Pay Attention to the Pulse: Interview with Ronn Nicolli, Chief Marketing Officer of Resorts World Las Vegas

I recently went one-on-one with Ronn Nicolli, Chief Marketing Officer of Resorts World Las Vegas.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Ronn: I’m originally from Youngstown, Ohio and as a born-and-raised Midwesterner, I kind of always assumed that’s where I would ultimately end up. But, when a friend of mine presented me with an opportunity to move to Vegas, for what I assumed would be a short-term gig, I couldn’t say no. And I’m still here however many years later.

I started out as a nightlife promoter at the Wynn where I played an essential role in the successful marketing and launch of several of their new venues, and overall marketing strategies. Over the next 20 years, I worked my way up: I moved over to the Palm’s Casino in the nightlife division as the Senior Vice President of Creative Strategy and eventually found my way to Resorts World Las Vegas as the VP of Marketing for Zouk Group. It’s been a little over two years since I was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer for the resort.

It certainly hasn’t always been easy. We opened Resorts World at a pivotal moment in Las Vegas history—as the first new hotel on the Strip in over a decade, and more significantly, amid the challenges and hardships of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The key to our success at that time was our unwavering belief in the power of our brand’s voice and our continued fight to connect and break barriers in a time of great isolation. We embraced, and continue to embrace, the unknown and pride ourselves on our constant pursuit of innovation on all fronts. Facing a challenge on that scale and overcoming that right out of the gate set the tone for us as a team and as a company at Resorts World Las Vegas. We know that we can conquer anything if we work together.

Adam: In your experience, what are the keys to excelling in the hospitality business?

Ronn: Cultivating a supportive and dynamic team internally is key to creating an innovative and inviting environment for guests to enjoy. We encourage our team to break down barriers and push boundaries so that we’re able to offer our guests experiences they’ve never had before. My goal is for every guest to leave completely satisfied with their experience at Resorts World, feeling as though they’ve seen and experienced what they wanted to—all without ever needing to leave the property.

Adam: What are three things everyone should understand about marketing?

Ronn: Marketing is all about collaboration. We’re nothing without our team, our partners, and our connections. Fostering our relationships internally and externally helps to cultivate fresh perspectives, forge new paths, and create new, never-before-had experiences for our guests. For example, Resorts World in conjunction with Insomniac and Vibee created Hotel EDC, a dedicated experience for Electric Daisy Festival (EDC) rave-goers to partake in, separate from the festival. Since then, in nurturing these relationships, we’ve been able to implement more experiences for our guests with our talent at Zouk Nightclub and Resorts World Theatre.

Another important thing to understand is that you shouldn’t be thinking one step ahead. As CMO of Resorts World, I’m thinking ten steps ahead, sideways, every way, all the time. The best CMOs and hospitality leaders know that you need to be curious and proactive. When you’re constantly forward-looking and exploring new things, you’re able to strategically foster partnerships and projects that really set you up for success and set you apart from the crowd. 

We strive to tell stories. Of course, we know that we have to tell the story of the event or the experience that we’re working on. But it’s also equally important to tell the story of the brand in everything that you do. At Resorts World, we want to make sure that we have a unified voice in every piece of collateral we create so that our guests really get to know who we are, and what we value, so they feel confident in choosing our story and our brand repeatedly. Ultimately, that’s what they come back for and resonate with.

Adam: What are three things people who work in marketing should understand?

Ronn: 1. Disruption is divine. True innovation, and what ultimately draws people to you, is when you disturb what’s been static and offer something unexpected.

2. Pay attention to the pulse, pay attention to the trends, and be in the know. It’s invaluable to be acutely aware of what’s happening in the world. Whether it’s hosting the official Kansas City Chiefs’ afterparty during the Super Bowl, transforming our hotel into Rodeo World for the National Finals Rodeo, or into a racing fan’s haven during the Formula 1 races, embracing what’s happening in the world around you is essential.

3. Human connection is the key. Genuine, authentic connection is how you really figure out how to touch your audience and create lasting relationships.

Adam: What is the most important attribute of an effective CMO?

Ronn: A growth mindset is essential. As a chief marketing officer, or in any leadership role, having the confidence to adapt and change is key.

Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?

Ronn: A big part of being a good leader is being a good listener. Whether that be listening to the guests, the internal team, or the general buzz in the media on trends and news, taking in and listening for as much input as you can makes all the difference in what you’re able to output. You must listen to know what your audiences want and how to deliver those things to them. The best leaders are the ones who are cognizant of, value, and listen to the village that’s following them and looking to them. 

Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Ronn: Have a holistic approach. CMOs, and all leaders, have to think way beyond themselves to properly lead a group. It’s important to know your role, but equally important to know how it works in conjunction with the other key players. Leaders should spearhead branching out and teaming up to drive new opportunities and take initiative to collaborate. Great leaders work on a macro level toward total business development, not just on their agendas. 

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Ronn: Obstacles can be opportunities. Opening Resorts World during a global pandemic was far from optimal, but ultimately it allowed us to find our voice and connect with our community in meaningful ways very early on. We had no choice; we were all in it together.

Take risks. Moving to Vegas was a huge risk. And now, Resorts World has become my home and my family and it’s because I was willing to risk everything. 

Know who you are and never forget it. When I decided to pursue marketing, I told myself that if I was going to do this, I was going to be the best at it. I’m from a small town in the Midwest. My work ethic, perseverance, and dedication come from my roots in Youngstown, Ohio. It’s what I lean on and come back to as the Chief Marketing Officer at one of the top resorts in the world, and I wear that identity proudly.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Ronn: “It’s important to know when to react and when not to overreact.” Scott Menke, my late mentor who was a long-time industry executive, gave me this piece of advice. I’ve always had so much respect for him and look to follow in his footsteps.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Ronn: Besides my work at Resorts World, I’m also grateful for the opportunities I have to give back – one of my favorite ways to give back is by serving as a board member for the Discovery Children’s Museum. I am very passionate about supporting the greater Las Vegas community and I really encourage others to get involved as well.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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