Mecca out as Mandalay Bay hotel-casino chief

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999 | 10:24 a.m.

Casino industry veteran Mike Mecca's yearlong tenure as head of Mandalay Bay is over.

Mecca, 50, left his executive positions with the $950 million Circus Circus Enterprises Inc. project last week. A Circus Circus spokeswoman said he left to pursue other interests; Mecca couldn't be reached.

Tony Alamo, Circus senior vice president of operations, will assume day-to-day responsibilities for Mandalay Bay. Alamo also oversees the company's Excalibur and Luxor resorts.

Mecca was vice president and general manager of Mandalay Bay and chief operating officer for Mandalay International, the global marketing arm of Circus Circus that has offices in Asia and Central and South America.

Before joining Mandalay Bay in December 1997, Mecca was chief operating officer for Crown Ltd., which operates hotel-casinos in the Southern Hemisphere. He was a key figure in the development and opening of Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia.

Mecca also spent 13 years with Caesars World, serving as general manager of the Caesars Palace hotel in Las Vegas, senior vice president of Caesars Tahoe and as senior vice president of worldwide development activities for the parent company.

Mecca was an energetic, enthusiastic spokesman for Mandalay Bay, the 3,700-room hotel-casino that's Circus Circus' most ambitious undertaking to date. The tropical-themed resorts is scheduled to open March 2.

Mecca's application for a gaming license was due to be considered by the State Gaming Control Board this week, but has been withdrawn.