With a 23-year background in gaming and marketing, Tropicana Entertainment has named Jef Bauer as general manager of MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa at Lake Tahoe.
“Northern Nevada has been a second home to me throughout my career and I’m glad to call South Shore, a destination that I have always loved, my new home,” said Bauer, 45. “I plan to be involved in the community while seizing new opportunities with special events to position MontBleu and South Tahoe as the place to play, dine and game.”
At MontBleu, Bauer will oversee day-to-day operations of a 437-room hotel with three restaurants including the Four-Diamond Ciera Steak + Chophouse, two nightclubs, three lounges, Onsen Spa, a 16,000-sq. ft. convention center, a 1,400-seat showroom and 650 team members.
As part of his ‘resort-first’ philosophy, Bauer sees potential to attract visitors and locals with the spa, dining and entertainment areas as well as gaming.
From 2005, Bauer was vice president and general manager of the Golden Casino Group: Golden Mardi Gras, Golden Gates and Golden Gulch casinos in Black Hawk, Colo.
Bauer’s roots, however, are in Nevada, earning his way through the ranks. He started in the Sports Book at Harrah’s Reno and then into leadership roles in communications, events and marketing prior to positions with riverboat and Indian gaming properties in the Midwest throughout the ’90s. He served as corporate vice president of marketing for Majestic Star Casinos, LLC and as executive director of marketing for Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Casino.
Activities include being involved in community and non-profits as a board member of several charitable organizations over the years.
Bauer graduated University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor of arts in journalism with emphasis in public relations and business administration. Jef and his wife, Melody, have three children.
