Wiggins native moves up at Penn
BILOXI – Chett Harrison, a native of Wiggins, is the new general manager at Boomtown Biloxi.
He replaces Pat Murphy, who recently announced his retirement but will continue to work for Boomtown as a consultant.
“A lot of people have always said that most of the people in this industry in management positions come in from other locations,” Harrison said. “I don’t think that’s the case any more. Most of the people in this hallway with me are local people who are directors. We’ve learned this industry and learned how to navigate through it. I think you will see a lot of people from the Gulf Coast starting to move up in even higher positions.”
Harrison, 39, has more than 13 years of experience in casinos. In August, he became Boomtown’s assistant general manager after having served as director of marketing since January 2001. He previously worked in the same role for the Palace Casino. He began his career at the Copa Casino.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” he said. “Early on, I got the opportunity to be around some great people in this industry, who somehow saw something in me and allowed me to grow and prosper in the beginning. The work ethic that was bestowed upon me from my parents and my family, just being from Wiggins, I kind of concentrated a little harder and worked a little harder. You don’t ever make it to this point without the support of people around you. I’ve had some great people around me, Pat being the primary one.”
Leonard M. DeAngelo, executive vice president of operations for Boomtown’s parent company, Penn National Gaming, praised Murphy for his leadership. Murphy assisted with the opening of Boomtown in 1994 and served as general manager for the last 4½ years.
“Having worked at Boomtown for six years and directly with Pat for five, Chett understands the property, the Biloxi market and our customers and is ideally qualified to assume the position of GM at Boomtown Biloxi,” DeAngelo said.
Penn National, which also owns Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis, operates 16 properties in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ontario.
Source: By TOM WILEMON
BILOXI, Mississippi – (PRESS RELEASE) — Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISLE) announced today final construction plans for the Isle of Capri Biloxi Casino Resort.
The more than $180 million construction project will be largely funded by insurance proceeds associated with Hurricane Katrina. The project includes a land-based casino with approximately 2,100 slot machines, 50 table games, a new poker room, rebuilding the Company’s signature steakhouse, Farraddays’, as well as an expanded tropical-themed buffet, plus one other restaurant yet to be named.
Approximately 45,000 square feet of convention space that is currently serving as gaming space will be restored to its original use. In addition, the casino entryway will be renovated to allow guests easier access.
When complete, this project will return the Isle of Capri Biloxi Casino Resort to the planned pre-Katrina levels. The Biloxi property also includes 731 hotel rooms, a European Spa, infinity pool and waterfall which opened to the public last summer.
“The Mississippi Coast continues to work toward a complete restoration and Isle of Capri is actively participating in the continued evolution of the region. We have worked closely with our insurance carriers, as well as the City of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gaming Commission, throughout the past year to return our property to pre-Katrina levels. I am proud of the work we have done thus far and I am quite sure that our guests and the community will enjoy everything the Isle of Capri offers when this project is completed,” Tim Hinkley, president and chief operating officer, said.
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., a leading developer and owner of gaming and entertainment facilities, operates 13 casinos in 11 locations. The company owns and operates riverboat and dockside casinos in Biloxi, Lula and Natchez, Mississippi; Lake Charles (2 riverboats), Louisiana; Bettendorf, Davenport and Marquette, Iowa; and Kansas City and Boonville, Missouri. The company also owns a 57 percent interest in and operates land-based casinos in Black Hawk (two casinos), Colorado. Isle of Capri’s international gaming interests include a casino that it operates in Freeport, Grand Bahama and a two-thirds ownership interest in casinos in Dudley and Wolverhampton, England. The company also owns and operates Pompano Park Harness Racing Track in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Source: Casino City Times
BILOXI – Palace doubling table games, adding amenities
The Palace Casino will start construction this summer on a 20,000-square-foot expansion so it can double the number of table games, bring in new slot machines, add an entertainment venue and increase restaurant offerings.
The Palace, a boutique casino before Hurricane Katrina, reopened with fewer amenities after the storm. With its casino barge destroyed, the Palace moved its gambling space into the lobby of its hotel when it became the third casino to be back in business in December 2005. Cafes and gifts shops were also lost to make room for the gambling floor.
Now casino owner Robert Low wants to reestablish the Palace’s quality brand.
“Our owner, Robert Low, has great confidence in the market and Biloxi,” said Keith Crosby, the casino’s general manager. “All our associates are anxious to get started as soon as possible.”
The two-story expansion will include a centrally located poker bar and entertainment stage, an upscale cocktail lounge, 14 additional table games and a high limit slot and table salon. With the expansion, the casino will have a total of 1,100 slots.
The Palace Cafe and Bakery will return. Live cooking stations will be added to the Palace Buffet.
“This will put us extremely close to where we were pre-storm,” Crosby said.
Although exact numbers have yet to be determined, 30 to 50 jobs should be created with the expansion.
Low has already invested in The Preserve, a new golf course in Jackson County affiliated with the casino.
The casino also plans to have storm debris removed within 30 days and have its marina back in service by this summer. Its hotel was one of only two on the Coast to receive a four-diamond rating from the American Automobile Association. The other hotel that received the rating is Beau Rivage.
The Palace, one of three casinos on Point Cadet, employs about 525 people.
Source: Sun Herald – TOM WILEMON
