Inside Asian Gaming is delighted to release the official program for the 2024 IAG Academy Summit, to be held at Hilton Manila, Newport World Resorts on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 September.
The two-day program will feature a combination of traditional panel sessions and presentations as well as more innovative formats including fireside chats, conversations, workshops and IAG’s popular “At the Bar” sessions, where the IAG team will chat with industry personalities in a relaxed “barside” setting.
The 2024 IAG Academy Summit will feature two exciting Keynote Speakers in PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, who will open the summit at 10am on Tuesday 10 September, and Newport World Resorts Chairman Kevin L. Tan who will deliver his Keynote Address to launch Day 2 at 10am on Wednesday 11 September.
Day 1 of the 2024 IAG Academy Summit will include a President’s Fireside Chat with Newport World Resorts CEO Nilo Rodriguez and NUSTAR Resort and Casino COO Alan Teo, to be followed by an insightful panel session on “Thailand and other greenfields” featuring renowned casino and IR architect Paul Steelman, finance and Thailand expert Kelly Gass, and former regulator and advisor to the Macau SAR Government David Green.
Veteran industry consultant Niall Murray, who was an integral part of the rejuvenation or pre-opening teams for everything from Caesars Palace and The Venetian Las Vegas in Nevada to The Venetian Macao and Grand Lisboa in Macau, will then participate in a conversation with IAG’s CEO Andrew W Scott exploring the key considerations when opening a new property or re-launching an old one.
The first session after lunch will delve into the world of artificial intelligence and its role in gaming via a panel featuring TraffGen Global CEO Andy Caras-Altas, GLI Australia CEO Ian Hughes and Differential Labs managing Director Clayton Peister.
Finally, the day will conclude with a special Women in Gaming session exploring the challenges they have faced in climbing the ladder and how the gaming and IR industry is changing to become more inclusive. The session will be moderated by Newport World Resorts Acting Director for Corporate Communications Joy Andrade and feature NUSTAR’s Katrina Mae de Jesus, Okada Manila’s Dr Manida Lau, Newport’s Rhoda Lopez and PAGCOR’s Vina Oca.
Following Mr Tan’s Keynote Address, Day 2 of the 2024 IAG Academy Summit will welcome guests with a regulator’s session in which David Green, PAGCOR’s Daniel Cecilio and Khim Oudam from the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia will discuss the latest trends in gaming regulation across the Asia-Pacific region.
Next up it will be the operators providing their insights, namely NUSTAR’s SVP Gaming & Integrated Resort Operations Trevor Hammond, Newport World Resorts Chief Marketing Officer David Jorden and Casino Plus CEO Evan Spytma.
Preceding Wednesday’s networking lunch will be one of the highlight sessions of the 2024 IAG Academy summit when Crown Resorts CEO Ciarán Carruthers sits down with IAG’s Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott for “A Conversation with Ciarán Carruthers.” This 30-minute session will see Carruthers discuss Crown’s years-long journey from facing unprecedented regulatory and media scrutiny under its previous owner to recently winning back its casino licenses for its integrated resorts in Melbourne and Sydney. And just in case you were wondering, Carruthers has reaffirmed his attendance following yesterday’s announcement of his resignation from Crown Resorts, to take place by the end of 2024.
The Wednesday after-lunch sessions will please fans of technology, starting with a highly anticipated panel session on smart gaming tables. Titled “Hot Gaming Tech: Get Smart Tables”, the panel will feature former MGM China VP Table Operations Graeme Croft, Walker Digital Table Systems CEO Stephen Moore, Differential Labs’ Clayton Peister, and Angel Australasia’s Chief Technology Officer Aaron Raj. The panel is brought to you by session sponsor Paltronics.
Peister will then back-up for a unique workshop titled “Using AI to distil meaningful strategies from raw data” where he will provide participants with a raw set of player level ratings which will be organized into a format which can be analyzed and benchmarked, distilling player patterns in a process called feature engineering. A simple AI model will then be developed to predict promotional sensitivity. Participants will explore the data to identify marketable trends, opportunities, and set broad objectives, as well as jointly developing strategies and tactics to drive profitability.
The final session of the 2024 IAG Academy Summit will see representatives of major industry suppliers offer their insights into Asian markets, namely Light & Wonder’s VP and Managing Director, Asia, Ken Jolly, Konami’s Operations Manager Sales, Marketing and Service ANZ/APAC, David Punter, General Manager, Asia for Aristocrat Lloyd Robson and SVP of International Operations for Aruze global, Betty Zhao.
To see the full IAG Academy Summit program visit iagacad.com/summit-program and to see the full list of speakers visit iagacad.com/summit-speakers.
Delegates are encouraged to purchase a both-days pass for just US$450. To simplify the process, IAG does not require payment in advance. Delegates can either pay on arrival or be invoiced for later payment. To register, visit iagacad.com/summit-delegate-registration.
SPECIAL COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS FOR EXISTING IAG CLIENTS
A number of fully complimentary seats have been set aside for existing IAG clients who register to attend the Summit. Act fast to avoid disappointment before all these seats are booked. Terms and conditions apply, see this link for more information: https://iagacad.com/summit-delegate-pricing/.
IAG has also secured special hotel room rates at Newport World Resorts hotels Hilton Manila, Hotel Okura, Sheraton and Holiday Inn Express Manila for those attending the IAG Academy Summit and/or either or both of its associated events, namely networking social Manila After Dark on the evening of Monday 9 September and the IAG Academy IR Awards on the evening of Tuesday 10 September.
Simply click on this link to book: https://iagacad.com/summit-accommodation.
Ideally located at the Grand Wing of Newport World Resorts, the Hilton Manila is just minutes from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and is connected to shopping and entertainment at the Garden Wing of the Newport World Resorts complex via a short skybridge.
Newport World Resorts is connected to terminal 3 of NAIA via “Runway Manila”, an airconditioned covered walkway allowing pedestrian access between the airport and the resort. Guests arriving at NAIA terminal 3 can therefore walk to the Hilton Manila in mere minutes.
Hilton is also close to central attractions like Rizal Park, Manila Ocean Park and SMX Convention Center Manila, all of which are within a 15-minute drive.
For sponsorship inquiries, please contact:
Jadeson Ho
+853 2875 2959
jh@asgam.com
Caroline Iau
+853 2875 2959
ci@asgam.com
For event inquiries, please contact:
Dorothy Loi
+853 6802 1905
dorothy@asgam.com
