When You Invest in People, They Build the Future 🏗️🔧🌟

Before The Mirage opened, we were told to brace ourselves.

Experts predicted it could take a year before operations stabilized. We were warned to expect no‑shows, inconsistent communication, system glitches, policy confusion, and high turnover. In other words: prepare for chaos.

We chose a different path.

Instead of obsessing over what might go wrong, we doubled down on what could go right. We hired for attitude and trained for skill. We treated employees like guests. We invested heavily in new‑hire training. We communicated simply and consistently. And from day one, we made it a habit to catch people doing things right.

The results were undeniable.

Ninety‑eight percent of the people we offered jobs to accepted — and showed up. Our training investment paid off with higher‑than‑expected productivity and customer service. Clear communication kept everyone aligned. Trust grew quickly. And on the first anniversary of opening, nearly 90% of the original staff were still with us.

By six months, the property was humming. By twelve, business was so strong that Steve Wynn announced plans to build another 3,000 rooms to meet demand. That expansion led to Treasure Island less than four years later, and Bellagio — the first multi‑billion‑dollar resort — four years after that.

Here’s the part that mattered most:

Those new properties were staffed largely through promotion from within. Growth created opportunity, and opportunity created loyalty.

From the Golden Nugget to Mirage, Treasure Island, and Bellagio, we grew to 54,000 employees. They weren’t just part of the brand — they were the brand. Buildings attract guests once. Great employees bring them back.

We amplified what was great in our people. And they amplified the company in return. That message mattered then, and it still matters today.

Brendon Burchard (born 1977):  American high-performance coach, motivational speaker, podcaster, and author who has coached presidents, Olympians, and the Dalai Lama.