For more than 15 years, Thomas Fanger has helped shape one of the largest and most sophisticated digital signage programs in the hospitality industry.
As Vice President, Multimedia at MGM Resorts International, Thomas has led the evolution of the company's signage network from multiple independent systems into a centralized enterprise platform supporting guests, employees, conventions, entertainment venues, food and beverage operations, and revenue-generating advertising across the MGM Resorts portfolio.
For his leadership, innovation, and lasting impact, Thomas is the latest recipient of the Poppulo Impact Award.
Building an Enterprise Platform
When Thomas first began leading digital signage at MGM Resorts, the organization relied on multiple signage platforms across its properties. Managing separate systems created unnecessary complexity while limiting the organization's ability to innovate and scale.
Thomas helped unify those environments under a single enterprise signage platform, giving MGM a foundation that could support every property while still allowing individual business units the flexibility to meet their own operational needs.
Today, Thomas oversees a network that includes approximately 2,700 digital signs across 17 MGM Resort properties, supported by a remarkably lean team of just three dedicated Multimedia specialists. The infrastructure also has the capability to deliver content to over 45,000 guest room televisions across the MGM Resorts portfolio.
Even more impressive is the amount of content the team manages.
Each year, the team publishes more than 9,000 campaigns, supporting dozens of business groups and guest-facing experiences across MGM Resorts.
More Than Digital Signs
While the scale of MGM’s digital signage network is truly impressive, what truly distinguishes Thomas' program is the versatility of the applications he uses.
Today, MGM's digital signage network supports:
- Convention readerboards & door signs
- Sponsorship displays
- Resort marquees
- Exterior LED displays
- Billboards
- Food and beverage digital menus
- Lobby displays
- Employee communications
- Guest room IPTV
Rather than treating screens as fixed assets with a single purpose, Thomas has helped create a network that adapts to the needs of the business.
During busy hotel check-in periods, lobby displays automatically transition from promotional messaging to guest information and wayfinding. Large outdoor LED displays can shift from advertising to directional messaging when major citywide events change pedestrian traffic patterns. Restaurant managers can update menu pricing instantly, while convention teams use sponsorship displays to create premium advertising opportunities around large-scale events.
Turning Digital Signage Into a Business Asset
As the digital signage network has matured, so has its value to the business.
Convention center signage, outdoor marquees, menuboards, directional signage, and more have evolved into meaningful revenue-generating assets. High-profile events create premium advertising opportunities, while digital signage also helps promote entertainment, dining, and experiences across MGM Resorts destinations.
In several cases, the success of these initiatives has justified expanding the network itself—adding more screens because the business value was already proven.
For Thomas, that's been one of the most rewarding parts of the program's evolution.
"We've reached the point where digital signage isn't just something that's nice to have—it's something our business partners expect. Every new project starts with the question, 'How can digital signage help us accomplish this?' That's been exciting to see."
A Platform That Continues to Evolve
Despite overseeing one of the hospitality industry's largest digital signage deployments, Thomas believes the platform is still just scratching the surface of what's possible.
Looking ahead, he's focused on expanding automation, increasing integrations, and helping business units find new ways to leverage digital signage to solve operational challenges.
Rather than waiting for requests, Thomas wants his team to become even more proactive partners—working alongside departments to identify opportunities where digital signage can improve the guest experience, streamline operations, or create new business value.
"The technology will continue to evolve, but what really excites me is partnering with different business groups to solve problems. Every new challenge becomes another opportunity to find a better way to communicate, engage guests, or support the business."
Recognizing Lasting Impact
Thomas Fanger's work has helped establish MGM Resorts as one of the hospitality industry's leaders in enterprise digital signage.
What began as multiple independent signage platforms has become a centralized enterprise network supporting thousands of displays, millions of guests, and business units across one of the world's most recognizable hospitality brands.
Reflecting on receiving the Poppulo Impact Award, Thomas stated, "It's an honor to receive this award, especially knowing how much the program has evolved over the years. When we started, we were focused on getting digital signage to work well. Today, it's become an important part of how MGM communicates with guests, supports operations, and creates value across the business. It's been rewarding to be part of that journey."
Poppulo CEO Ruth Fornell praised Thomas' contribution to MGM's success, sharing, "Thomas has demonstrated what happens when digital signage is treated as a strategic communications platform. Under his leadership, MGM Resorts has built one of the hospitality industry's most sophisticated digital signage programs—one that enhances the guest experience, creates measurable business value, and continues to evolve alongside the organization as it scales. His leadership and long-term vision embody exactly what the Poppulo Impact Awards are designed to recognize."
Congratulations to Thomas Fanger on this well-deserved recognition as a Poppulo Impact Award winner.
About the Poppulo Impact Awards
The Poppulo Impact Awards recognize individuals and organizations using digital signage to create measurable business impact, strengthen communications, and deliver exceptional customer and employee experiences. Learn more at poppulo.com/impact-awards.
