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Since his appointment as Chairman of the Executive Board of The Grand Ho Tram Strip, Vietnam's leading integrated resort in Ba Ria Vung Tau province, in 2015, Mr. Kelly has steered the project's rapid growth in terms of investment and development. With over 25 years of senior management experience in the hotel and casino industry, including eight years managing a co-project with Trump Entertainment Resorts (1996-2004), Mr. Kelly immediately initiated numerous innovative constructions upon taking office to expand the resort's capacity to meet the needs of both domestic and international guests. His contributions include the successful organization of the Ho Tram Open – Vietnam's first Asian Tour golf tournament – held at The Bluffs, one of the world's best-rated golf courses, in December 2015. This is the largest-scale event in the history of Vietnamese sports, broadcast live in 180 countries and putting Ba Ria Vung Tau on the map of must-visit golf destinations for golfers and international tourists.
As the head of one of the largest foreign-invested projects in Vietnam, Michael Kelly has always focused on developing The Grand Ho Tram Strip to align with the Vietnamese government's development goals, serving as a prime example of a foreign-invested enterprise operating in the country. With significant investment and a wide network of partners, The Grand Ho Tram Strip is one of the most prominent US investment projects in Vietnam. Last year, Mr. Kelly played a crucial role in strengthening US-Vietnam trade relations. Notably, in May, he participated in an investment promotion event attended by US President Obama during his historic visit to Vietnam. During this event, a signing ceremony took place between The Grand Ho Tram Strip and two major Vietnamese companies, Coteccons and Vietjet.
Mr. Michael Kelly is currently the Chairman of the AMCHAM Vietnam Tourism Committee. Officially taking office in September 2016, within just a few months of his term, he has made significant contributions through managing The Grand, developing it in a way that supports the Government's ideas for expanding investment and developing tourism in Vietnam.
The appointment to the Board of Directors marks Michael Kelly's efforts in supporting the economic interests of U.S. businesses in Vietnam over the past period. The focus on strengthening and expanding U.S.-Vietnam trade ties is further demonstrated by the appointments of Loretta Pickus and Tony Podesta – two renowned U.S. policy and consulting experts – to the ACDL Board of Directors (the parent company of The Grand Ho Tram Strip), aiming to boost the project's visibility among U.S. policymakers and prominent business figures. In particular, Ms. Pickus, with her extensive experience in legal and hospitality matters gained from her long tenure as an advisor to Trump Entertainment Resorts, underscores the commitment to promoting U.S.-Vietnam economic relations and expanding investment opportunities during the upcoming U.S. administration.
Analysts predict that The Grand Ho Tram Strip, under Kelly's leadership, will continue to thrive in Vietnam and play an increasingly significant role in the bilateral trade relationship between Vietnam and the United States.
