Allard Roen

Allard Roen
Born	May 8, 1921 Cleveland, Ohio
Died	August 28, 2008 Carlsbad, California
Cause of death	heart disease
Education	Duke University
Occupation	Businessman
Spouse(s)	Evelyn Roen
Children	Judy Roen Smith Priscilla Roen Melissa Roen Jeffrey Roen

Allard Roen (1921–2008) was an American businessman in the hospitality industry. He was the Managing Director of the Desert Inn and the Stardust Resort and Casino in Paradise, Nevada. He was a co-founder of the Sunrise Hospital, The Boulevard Mall and the Las Vegas Country Club. Later, he was a co-founder and the on-site Manager of the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.

Allard Roen was born on May 8, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was awarded a baseball scholarship to attend Duke University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business in 1943. He served as Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946.

Allard arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1949. Shortly after, he was hired by Moe Dalitz to serve as the Managing Director of the Desert Inn. As such, he negotiated with labor unions and construction companies to build the casino. Shortly after it was built, in 1952, he added a golf course for guests. When Dalitz acquired the Stardust Resort and Casino, Roen became its Managing Director as well. In this capacity, he negotiated for the Le Lido, a Paris-based cabaret company, to perform at the Desert Inn. A proponent of civil rights, he reached an agreement with the NAACP to allow black guests at the Desert Inn and the Stardust in 1960. Eventually, he negotiated to sell the Desert Inn to Howard Hughes.

With Moe Dalitz, Irwin Molasky and Merv Adelson, he founded Paradise Development, a real estate development company in the 1950s. Together, they founded the Sunrise Hospital, The Boulevard Mall and the Las Vegas Country Club. Roen served as the first President of the Nevada Resort Association. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

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