After only eight months with the Fremont Street Experience (FSE), president and CEO Cliff Atkinson will depart to take over as president of The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower.

FSE officials announced that Atkinson will step down on Nov. 6, 2026. Three days later, on Nov. 9, he is scheduled to begin his new role at The STRAT, where he will oversee operations at the resort just north of the Strip, including its 2,427-room hotel, casino and landmark observation tower.

During his tenure under the downtown canopy, he was credited with expanding the destination’s entertainment offerings, growing the “Downtown Rocks” concert series, introducing additional themed events and helping launch the “Always On” marketing campaign designed to promote the area’s round-the-clock attractions.

“Fremont Street Experience is a destination unlike any other and I am proud of the work we did to bring even more energy to downtown Las Vegas,” Atkinson said in a statement reflecting on his departure. “I am grateful to our team, the board of directors and our partners for their collaboration and support.”

FSE chair Mark Brandenburg credited Atkinson with strengthening the guest experience and helping create additional reasons for visitors to spend time downtown during his brief tenure.

Role Call

Atkinson joined FSE on Feb. 17, 2026, after serving as president of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas from August 2023 through December 2025. Before that, he was the president of Fontainebleau Las Vegas from January 2022 until January 2023. He was also the president and COO of the Luxor for more than a year, around 2019–2021, after serving as senior vice president of hotel strategy for MGM Resorts International from 2016 to 2019.

In 2012, Atkinson was the GM of Mandarin Oriental in San Francisco before transferring to the company’s Las Vegas property (now the Waldorf Astoria), where he remained until May 2016.

Golden Entertainment, which owns and operates The STRAT, welcomed Atkinson’s arrival, citing his long track record at major Las Vegas properties. The company has invested heavily in renovating and repositioning the resort in recent years.

“The STRAT is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Las Vegas, and I’m honored to join this team,” Atkinson said. “Golden Entertainment has done remarkable work reinventing this property, and I look forward to building on that momentum and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests and team members alike.”

The search for Fremont Street Experience’s next president and CEO is now underway.