres they own nearby. But that's taking a back seat until Friday's opening.

"February 10th we'll begin thinking about the new project," he said, grinning.

Marnell was born in Riverside, Calif. His father, who worked in masonry, moved the family to Las Vegas when he was 3 years old. Marnell earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Southern California and quickly established himself in the architectural field, first as a partner and then as an owner of Marnell Corrao. He is a registered architect in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Having built some of the nation's finest resorts, and enjoying success with his own Rio Hotel, Marnell says his success is no particular secret.

"Operationally, the gaming business is not a difficult business," he said. "The gaming business is about people. The most successful operators are people who know about people."