HOSPITALITY
• Bringing over 20 years of culinary acclaim to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Chef David Werly has been tapped as the executive chef for the reimagined and re-conceptualized casino resort, which is slated to open early this year.
In his role as executive chef of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Chef Werly will oversee the Virgin Hotels concepts, including The Kitchen at Commons Club, Funny Library Coffee Shop, The Juice Bar and the food and beverage offerings at the guest pool and dayclub. In addition, he will also run in-room dining and banquet dining. Classically trained in French cuisine, Chef Werly will bring a selection of internationally inspired dishes, as he will take guests on a culinary journey throughout the property.
In his decades long career, Chef Werly has lead kitchens at some of the world’s most renowned resorts and restaurants. He is no stranger to the critically acclaimed Las Vegas culinary scene, most recently serving as the assistant executive chef of food and beverage at ARIA and Vdara. He also was the culinary director for Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, where he oversaw all culinary operations. As executive chef of Le Cirque at Bellagio Resort, he was awarded and maintained a Michelin Star from 2007 until his departure in 2010. Between his stints in Las Vegas, Chef Werly managed all food and beverage operations as executive chef at The Setai Miami Beach. Chef received his training in France, studying at Lycée Professionnelle de Guebwiller and Lycée Professionnelle de Strasbourg. He is a member of Maîtres Cuisiniers de France (Master Chefs of France). In his spare time, he volunteers with Three Square Food Bank, enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, snowboarding and scuba diving, listening to music and playing with his beloved French bulldog.
“Chef Werly brings extraordinary experience to our property,” said Richard “Boz” Bosworth, president and CEO of JC Hospitality, owner of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. “While his talent inside the kitchen includes countless awards and accolades and he has created culinary events all over the world, it is his innate ability to interact with our guests, relate to event planners and assist our sales team that makes him an invaluable addition to our team and representative of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.”
• The Nevada Resort Association’s board of directors unanimously elected Wynn Resorts Executive Vice President and General Counsel Ellen Whittemore as its chair; Las Vegas Sands Corp. Senior Vice President of Government Relations Andy Abboud as its vice chair; Boyd Gaming Senior Vice President, Industry & Government Affairs Paul Anderson as treasurer; and NRA President Virginia Valentine as its secretary for the 2021-2022 term.
“As the state’s economic engine and largest employment sector, Nevada’s Resort industry understands the vital role we play in communities across the state, which is why we are working collaboratively together to restore our tourism-based economy and bring more Nevadans back to work as soon as possible,” Whittemore said. “Our industry remains steadfast in our commitment to protect the health and safety of our employees, guests and fellow residents and doing all we can to help state and local public health authorities end this pandemic. I am honored that my colleagues have elected me to lead the association in these challenging times. While we have much work ahead, we are confident in Nevada’s future and are focused on expediting our economic recovery.”
The Nevada Resort Association also welcomed the addition of Golden Gaming and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino to its membership in 2020. The association represents 76 hotel-resorts across Nevada.
NONPROFIT
• Loving Hearts Adoption Services has hired KelseyAnn Salas as an adoption social worker. Salas is a licensed social worker that holds a Bachelor of Science in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Salas brings experience working in the field of child and family services and in her position at Loving Hearts, will work to create adoption plans for all members of the adoption triad, including birth families and parents, adoptive parents and adoptees.