One of the few academic/gambling industry initiatives of its kind, the jointly funded partnership invites students from the top-ranked UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality to participate in ICE Barcelona, with the exhibition providing a major opportunity for industry learning and growth.
Announcing the collaboration program, Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “I am delighted to be able to confirm this formal partnership between UNLV’s world-leading hospitality education program and ICE Barcelona the world-leading gaming and entertainment technology showcase.
“This is an industry-first and will make a significant contribution to progressing the connection between hospitality and gaming for the betterment of the global industry. Not only does UNLV hold the R1 which is the gold standard for US research institutions, it is also in the US top 5 for diversity and ranked 29th in the top 100 graduate and professional programs. The partnership, which will be officially launched at ICE Barcelona 2026, sits perfectly with Clarion Gaming’s commitment to deploy the influence and reach of the ICE brand to help build a sustainable future for the industry that we serve.”
David Cárdenas, Dean of UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, added: “Partnering with Clarion Gaming represents a powerful opportunity to combine our respective strengths and specialties in a way that benefits students, who are the future leaders of the hospitality and gaming industry.
“As gaming makes its way into markets throughout the world, ICE Barcelona serves as an amazing platform for academia, industry, and political thought leaders to come together to support gaming innovation on an international scale. The Harrah College of Hospitality is an important voice in these conversations, as we have the unique capacity to leverage our research, global standing, and industry partners to not only address the challenges facing the industry but also to identify opportunities for innovation.”
