Former Caesars exec named Nevada tourism director

Thursday, June 28, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Former Caesars Tahoe executive Bruce Bommarito was named the new executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism by Gov. Kenny Guinn on Wednesday.

Bommarito, 50, Carson City, will be responsible for promoting tourism in Nevada, producing the annual Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism and directing the commission's 37-member staff, which includes the tourism and publications divisions.

"Bruce Bommarito brings to NCOT an unbeatable combination of strong leadership and management abilities gained over 25 years in the hospitality and casino industry that is Nevada's lifeblood," Guinn said in a statement.

Bommarito, who will earn up to $91,243, was vice president of operations at Caesar Tahoe resort hotel and casino at Stateline for the past three years, and currently is serving his second term as chairman of the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association.

"Bruce has a widespread knowledge and insight into the economics of Nevada's tourism industry from the ground up, and he will guide our commission's operations as we expand, enhance, and diversify our exciting outdoor adventures and wide variety of cultural and historic attractions, festivals and motorsports events," said Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Tourism Commission chairwoman.

Bommarito came to Nevada after a stint as general manager of the Indian-owned Blue Water Resort and Casino in Parker, Ariz., where he oversaw the design of the new resort-casino.

"To our great benefit, Bruce understands the operation of Native American casinos, which are challenging Nevada's tourism industry and testing our ability to attract visitors as never before in the state's 137-year history," Hunt said.

Before moving West, Bommarito was general manager of President Casino/Broadwater Beach Resort in Biloxi, Miss., from 1995-1997 after serving a year as managing director of the 850-room resort.

He has been licensed by gaming regulatory commissions in Nevada, Arizona and Mississippi, where he served on the watchdog Gulf Coast Crime Commission, Casino Operators Association Board of Directors and as president of the Gulf Coast Hotel-Motel Association.

He was vice president of operations from 1989-1994 at First Sun General Management, Columbia, S.C., with operational responsibility for eight hotels in resort areas.

Earlier, he managed other hotels and convention centers in Columbia, as well as Charlotte, N.C., Lansing and Livonia, Mich., Lexington, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., and Denver.

Nancy Dunn, the former Tourism Commission business manager who has served as the agency's interim executive director since Tom Tait resigned in January to enter the private sector, will be promoted to deputy director, Hunt said.

Other finalists for the position were Dunn and E. Eric Dixson of Maui, Hawaii, former owner of the tourism company ASIA-LINK.