Rio Hotel & Casino Appoints New Leadership Amid LV Tourism Uncertainty 

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Rio Hotel & Casino announced a senior leadership overhaul this week, appointing industry veteran Rod Turlan as president and general manager.

Rio Las Vegas new leadership
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They also added three executive hires to steer the resort through a new phase of development.

In a statement, Turlan, who holds decades of experience at Caesars Entertainment, positioned the property as entering “an exciting new chapter,” adding: “I’m honored to lead the team during this period of significant growth.”

Expanding the Team

Joining Turlan are three executives with sector experience. 

Lori Ware, named chief financial officer, arrives from Jamul Casino Resort where she served as CFO. Ashley Lowe, named senior vice president of sales, most recently served as vice president of sales at M Resort Spa Casino, a PENN Entertainment property. Vince Lentini was named senior vice president of marketing. 

Eric Birnbaum, CEO of Dreamscape Retail & Entertainment, which owns and operates the property, framed the hires as part of a broader transformation: 

“Rod Turlan, together with these newly hired executives and our existing leadership team, brings the right combination of experience and talent to Rio at this important stage of its transformation,” he said.

“We are excited to welcome these seasoned leaders to the team as we continue building on Rio’s momentum and positioning the property for long-term success.”

Recovery and Reinvestment 

The timing of Rio’s executive appointments aligns with broader recovery and reinvestment trends in Las Vegas hospitality. The city has set the wheels in motion to rejuvenate tourist numbers, with a three-year marketing partnership with Reach Global Marketing worth $3.5 million. This follows a drop of 7.5% in visitation for 2025 compared to 2024. 

In addition, the city is throwing the spotlight on Canadian tourists, following a successful dollar parity promo last month as casinos saw 15,000 Canadian tourists visit in its first 30 days.