Hilton Grand Vacations CEO Mark Wang talks love of F1, providing opportunity of lifetime

LAS VEGAS – Hilton Grand Vacations CEO Mark Wang’s emotion for Formula 1 started erstwhile helium was young.

He made an impromptu travel to the 1980 Long Beach Grand Prix. Hearing the roar of the engines arsenic the velocity machines traveled by near an indelible people connected the aboriginal enforcement of 1 of the astir well-known edifice brands successful the world. 

Wang’s involvement successful the world-renowned athletics besides helped spark the connection of a beingness — sitting trackside for the Las Vegas Grand Prix implicit the weekend. 

It’s the 2nd twelvemonth the contention is being held successful the amusement superior of the satellite and the 2nd twelvemonth Hilton Grand Vacations has offered the experience.

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McLaren operator Lando Norris during signifier for the Las Vegas Grand Prix astatine Las Vegas Circuit Nov. 21, 2024. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)

Wang recalled to Fox News Digital portion sitting successful the Owners Lounge precocious supra the Strip that helium knew erstwhile helium saw the way layout that Hilton Grand Vacations would beryllium successful a terrific spot to capitalize connected a concern with Formula 1 and connection fans of the athletics a mode to get adjacent to the action.

"This would beryllium a truly large accidental for america to beryllium capable to supply our members and guests with an acquisition that astir apt astir of them ne'er experienced before," Wang recalled reasoning astatine the time. "So, the teams went to enactment and came up with a conception astir the HGV Clubhouse."

It’s much than conscionable feeling the engines roar by oregon the glitz and glamor that the Las Vegas country tin provide. Wang sought to springiness guests and members a high-class viewing of 1 of the much lavish sports successful the world.

"We built this astonishing clubhouse. Two-story structure. It sits close connected the track, and, so, you get a large viewing. We besides enactment a batch of A/V successful determination truthful you tin ticker a unrecorded simulcast from 3 antithetic angles. You tin archer wherever each car is connected the track.

"In immoderate of these races, for the astir part, they’re flashing by you, and you privation to get a consciousness of wherever everything is. Then, immoderate truly large culinary we enactment successful spot for our guests."

Not to notation unrecorded euphony and driving simulators to support fans entertained successful betwixt signifier runs, qualifying and the contention itself.

Wang said his love for F1 brought him to the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. The people was 2.268 miles successful magnitude and acceptable successful a parking lot. It was a acold outcry from the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is 3.853 miles successful length, wherever cars whiz by down Las Vegas Boulevard.

BWT Alpine operator Pierre Gasly during signifier for the Las Vegas Grand Prix astatine Las Vegas Circuit Nov. 21, 2024. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)

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Where Wang drew inspiration for the HGV Clubhouse was from F1 races astir the world.

"I deliberation I’ve drawn my inspiration from the hospitality and the acquisition that we were trying to supply for our guests," helium said. "Our concern ever had this large tone of hospitality — the Hilton marque and being stewards of the Hilton brand. But the tone of experiences is thing we’ve been gathering into our business, particularly implicit the past 4 oregon 5 years."

Wang said providing an acquisition that was antithetic from watching connected TV was important.

He utilized nonrecreational hockey arsenic an example, wherever seeing the crippled connected TV doesn’t precisely construe to the vigor and fast-paced play seen successful arenas.

"It’s similar watching car racing connected TV. You don’t truly needfully get the aforesaid consciousness exactly," helium explained. "For me, it’s talking to our members and them expressing to maine however breathtaking this accidental is for them to beryllium capable to acquisition this."

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is 1 of the 3 last races near successful the season. Max Verstappen holds a pb implicit McLaren’s Lando Norris, and the Red Bull operator could triumph the title if everything goes his mode this weekend.

Brooke Henderson of Canada and Hilton Grand Vacation CEO Mark Wang airs with the trophy aft the last circular of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions astatine Lake Nona Golf & Country Club Jan. 22, 2023, successful Orlando, Fla. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Wang said he’s pulling for Norris to contend for the title but was excited however the play fared overall.

"What’s truly breathtaking astir the race, it’s similar six oregon 7 guys who tin win," helium said. "Everybody tin enactment their wealth connected Max Verstappen. He was winning everything, right? So, it’s been precise competitive. It’s bully to spot it that way.

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"This way — they’re not utilized to racing successful this acold weather. And it’s going to beryllium windy and dusty. Didn’t look similar arsenic overmuch traction arsenic they’re utilized to having. It’ll beryllium interesting."

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