Station Casinos announced key leadership appointments for Durango Casino & Resort, which is set to debut in southwest Las Vegas in late 2023.
David Horn, a longtime Station executive, has been named vice president and general manager of the property. With Durango currently in development, Horn will oversee all phases of the pre-opening and day-to-day processes, including gaming, hotel operations, marketing and branding, partner relations, recruitment, and sales.
Kai Speth has been named vice president of hospitality. In his role at Durango, Speth will be in charge of multiple operations, including hotel and suites, food and beverage, amenities, front office, and guest experience.
Daniel Ye joins the organization as the property’s executive chef. Ye will supervise all culinary operations at the property, including the food and beverage outlets and banquet services.
Horn brings more than two decades of experience to Station Casinos. He started at the front desk, then moved into management positions across all facets of the business, including leading the company’s ground-up construction project with Durango.
Horn’s appointment marks his second turn as a general manager in the organization, following his stewardship of Palace Station.
Horn is recognized for his team-member relationships and knowledge of the gaming and hospitality industries, having spent time working across multiple departments and developing an expert-level understanding of casino operations, gaming analysis, player evaluation, and team-member development, among other highlights.
Speth has more than 30 years of experience leading globally recognized hotels and restaurants across the U.S, Europe, and Asia.
Before joining Station, Speth oversaw operations in Ho Chi Minh City for multiple properties, including The Reverie Saigon, a luxury hotel consistently named one of the top hotels in the world. Speth has also spent time with such highly regarded hotel brands as Park Hyatt, Sofitel, Grand Hyatt, and Four Seasons, among others.
Chef Ye is internationally recognized, with a career spanning New York City to Spain and roles at many of the world’s leading hospitality companies. Before joining Station, Ye was the corporate executive chef for CATCH Hospitality Group, supervising the company’s United States and Mexico west coast operations.
Ye also served as executive chef of CATCH L.A. and was involved in the brand’s expansion and recruiting efforts in the Las Vegas, New York, and Aspen markets. Ye has held roles as corporate head chef for 6th Avenue Inc., corporate executive chef for Notar Hospitality in New York City, and executive chef and corporate liaison for Nobu Restaurants across the globe.
