Las Vegas – Hilton Grand Vacations CEO Mark Wang's My love for F1 started at a young age.
He rushed into the 1980 Long Beach Grand Prix. Hearing the roar of engines as speed machines passed by left an indelible mark on the future executive of one of the world's most famous resort brands.
Wang's interest in the world-renowned sport also helped land him the offer of a lifetime to sit trackside at the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend.
This is the second year the race has been held in the entertainment capital of the world and the second year Hilton Grand Vacations has offered the race experience.
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McLaren driver Lando Norris practices for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the Las Vegas Circuit on November 21, 2024. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
Sitting in the owner's lounge high up on the Strip, Wang took a look at the track layout and said that Hilton Grand Vacations is making the most of its partnership with F1 to provide a great experience for fans of the sport. “I was convinced that I was in the perfect place to do it,” he recalled to Fox News Digital. How to approach the action.
“This would be a really great opportunity to give our members and guests an experience that probably most of our members have never had before,” Wang recalled thinking at the time. “So the team got to work and came up with a concept for an HGV clubhouse.”
It's not just about feeling the roar of engines and feeling the glitz and glamor that the Las Vegas scene can offer. Mr. Wang wanted to offer his guests and members an upscale viewing experience of one of the world's most luxurious sports.
“We built this great clubhouse, it’s a two-story structure, and it’s right next to the track, so you get great viewing. We also put a lot of A/V in there, three You can watch live simulcasts from different clubs and see where each car is on the track.
“At any race, most of the time it's happening right in front of you and you want to know where everything is. And we've prepared some really great food for our guests.”
Not to mention live music and driving simulators to keep fans entertained between practice runs, qualifying and races.
Mr Wang said his love of F1 led him to the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. The course was 3.568 miles long and could fit into a parking lot. It was a far cry from the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where cars raced down the 6.853-mile Las Vegas Boulevard.
BWT Alpine driver Pierre Gasly practices for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the Las Vegas Circuit on November 21, 2024. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
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Wang drew inspiration for the HGV Clubhouse from Formula 1 races around the world.
“I think we were inspired by the hospitality and experience we were trying to provide our guests,” he said. “We've always had a great hospitality ethos in our business, the Hilton brand and stewardship of the Hilton brand, but the experiential ethos is something that we've built into our business, especially over the last four or five years. It’s done.”
Wang said it was important to provide a different experience than what you see on TV.
He used professional hockey as an example, but watching a game on TV doesn't exactly reflect the energy and fast-paced play you see in an arena.
“It's like watching a car race on TV. You don't always get exactly the same feeling,” he explained. “For me, it's talking to our members and letting me know how exciting this opportunity is for them to experience this.”
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is one of three final races remaining in the season. Max Verstappen holds the lead over McLaren's Lando Norris and if all goes well this weekend, the Red Bull driver could win the championship.
Canada's Brooke poses with the trophy after the final round of the Hilton Grand Vacation Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club on January 22, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Henderson and Hilton Grand Vacations CEO Mark Wang. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Wang will lead Norris into championship contention, but said he is excited about how the season went overall.
“What's really exciting about this race is that six or seven people can win,” he said. “Anyone can bet their money on Max Verstappen. He won everything, right? So it was very competitive. It's nice to see it that way.”
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“This track, they're not used to racing in this cold weather, and it's going to be windy and dusty. It didn't seem like there was going to be as much traction as they're used to. Interesting. It will become something.”
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