Adelson, Davis inducted into Nevada Business Hall of Fame

Dr. Miriam Adelson and Mark Davis, two leaders at the forefront of keeping Las Vegas a world-leading tourist destination, were recognized Thursday with induction into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame.

Adelson, a philanthropist and the top shareholder of her family’s companies, and Davis, owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and the Las Vegas Aces, were honored at a dinner at The Venetian Expo that also celebrated UNLV’s Lee Business School and its transformation into one of the leading cultivators of Nevada business leadership.

Adelson is the top shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the market leader of the casino industry in the Chinese enclave of Macao and the operator of the iconic Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore. Sands also built and operated The Venetian and Palazzo and on the Strip before selling the integrated resort earlier this decade.

Adelson’s family also owns the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Hebrew-language Israel Hayom newspaper in Israel. She leads the Adelson Family Foundation, the Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse Treatment and Research and is a medical doctor who once served as the chief internist in an emergency room at Tel Aviv.

Joining Adelson in Thursday’s induction ceremonies was Davis, who moved the Raiders to Las Vegas from Oakland, California, enabling the construction of Allegiant Stadium. He also purchased the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, who’ve won the league championship three times in the past four years.

Bringing the NFL
to Las Vegas

Davis began his efforts to relocate the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2016 and worked with Adelson’s husband, the late Sheldon Adelson, to secure hotel room-tax funding for Allegiant Stadium. Although the Adelsons and Davis ultimately ended their stadium partnership, the team completed the project and began playing in Las Vegas in 2020.

In introductory remarks, former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones Blackhurst, interim vice president of philanthropy and alumni engagement and interim president of the UNLV Foundation, noted that while many didn’t see building a stadium as a wise investment for the state, Allegiant Stadium has become the leading large venue for sports and concerts.

Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Azzi, president of the IXs Foundation, applauded Davis as one of the leading advocates for women’s sports. She said Davis was insistent on paying women higher salaries.

“I’m honored, yet humbled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Davis said.

In his presentation, Davis thanked Nevadans who helped the Raiders relocate to Las Vegas: the Adelsons, former Wynn Resorts executive Steve Wynn; MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle and his predecessor, Jim Murren; former Las Vegas Mayors Oscar and Carolyn Goodman; former Govs. Steve Sisolak and Brian Sandoval and current Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Rethinking business travel

Adelson recalled how she and her late husband saw Las Vegas as more than just a city for gambling, but as an ideal destination for conventions and trade shows.

She paid tribute to Sheldon Adelson, who founded Las Vegas Sands, and his vision of building integrated resorts that catered to business travelers as well as tourists. And she credited her background in medicine for helping her find her voice.

Adelson shared that as a host for conventioneers, they made sure there were plenty of outlets for electronic devices in every hotel suite, which set The Venetian apart from other resorts.

She urged UNLV students in attendance to follow the advice of her late husband — who learned business “on the streets” and not in college — and learn all they could about marketing and finance.

The Adelsons and Davis were instrumental in jump-starting sports tourism in Southern Nevada, widely recognized as a key means for bringing millions of visitors to the city to attend games and mega-events, resulting in billions of dollars in economic impact.

Additional honorees

Sponsored by UNLV’s Lee Business School, the Nevada Business Hall of Fame celebrates outstanding individuals who have shaped Nevada’s economic landscape and enriched its communities. Organizers say each inductee embodies the essence of Nevada’s entrepreneurial spirit, demonstrating innovation, resilience, unwavering dedication and an impact that resonates beyond their industries.

Two others were recognized for their business achievements at the event, attended by more than 400 people.

The Lieder Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership, entrepreneurship and contributions to real estate development, was presented to Alan Molasky, chairman of Ovation Development Corp.

In addition, Rick Crawford, the founder and president of the 50-store Green Valley Grocery chain of convenience stores, was honored with Entrepreneur of the Year.

More than 5,000 students attend the Lee Business School, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.