IAG has announced the full launch of the Academy of Integrated Resorts and Gaming Executives in Asia, more simply known as “The Academy”. Details can be found on the Academy’s website at iagta.com.
The Academy is designed to advance professionalism within the industry through a wide range of initiatives over time, but its first initiative and current major focus is to recognize industry executives and their contributions to the industry via the “Academy Awards”.
The Asian IR and gaming industry currently has two ceremonies which recognize industry excellence. The Asian Gaming Power 50 recognizes the 50 most powerful and influential industry individuals, and the G2E Asia Awards recognizes the best in industry solutions, offerings and corporations. However, this leaves a gap where many industry executives, some with decades of experience with operators, vendors or elsewhere, do not have such an opportunity for encouragement or recognition by their peers.
For this reason, IAG has founded “The Academy”. At this early stage of its development, The Academy is an unincorporated association, managed by Inside Asian Gaming.
IAG CEO Andrew W Scott said, “The idea for the Academy Awards grew out of a desire to recognize the valuable and meaningful contribution to our industry of many of our industry’s executives, from young up-and-coming Senior Managers and Assistant Directors right up to Senior Vice Presidents and even some C-level executives. The contributions of such executives have been highlighted by the difficult times the industry is currently suffering with the global pandemic.”
The Awards will take place annually, starting in 2021. Given the current pandemic the Awards will be a fairly low-key affair in the first year, but the event is planned to grow in years to come.
Only members of the Academy will be eligible to vote for Awards, or to be nominated to receive Awards. The main requirement to be eligible for membership of the Academy is having worked in the Asian IR or gaming industry for a minimum of two years. There is no charge for membership of The Academy.
Today’s full launch was preceded by a low-key soft launch earlier in the year, during which 189 members joined the Academy. It is hoped that number will grow substantially in the months and years ahead.
For more details or to become a member of the Academy, visit the website at iagta.com.
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