President of Wynn Al Marjan Island, Wynn Resorts
Search every verified Max Tappeiner interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Max Tappeiner, President of Wynn Al Marjan Island, discussed the progress of the resort at Arabian Travel Market 2025. He stated that 10,000 construction workers are on site daily, the building is adding a story each week, and it is expected to top off at over 300 meters by December. Tappeiner described the project as Wynn's first beachside resort and its tallest building, with a replica room built in Las Vegas to refine the guest experience. He said the resort's culture is "service-driven, artistry, excellence, and progressive," and that about 50% of the senior executive team came from other Wynn properties. Tappeiner projected that if the vision is realized by 2030, inbound tourism to Ras Al Khaimah will have tripled and the destination will become an international must-see. Earlier in his career, Tappeiner served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Resorts World Las Vegas and Vice President of Hotel Operations at The Venetian and Palazzo. In a 2021 interview, he described the pace of work during the pandemic as "fire, aim, fire, fire, fire, ready, fire" and predicted that leaders who grew through the crisis would emerge stronger. In a 2016 interview, he advised focusing on basics such as treating others as you want to be treated and gaining trust and respect, and noted that he took a 60% pay cut early in his career to prioritize long-term growth.
“We have 10,000 construction workers on site every day. The curtain wall is coming up, the rooms are being framed on the third floor, and we're adding a story every week. By December we will top off and reach its full height of a little over 300 meters.”
“We walk through the guest journey every couple of weeks and put ourselves in the shoes of the guest—what will the guest see, hear, smell, and feel? It gives me goosebumps being in this building already and seeing the shape and character of this building shaping up.”
“This is our first beachside resort and it’s on its own island. It’s also the tallest building we’ve ever built, with an attached marina. We recently released the first renderings for the room product, and we build a perfect replica of the room in Las Vegas to ensure every detail is fully thought out.”
“Dubai does luxury and glamour probably better than any other city in the world. We have great respect for the operators here and the brands represented. Operating a building such as this, with 300 meters tall, 20 plus restaurants, and 1500 rooms, takes somebody very special with courage and vision.”
“Our culture is the bedrock of everything we do. It is one of high performance, guided by four values: service-driven, artistry, excellence, and progressive. Service isn’t just a thing; it is the main thing and drives everything we do.”
“We have built a team of 'Navy Seals'—industry leaders who have done large-scale marquee projects in gateway cities for some of the most respected brands in the world. About 50% of the senior executive team has come from other Wynn properties, which is testament to the culture we are trying to breed.”
“If we can make good on the vision by 2030, inbound tourism will have tripled into Ras Al Khaimah. The destination will have transformed into an international must-see destination competing with some of the best-in-class destinations in the region.”
“We sit on 88 acres with a price tag of a little over four billion, one of the most expensive private developments in the history of Las Vegas Boulevard. It's a mega project with 3,500 rooms, state-of-the-art theater, top entertainment, restaurants, and an incredible spa, aiming to be one of the must-see destinations in...”
“The pace at which we're moving right now is unprecedented — the principle of 'ready, aim, fire' is out the window; it's more like 'fire, aim, fire, fire, fire, ready, fire.' But this shall pass, and our industry will stabilize.”
“We posted job openings for 5,000 jobs and received 60,000 applications in just ten days, which speaks to the excitement and demand. We hope to be part of the renaissance of travel and entertainment in Las Vegas and the United States.”
“We only want to hire the best — a group of 'Navy Seals' who work cohesively as one unit, best in class and ambitious leaders, because building a $4.3 billion project requires the most responsible and experienced team.”
“I took a 60% pay cut early in my career because I prioritized long-term career progression and personal development over money. The money will come eventually, but growth and learning are key.”
“The travel and entertainment industry will come out of this pandemic stronger and better. Those who grow and consolidate through this crisis will emerge as stronger leaders with plentiful opportunities when things return to normal.”
“Guest safety, team member safety, and community involvement will never go away even after the pandemic. The world won't return to 2019 norms; these principles are here to stay and are essential for future success.”
“Zouk is recognized as the number one nightlife operator out of Asia with over 30 years of continuous operation, an incredible accomplishment with longevity unmatched by any nightlife brand in the United States. We are excited to bring this brand to Las Vegas and contribute to its bright future.”
What does it take to bring the Middle East's most talked-about resort to life? Filmed live at Arabian Travel Market 2025, this ...
A Special Creative Conversations by Director of Special Projects Zouk Genting Joseph Ryan together with the Senior Vice ...
Learn more about VP of Hotel Operations at The Venetian & Palazzo, Max Tappeiner and his background and outlook on Las ...
Get a sneak peek of our full interview with Max Tappeiner from The Venetian & Palazzo, Las Vegas.
Sign in to search the full transcript archive, filter by topic, and access every quote from Max Tappeiner.
The summary and quote tags on this profile are produced with AI assistance from verified, first-person interview transcripts, then checked by our team to confirm the speaker's identity and the accuracy of every quote. See how we verify →