Since his appointment as Executive Chairman of The Grand Ho Tram Strip, Vietnam’s leading integrated resort in Ba Ria Vung Tau province in 2015, Mr. Kelly has been the one to steer the project’s remarkable acceleration in terms of investment and development. With more than 25 years of experience in senior management positions in the hotel and casino industry, including 8 years managing a project in cooperation with Trump Entertainment Resorts (1996-2004), upon taking office, Mr. Kelly immediately initiated many innovative constructions to expand the ability to meet the resort needs of domestic and international tourists. 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 golf courses in December 2015. This is the largest event in the history of Vietnamese sports, broadcast live in 180 countries and put Ba Ria Vung Tau on the map of golf destinations for international golfers and tourists.
As the head of one of the largest foreign-invested projects in Vietnam, Mr. Michael Kelly always focuses on developing The Grand Ho Tram Strip in line with the development goals of the Vietnamese Government, playing the role of a typical foreign-invested enterprise operating here. With a large investment and a wide network of partners, The Grand Ho Tram Strip is one of the outstanding US investment projects in Vietnam. Last year, Mr. Kelly played an important role in strengthening the US-Vietnam trade relationship. Notably, last May, Mr. Michael Kelly participated in an investment promotion event with the participation of US President Obama during his historic visit to Vietnam. Also on this occasion, the signing ceremony between The Grand Ho Tram Strip and two large Vietnamese companies, Coteccons and Vietjet, also took place.
Mr. Michael Kelly is currently the Chairman of the AMCHAM Vietnam Tourism Committee. Officially taking office in September 2016, in just a few months of his tenure, he has made certain contributions through managing The Grand to develop in the direction of supporting the Government with ideas to expand investment and develop Vietnam tourism.
The appointment to the Board of Directors marks Mr. Michael Kelly’s efforts in supporting the economic benefits of US businesses in Vietnam in recent times. The focus on expanding the US-Vietnam trade relationship is also demonstrated by the appointment of Ms. Loretta Pickus and Mr. Tony Podesta – two famous US consultants and policy experts to the Board of Directors of ACDL (the parent company of The Grand Ho Tram Strip), to enhance the project’s recognition among US policymakers and prominent figures in the business community. In particular, Ms. Pickus, with her extensive experience in the legal and hospitality fields gained from her long time as an advisor to Trump Entertainment Resorts, has emphasized her commitment to promoting US-Vietnam economic relations and expanding investment opportunities in the upcoming US administration.
Analysts predict that The Grand Ho Tram Strip under Mr. Kelly's leadership will continue to grow in Vietnam and play an increasingly important role in the bilateral trade relationship between Vietnam and the United States.
