Meeting News - January 28, 2008 - (Page 32)

Insider Report: Gaming ‘New’ Greektown Casino in Detroit Completes First Construction Phase Not to be forgotten, Detroit’s third major casino completed its ﬁrst phase of construction towards becoming the new Greektown Casino-Hotel with the opening of a 2,900-space, 13-floor parking garage in November. Above the garage, construction of the casino’s new 400-room hotel is under way. It is scheduled for completion this fall. The permanent casino and hotel will include 25,000 sf of meeting space, a 1,100-seat theater, and at least two new restaurants. Another 25,000 sf of gaming space will be added in September to bring total casino space up to 100,000 sf. Total investment in the permanent Greektown Casino-Hotel project will be about $500 million, in a move to elevate the casino’s standing in Detroit. The Detroit News reported that Greektown is the city’s smallest casino based on gaming revenue, with $348 now,” said Crystal Johnson, director of sales for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau.“Larger groups are booking for 2010, when we will have signiﬁcantly more space, and smaller groups are actively looking.” Leisure travel in Biloxi and Gulfport has already roared back to life. Eleven of 12 casinos operating before Katrina have reopened, but only the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and the IP Casino Resort Spa (formerly the Imperial Palace) have any signiﬁcant meeting space. Other properties have converted meeting areas into casino space to meet immediate leisure demand. That has left planners waiting for new construction, Johnson said. The Mississippi Coast Coliseum is adding 200,000 sf, on target to open in 2009. Bacaran Bay, near the IP, is slated to open in late 2009, with 80,000 sf of event space. Margaritaville Casino & Resort, a beachfront collaboration between Jimmy Buffet and Harrah’s, will open in 2010, with 66,000 sf of meeting space. “Groups that had to leave are anxious to come back,” Johnson said. —Fred Gebhart Greektown Casino-Hotel is on schedule. million in earnings in 2006, which was $125 million less than the city’s two other major casinos. —Phillip Hennessey Gulf Coast Targets 2010 The Mississippi Gulf Coast expects a rebound in meeting and convention business that ﬂed Hurricane Katrina, but not until 2010. “We are pretty limited in meeting space right Employees start thinking out of the box when you take them out of the box. Book ‘em into Harrah’s and Harveys Lake Tahoe and watch what happens. We have 1,265 rooms and suites with great views, over 42,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and eight restaurants. But boxes? Nope. Steve Lowe Director of Sales Harrah’s and Harveys Lake Tahoe The view from Harveys 19th floor.

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Meeting News - January 28, 2008

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