Inside Asian Gaming has announced that the “Integrated Resorts Academy Asia” (IRAA) – an initiative unveiled in 2021 – will now be known as the “IAG ACADEMY” as part of a comprehensive rebranding strategy.
The IAG Academy represents another step in the evolution of IAG, a recognized brand in the industry currently operating three main business segments: Media, Events and Business Services. The IAG Academy adds a fourth segment into the mix – Education – with a series of initiatives already in the works.
The IAG Academy has its own dedicated website at iagacad.com.
The Academy website is currently being redeveloped as a result of the rebranding and will soon relaunch.
In the months and years ahead, the IAG Academy will be delivering educational services for the APAC Integrated Resort industry both through its website with online learning and by producing live in-person educational and thought leadership events, with the goal of advancing professionalism within the industry.
The decision to rebrand the IRAA as the IAG Academy was made following extensive consultation and in recognition of the fact that IAG is taking a more APAC-wide approach to its business rather than focusing on industry behemoth Macau, which is attempting to diversify its economy away from gaming.
IAG Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott said, “This rebranding celebrates the role IAG plays across the entire Asia-Pacific gaming industry. Initially, we shied away from connecting the IAG name to the Academy, but recent events have shown us the power and brand equity of the IAG name. We’re not ashamed to be a company associated with gaming and we’re delighted to focus on the entire Asia Pacific region. If that means we focus a little more outside Macau, so be it.
“Macau has every right to push for non-gaming diversification if it wishes to do so, but IAG remains a company celebrating all things gaming, first. We also cover and celebrate hotels, F&B, entertainment and all of the other offerings which make up IRs, but people would do well to remember that none of that would be possible without the gaming engine which drives the entire industry.”
In addition to education, the IAG Academy will also play a role in recognizing the contributions of those people who make up our industry. In this regard, the IAG Academy (then known as the IRAA) launched with its very first IR Awards on 30 November 2021, which recognized the industry contributions of both rising stars and long-serving executives. While Macau pandemic restrictions resulted in no such awards in 2022, the 2023 year will see the Awards reborn with more details to be announced in the coming days and weeks.
Those honored at the 2021 IRAA Awards can now lay claim to being the first to be honored at the IAG Academy IR Awards.
IAG looks forward to releasing more information regarding the IAG Academy, including a series of significant announcements, in the very near future.
For more information visit www.iagacad.com.
