The Gulf Coast’s third casino reopening is set for 9 a.m. today, when the Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi will open its doors for the first time since Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29.
Resort officials boast more than 800 new slot machines, all with coinless ticket in-ticket out, and 14 table games.
Isle of Capri in Biloxi reopened Dec. 26, and IP Casino in Biloxi reopened Dec. 22.
Most hotels rented long-term
By TOM WILEMON
tewilemon@sunherald.com
BILOXI – Coast casinos are back to renting rooms to traditional tourists, but anybody who wants to celebrate New Year’s Eve here should book lodging ahead of time instead of driving down to find a room.
Most hotels are rented to long-term guests involved in relief efforts, and the number of rooms is significantly smaller because of Hurricane Katrina. This holiday weekend, three casinos – IP, Isle of Capri and the Palace – will be open for business.
“We are inching up toward 5,000 rooms,” said Linda Hornsby, executive director of the Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association. The number is small when compared to the 17,300 rooms that were available on the Coast pre-Katrina.
Anyone wanting to stay on the Coast this weekend can check room availability by dialing Mississippi Hotel Reservations at 888-388-1006.
“All the small properties are locked up with long-term guests at least until the end of January, some until the end of next year,” Hornsby said. “Suburban Lodge for instance will be full until the end of next year. They are that type of property. I’m starting to see some of them say ‘I’ll let you know by the end of January’ how many rooms they’ll start renting to traditional tourists.”
Steve Richer, the executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the next step to recovering is having meeting space available. Of the three casinos that will be open by this weekend, only the IP has meeting space, he said. Beau Rivage will also have convention and meeting space when it reopens. The reopening goal is Aug. 29, the one-year anniversary of the hurricane.
Richer is keeping his eyes on longer-term goals.
“Having three casino properties and other ones that are not casinos open within four months after the hurricane is a real achievement for the Mississippi Coast,” Richer said. “I think the plans being announced and the condo-hotels being approved indicate a lot of confidence in the market, investment-wise. Are things going to be better in five years? I think yes. We’re well on our way to being a major destination.”
Source: Sun Herald
Bill Kilduff stood at the top of the stairs leading to his hotel.
“I think it’s about time,” the Isle of Capri general manager said. “Let the good times roll.”
Those five words set off a wild celebration. The song “Celebrate” blared out of speakers. And almost 500 guests marched up the steps and headed toward the Isle’s new casino. Isle employees became cheerleaders. They welcomed back guests they hadn’t seen roaming their hallways since August 28.
“I’m glad to see all the people coming back to see us,” dealer Tom Pence said. “I tell you, it’s just one big family. Glad to have everybody back.”
Pence has been with the Isle for more than four years. Like many of his colleagues, he got hit hard by Katrina’s powerful punch.
“Personally, I’m living in half a house,” he said. “But we’re luckier than most.”
Luck seemed to be a common theme inside the newly designed land based casino. The dice didn’t always produce winners. But just the fact that the games were being played again meant nearly 1,000 storm victims could go back to work.
Dyrant Smith was one of those workers.
“It’s very important because then it gives us something to look forward to,” she said.
Donna Smigelski was just glad to have a job again.
“We’re getting paid, so that’s one good thing,” the housekeeper said. “And it’s good to see people having a good time after all what everyone has been through.”
To build its land based casino, the Isle gutted meeting rooms and turned them into gaming space. The Isle of Capri became the first resort to take advantage of a new, post-Katrina law that allows casino games up to 800 feet inland.
“I just wanted to congratulate the Isle, the Isle’s team for putting this together so quickly,” Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway told guests just before the noon grand opening.
It took less than three months for the Isle to turn the meeting rooms into the state’s first shore based casino.
See the video at:
Isle of Capri Opening – It is right under the article title with the tiny camera image next to it. The title says “Brad Kessie Talks To Isle Of Capri GM Bill Kilduff”
Source: WLOX
