Robert Rippee

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Executive Director, UNLV Black Fire Innovation

Executive Director, UNLV Incubator powered by Hughes Center

Director, Hospitality and Esports Laboratory at UNLV Office of Economic Development

Expertise: Hospitality Innovation, Esports, Business Development

Biography

Robert Rippee is a nationally recognized authority on the hospitality industry, particularly technology innovation, esports, and business and product development. He is often called upon by local and national media to provide context to emerging trends in hospitality, esports, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other technology applications in the service industry.

Rippee directs the Hospitality and Esports Lab within UNLV's International Gaming Institute and is former senior vice president of marketing for Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The lab is project-oriented and guides students from an array of disciplines through the innovation process. The lab’s environment is one of the unique learning environments at UNLV, combining the development of disruptive innovation with guidance from subject matter experts in esports, robotics, artificial intelligence, experience design, virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain, and more.

Rippee is active as a board advisor, mentor, and consultant to several early stage and mature technology startup companies. He is also a veteran, having served as a pilot in the United States Navy.

Education

Ph.D., Consumer Behavior and Human Learning, UNLV
M.B.A., Operations Management, University of Georgia
B.S., Finance, The University of Wyoming

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business development, entrepreneurship, gaming & gambling, hospitality & tourism, Las Vegas, science & technology

Robert Rippee In The News

Hospitality Upgrade

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Hospitality Upgrade today announced the recipient of the 2024 John Cahill student seat is Andrew Pham, a student at the College of Hospitality, University of Nevada in Las Vegas (UNLV). In its 22nd year, the upcoming CIO Summit will be held Sept. 4-6, 2024, at the Thompson Hotel by Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee.

As robot technology and machine learning continue to develop, this advancement has increasingly entered Las Vegas valley resorts and eateries, dazzling guests and causing some unease for service industry workers.

Robert Rippee has been a central figure in the development of the Black Fire Innovation Hub since its inception.

The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development

The UNLV Office of Economic Development and Zero Labs, a business accelerator in Nevada specializing in gaming, hospitality, entertainment, and sports, is excited to introduce the Zero Labs x UNLV Innovation Launchpad. This 3-day event, scheduled for early 2024, will offer a unique pre-accelerator experience designed specifically for UNLV’s students, faculty, and centers of excellence.