MGM Resorts International Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

MGM Resorts International - Case Study Example The purpose the case analysis is precisely to determine the best strategic alternative for MGM Resorts International, given the business and general environment in which it operates, and given an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, the threats to its business, and the opportunities that are present in the market. The paper also presents a plan for implementation of the chosen strategic alternative arising out of the strategic analysis. The firm in focus is properly a holding entity for a number of assets operating in the hospitality industry (Google Finance, 2013; Bloomberg, 2013; MGM Resorts International, 2013). As a holding firm in the hospitality industry, the key business for MGM Resorts International is in the business of owning and operating resorts that are casinos. As such, it is in the business of offering within those casino resorts such services as retail, dining, entertainment, gaming, convention, hotel, and a number of corollary services and activities. Its presen ce is confined to two markets, the US domestic market, where it owns and operates 15 casino resorts throughout the United States, and the China Market, where MGM Macau has ownership of the casino resort known as MGM Macau resort and casino. The company has sole ownership and total control of operations for its US casino resorts, whose casino operations in particular are open the whole year round without pause and for 24 hours everyday, except for its operations at the Grand Victoria, which pause for work two hours out of 24 hours on a daily basis (Google Finance, 2013). Apart from the wholly owned resorts, MGM Resorts International also has 50 percent stakes in three other facilities, chief of them being CityCenter, where the company has half of total ownership stakes in the ARIA Resort and Casino, among other assets. Its MGM China Holdings control 51 percent of the MGM Macau Resort and Casino, apart from new planned developments for a Cotai resort and casino. Its expertise in the h ospitality segment has allowed the holding firm, moreover, to get involved in a vast array of management agreements as well as development agreements for various projects worldwide, involving all kinds of projects outside of casino development as well as projects in casino and resorts development (MGM Resorts International, 2013). Its key bases of operations in the US, meanwhile, are Michigan, Nevada, and Mississippi, with additional stakes in properties in Illinois and Nevada outside of its core interests. In China its base of operations is essentially Macau These properties coupled with consulting and management services make up the totality of its core business offerings to the world (Bloomberg, 2013). A look at its 10-year stock performance shows that MGM Resorts International shares have traded in a relatively narrow band since sharply dropping from its peaks of close to 100 dollars a share in 2007. Current stock prices of about 12.86 dollars a share are within the narrow band that it has been in since that time (Google Finance, 2013) Image Source: Google Finance, 2013 Meanwhile, shorter-term investor sentiments towards the stock shows that many hedge funds and other investors are cautiously long on the stock, and recent developments that indicate some long-term investors such as Kirk Kerkorian are upping their shares in the company by buying more shares are boosting sentiment. The

Impression on Gothic stained glass Research Paper

Impression on Gothic stained glass - Research Paper Example This informed the research and evolution of the pre historic stained glasses manufactured by the Egyptians and Romans to the modern day fully fledged industry responsible for the creation of the three dimensional impressions with their stained glasses. The manufacture of stained glass is both an art and craft that requires artistic dexterity to create unique designs capable of communicating idealistically and effectively. Additionally, the art requires engineering knowhow to balance the several features of construction to develop a strong window or door. A window particularly the large ones are heavy, additionally, glass naturally heavy and fragile, in designing such doors, the engineers must therefore balance the weight of the structures to resist the tendency of glasses breaking. Windows and doors resist other external pressures such as wind, these have the force capable of breaking a glass, the design of a glass window therefore incorporates the capabilities to resist such externa l forces but remain light enough to avoid piling pressure on frames. Additionally, window and doorframes are made in particular designs and shapes. Glass is known for its ease to break, this makes manipulating one difficult. The creation of a stained window or door glass therefore considers all these features making it quite a profession. The early western civilization involved extensive usage of stained glasses to decorate their buildings. It was one of the key indicators of social status owing to their high prices. The glasses were therefore commonly used in churches and other public structures such as county halls and in the decoration of royal palaces. The early civilization used these glasses to communicate, arts communicates through diverse means. The manipulation of the stained glasses offered unparalleled mode of communication that could be used to preserve images besides decoration. Most church windows frames were therefore fitted with religious portraits of the heavenly beings such as angels, Jesus and God Himself. These collectively aided the creation of a spiritual theme around churches and other religious places. Arts make use of a number of elements to communicate the ideas of the artists. One of these elements is color, every color has a meaning, this therefore implies that the use and choice of a speci fic color is determined by the message that the artist intended to communicate. The stained glasses communicate through color; they largely employ the use of different colors to create different illusions thereby communicating differently depending on the purpose of the glass and its creator. To decorate places and royal facilities, artists used a gold impression, these gave the facilities an aspect of importance and class. Royalties always portrayed an essence of more self worth, they therefore demanded the creation of exceptionally beautiful structures manufactured and coated with the most expensive rocks (Elizabeth 45). Gothic artifacts are scary impressions; some that portray instill fear in their audience, the stained glass technology excels in the creation of such thereby developing a horrific feeling in a room fitted with such windows and doors. The glass stained windows are deigned either figuratively or non figuratively. A figurative design relates a story behind the design . In churches, the stories