David Nolan, assistant general manager of the Suncoast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, is a very lucky man. He is a new father, married to his college sweetheart, and is an example that hard work, dedication and ambition will pay off in the form of a dream career. 

Born and raised in Las Vegas, David began working in hotels in his teens as a part-time housekeeper in the hopes of saving money for a car. Now, 21 years later, he is still working in hotels. “Growing up, I was intrigued with gaming, people and tourism.”

He started college in pursuit of a finance degree, but changed his mind and graduated with a degree in hospitality from UNLV. He realized that hospitality gave him the best of all worlds. He smiled when he said that the hospitality field gave him finance, gaming, human resources, food and beverage, and marketing all wrapped into one career. “Every day is different. I am always on the go and no day is the same.”

Though David has spent most of his life in hotels, he once dreamed of a career as a professional sports book bettor. He laughed when he mentioned the diversity of the many teams he follows each season. A huge fan of sporting events, David roots for the Oakland Raiders, college football teams such as Notre Dame and the Utah Utes, UNLV Rebel basketball, USA Soccer, the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Celtics.

As diverse as his sporting interests are, the roles he fills at the Suncoast are just as diverse. As assistant general manager, David is responsible for the property’s day-to-day operations and he assists the chief operating officer. He is charged with supervising and managing departments and tasks such as hotel, casino, security, engineering, construction, food and beverage, and the race and sports book.

Though his days at the Suncoast are always eventful and fast-paced, David’s favorite part of the job is being able to meet such a diverse group of people. In fact, what makes him most proud of the property are the people that make up the Suncoast team. “We are so lucky to have a team with such exceptional customer service and relationships with our guests,” he said. “Customers come to the Suncoast not only because of the hotel and casino, but just to visit with the team members working there.”

David has a lot to be proud of in terms of the property’s staff, location and amenities.  The Suncoast Hotel & Casino is located about 14 miles from the Las Vegas Strip in the foothills of Summerlin, near the magnificent Spring Mountain Range and Red Rock National Recreation Area. With a Mediterranean theme, the Suncoast blends seamlessly into an area rich in dramatic natural beauty.

With an 80,000-square-foot casino, 64-lane Bowling Center, theater complex, more than 400 rooms and suites, and numerous restaurants and dining outlets, the Suncoast offers a wide array of amenities. The hotel also boasts a 500-seat showroom that is a throwback to the splendor that made Las Vegas famous. The Showroom is themed “Las Vegas as it used to be” and has featured a variety of acts, including top-name stars. In addition to the many amenities offered by the Suncoast, the property also surrounds 81 holes of championship golf, making it a good fit for golf enthusiasts. 

An intimate convention, banquet and meeting complex provides 25,000 square feet of space. The Suncoast staff is equipped to host meetings large and small with the personalized service for which their team is renowned in the Mediterranean-themed meeting rooms and ballrooms. 

David’s excitement is evident when talking about the Suncoast, but there is another topic sure to make him smile. In addition to his role as assistant general manager, David has just taken on the role of father. His daughter Mckenna was born shortly after Thanksgiving 2009 and David beamed when mentioning his new daughter’s entry in to the family. David’s wife is also a UNLV graduate with a hospitality degree, though she took another path and is an attorney in Las Vegas. In addition to their baby daughter, both are also parents to a golden retriever and Rhodesian ridgeback.

With two successful decades in the hospitality business and a beautiful family, David is indeed a very lucky man. When asked what advice he has for those new to the industry, David mentioned the value of learning all facets of the business. “It is important to experience all of the different aspects of the industry and know as much as possible about each different department.” 

From houseman to assistant general manager and numerous roles in between, David Nolan is as animated about his role at the Suncoast as he is about his role as a family man.

Based in Las Vegas, Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services (www.edlen.com) is the nation’s leading independent temporary utility contractor for the trade show, convention and special event industry. National Sales Manager Julie Pazina can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .