Tom McCartney leaving his post as president of Tropicana

By John Katsilometes

Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 | 5:34 p.m.

Tom McCartney is out as president at Tropicana Las Vegas, a source close to the hotel said this afternoon. A news release formally announcing McCartney’s departure was expected later today.

At this moment, no replacement for McCartney has been announced.

McCartney was hired in December 2009 by Tropicana CEO Alex Yemenidjian to help head up the hotel’s $165 million expansion.

Since, the famed hotel-casino on the corner of The Strip and Tropicana Avenue has undergone an extensive renovation and rebranding as a South Beach-themed resort. Most recently, the hotel severed its partnership with club operator Nikki Beach of Miami, opting to run the hotel's pool attraction, nightclub and adjoining cafe in house.

McCartney moved to the Trop from Planet Hollywood, where he was president at that property for 10 months. He replaced Michael Mecca as president of Planet Hollywood in January 2009.

McCartney has spent 27 years working as a resort operator, the past 14 in Las Vegas.

He initially was hired at New York-New York, and later Luxor, teaming with Felix Rappaport at both properties. He moved to P.H. from Luxor. Before relocating to Las Vegas, McCartney was with Caesars Palace in Atlantic City.

Updated at 6:43 p.m.: In a release issued tonight, McCartney's final day was specified as Oct. 31. Yemenidjian was quoted in the statement: "Tom had a tremendous impact on many aspects of our operations, especially in shaping our service culture. In addition to being a superb executive, he is also a great friend, and I am going to miss him." The move was termed a resignation.

McCartney's statement: "It has been a great pleasure being part of a winning team at Tropicana Las Vegas. I am confident that Tropicana Las Vegas once again has become a very competitive property on the Las Vegas Strip due to its physical and service transformation. I wish Alex and his team the greatest of success in their future and look forward to the next chapter of my career."

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