Hard Rock Hotel president found dead of gunshot wound

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Tuesday, March 9, 2010 | 12:46 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, March 9, 2010 | 3:58 p.m.

UPDATED STORY: Coroner: Death of Hard Rock hotel chief a suicide

Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino President Randy Kwasniewski was found dead this morning in his Summerlin home, the company said today.

Police responded at 9:50 a.m. to the home of Randy Kwasniewski and found a man dead of an apparent gunshot wound. Police weren't confirming the person was Kwasniewski, but a company official said that Kwasniewski, 56, was found dead and the company later released a statement.

The statement confirmed Kwasniewski's death and offered prayers for his family, but contained no other details.

In an e-mail to the Sun, Dorian Cantrell, director of public relations at the Hard Rock, said, "We are extremely saddened by the loss of Randy, and our hearts and prayers go out to the family. We do not know any further details at this time."

The Clark County Coroner's Office will release an official cause of death.

Kwasniewski was president of Morgans Hotel Group Las Vegas and chief operating officer of the Hard Rock Hotel Inc.

Morgans Hotel Group Co. of New York, co-owner and manager of the Las Vegas hotel-casino, said in a statement this afternoon that Kwasniewski was found dead in his home.

"The cause of his death was unknown to the company at this time," Morgans said in the statement.

Fred Kleisner, CEO of Morgans, said he had known and worked with Kwasniewski since 1995.

"He was not just one of my colleagues and a leader of our company, he was my friend," Kleisner said in a statement. "I know few hotel and casino executives who have the knowledge, focus and work ethic that Randy possessed. I will miss him. All of us at Morgans are deeply saddened by the passing of Randy. I know I speak for everyone when I say we all mourn his loss. Randy was a dedicated husband and father, a friend to many of us, and a valued colleague. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family."

Kwasniewski joined Morgans Hotel Group in October 2006. He had worked in the hotel industry for about 30 years. Before joining Morgans, he served as senior vice president of Starwood Capital Group, where he played an integral role in the acquisition and operational aspects of Starwood hotel portfolios including the Societe du Louvre and Le Meridien.

Before joining Starwood Capital Group, he was the vice president of operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where he oversaw all hotel, food and beverage, retail and facilities staffs and operations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.