LIAM THORNTON
Executive Vice President, Real Estate Development & Advisory Services at ASM Global
M.S. Real Estate Development, School of Architecture and Planning, MIT
B.S. Civil Engineering, Santa Clara University
Liam oversees the acquisition, development, and advisory services for all real estate investment and development at ASM Global. Prior to ASM Global, Liam held executive development roles at Live Nation, House of Blues, Universal Studios, and The Walt Disney Company, working at the intersection of real estate investment and sports & entertainment and has successfully developed highly branded and experiential projects in sports and recreation, entertainment, and hospitality across the US and internationally.
Liam has a strong professional interest in how technology and culture are shaping the built environment and is a sponsoring member of MIT DesignX, a venture accelerator at the Morningside Design Academy within the MIT School of Architecture and Planning, and has professional affiliations with the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the Design Management Institute (DMI) and the MIT Center for Real Estate.
In addition to his professional affiliations, Liam is a conservationist and lover of the mountains and rivers of the West and is currently a board member of the Western Rivers Conservancy. He has professional memberships and affiliations in:
-Urban Land Institute (ALI)
-Design Management Institute (DMI)
-MIT Center for Real Estate
Speaking at
Wed Oct 30
9:00 AM — 10:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time
Resorts World Las Vegas - Level 2, Jasmine CD
The Experience Multiplier: How Entertainment Experiences Are Driving Today’s Vibrant Mixed-Use Districts
Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, has long been the spiritual home of immersive experiences. With the success of the Sphere, it has also become the literal epicenter of this trend. While Vegas offers endless hospitality and entertainment opportunities, its real value lies in the lessons it can teach the real estate industry about placemaking, blending physical and digital spaces, and creating shared experiences that foster a sense of community. Immersive experiences can transform mixed-use developments and urban centers, but without careful planning and foresight, they risk falling flat and missing the mark with diverse audiences. Join this panel of experts, moderated by Gensler's co-ceo Elizabeth Brink, as they explore the future of location-based and retail-immersive entertainment. This discussion will dive into the growing convergence of dining, hospitality, nightlife, entertainment, and urban public spaces, using insights from Las Vegas's unique position in experiential entertainment development. The panel will highlight the success stories of AREA15 and the Sphere and draw on global examples from intimate dining establishments to large-scale planned districts. Attendees will learn how to blend themed entertainment design with commercial strategies to transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences. Discover how these insights can shape the future of urban development, making cities more engaging and community-focused.