MGM Mirage, which has aggressively been courting the international hospitality business with deals in Dubai and China, is going back to its roots on a worldwide basis.

The company announced last month that it is forming an international gaming division to be headed up by Lloyd Nathan, who joined the company in 2002 to head up its MGM Mirage International division. Nathan is an experienced and savvy observer of gaming expansion who has recently been handling the company’s exploration of the burgeoning Asian markets.

The Global Gaming Division will operate as a division of MGM Mirage Hospitality.

“We believe there are significant opportunities for MGM Mirage Hospitality to develop luxury resort properties outside of the United States, which will include gaming in appropriate venues,” MGM Mirage Hospitality President and Chief Executive Gamal Aziz said.

Aziz says the division’s first project will be the MGM Grand Ho Tram casino resort in Vietnam, which MGM Mirage will manage for owner and developer Asian Coast Development Ltd.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.