Hard Rock Hotel selects new president

M Resort executive Joseph Magliarditi has been selected as president and chief executive officer of the Hard Rock Hotel, Morgans Hotel Group announced Tuesday.

Magliarditi, M Resort's chief operating officer, has been with the hotel-casino since the property's opening in March 2009. He also served as an executive with the Marnell Sher Gaming company, which operates hotel-casinos in Laughlin and Pahrump.

Magliarditi replaces Randy Kwasniewski, who was found dead in his Summerlin home March 9 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

In a statement, Hard Rock officials said Magliarditi brings more than 16 years of hotel and gaming experience to the resort.

"I am excited to join the Morgans Hotel Group and Hard Rock teams," Magliarditi said in a statement.

Before joining M Resort and Marnell Sher Gaming, Magliarditi was chief operating officer of a software company. In gaming, Magliarditi was an executive with Harrah's Entertainment and the Rio.

Morgans Hotel Group Chief Executive Officer Fred Kleisner told gaming regulators earlier this month the Hard Rock made changes in several of its policies and operating procedures.

"I don't think I need to tell you that this is a facility that requires, demands, adult supervision," said Kleisner, who served as the property's temporary CEO. "We'll have that in place."

The Hard Rock opened the 492-room Paradise Tower, the 375-room HRH Tower, new meeting space, a larger concert venue and other amenities last year.

In March, Morgans told investors the Hard Rock posted its lowest revenues since 2004 last year, reporting a net revenue decrease of 1.7 percent, to $161.5 million from $164.3 million in 2008.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.