Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel broke ground on a new 532-room tower that will make the property the largest hotel in the state, The Knoxville News Sentinel [Tenn.] reported.
The $633 million project is the third hotel expansion at the resort since 2002. The latest addition, which is expected to be completed next year, will bring the property’s total room count to more than 1,100, including 78 new suites. The project will include a new hotel entrance and lobby. The former entrance area will be turned into a 16,000-square-foot spa that is forecast to open in 2012.
Additionally, the casino will be renovated, nearly doubling the size of its floor to 150,000 square feet. Six new retail shops and six new restaurants also will be added. Construction on a 3,000-seat event center is also planned.
