Tropicana hires second executive away from Planet Hollywood

The Tropicana Las Vegas has hired its second executive away from the apparently-about-to-be-sold Planet Hollywood Resort.

Thomas Recine will be the Tropicana’s new vice president of food and beverage, joining Tom McCartney who was hired to be president of the property last week.

The announcement was made Monday by Tropicana Las Vgeas.

Recine was senior vice president of property operations and food and beverage at Planet Hollywood Resort where McCartney was president and chief executive officer.

Both departures come as Harrah’s Entertainmentis seeking to take over the Planet Hollywood Resort through a debt transaction.

Both McCartney and Recine previously had long careers with MGM Mirage. Recine held senior leadership roles at New York-New York, Luxor, MGM Grand, and The Mirage.

They join an executive and management team led by former MGM Grand Inc. executive and director Alex Yemenidjian.

Tropicana Las Vegas, which has been owned by an investment group led by Toronto-based investment firm Onex Corp. since July, is in the early stages of a $125 million renovation.

Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.