Casino resorts have become one of the hottest meetings destinations in recent years. Most properties offer everything attendees need right on-site, from food and entertainment to meeting space. As the destination niche develops, facilities are improving offerings to keep planners and attendees happy. We checked in with four prominent Midwest gaming properties to find out what’s in store.
Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Milwaukee
At Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, the staff can whip up a variety of packages and special events for planners, from themed nights to special entertainment.
“Our event and large-group business has come a long way over the last several years," said Hassan Abdel-Moneim, hotel director for the resort. "In that time, we’ve accommodated several 1,000-person events and hosted groups of 500 or more for multiday conferences.”
“Our flexibility of space and knowledge of our in-house AV staff make us easy to deal with and flexible to those last-minute changes. We have also seen growth in holiday parties with the economy’s rebound. Additionally, we’ve done a number of themed events and our in-house entertainment team has found quality entertainment options for our varied clientele.”
Value is also a key trend, according to Abdel-Moneim.
“One thing groups are always looking for is connectivity, and Potawatomi offers free Wi-Fi throughout the facility. In this same vein, meeting planners are interested in as much added value as possible,” he said. “In addition to the Wi-Fi, we offer free parking, great proximity to the airport and complimentary shuttle service to downtown amenities. They’re also interested in a comprehensive entertainment experience for their guests, and that is something we can definitely deliver on.”
He added that many groups enjoy having a private table game demonstration during their event, and that themes and decor are always popular with meetings groups.
Potawatomi has enhanced food and beverage offerings in the last year with two new restaurants, giving the property a total of seven eateries. Canal Street Cafe, which opened last summer, offers a traditional cafe menu and a focus on excellent comfort food. For authentic Italian cooking and an extensive wine list, attendees can enjoy Bella Italiana, which opened in December.
The gaming experience itself also received a recent upgrade at Potawatomi Casino: The latest technology in slot machines was installed on the slot floor, including machines with 3-D graphics.
River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa, Okla.
New thrills abound at River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, located on the shore of the Arkansas River. The resort just wrapped a massive construction boom earlier this year, transforming itself into a fresh, tropical-themed destination with something for every attendee.
New additions include a 27-story, 483-room hotel; a 2,500-seat entertainment venue; 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space in a new convention center; and a 50,000-square-foot Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant. Also new is the Resort Pool, which features riverside access and a LandShark swim-up bar.
But the facility’s latest opening is the new Emerge Spa, which features an expansive menu of services, from light therapy and facial peels to massage and warm stone treatments. A highlight of the menu is the assortment of body therapies, from a basic aromatherapy wrap to a coconut exfoliating and firming body treatment. The spa also offers waxing treatments and a salon for hair and nails.
With two casinos, six restaurants, several bars and lounges, plus the new Paradise Cove theater, River Spirit is betting that a tropical seaside experience will be a hot ticket for Midwest groups, and a nice twist on Oklahoma’s natural beauty and numerous lake and river destinations.
Another selling point for groups is the placement of the convention center itself. Instead of building a separate facility, River Spirit constructed the center on the third floor of the hotel tower, making it convenient for attendees and planners alike with direct access from the hotel or the casino floor. The 14,600-square-foot ballroom can accommodate up to 1,200 guests, and across from the ballroom are six meeting rooms and five boardrooms. If a planner would prefer an outdoor event, they can utilize a 36,000-square-foot green outdoor space overlooking the river, perfect for a reception or sunset banquet.
Firekeepers Casino Hotel, Battle Creek, Mich.
Change is in the air at Firekeepers Casino Hotel, not only for groups, but for the common good as well. The property has been on a renovation streak within the last year, replacing its former Dacey’s Sports Bar with Dacey’s Taphouse, a new restaurant and bar that focuses on the brew pub phenomenon. The new restaurant continues the theme by serving many Michigan-made beers on tap, such as Arcadia Ales, in addition to nationally known brands.
Another enhancement that was completed within the last year was a renovation to Cafe 24/7, one of the property’s original eateries from its 2009 opening.
The latest new project, however, is sure to turn some heads. The casino opened a new restaurant this April in downtown. The Fire Hub is located in a renovated, historic firehouse and offers an upscale yet wallet-friendly menu of fresh-baked goods, soup, sandwiches, salads, pizza and dessert creations. Eighty percent of the eatery’s profits will go to local charities, and the building also contains the adjacent Kendall Street Food Pantry, which will help those in need. The casino’s owner, the Potawatomi tribe, is also setting aside an area of tribal land to grow vegetables, which will then be used in free salad bars in area schools to combat childhood hunger.
Although the casino’s community support is an excellent reason to spend money at the facility, Firekeepers also provides plenty of on-site amenities for groups, from nine eateries and a banquet kitchen to more than 20,000 square feet of meeting room space and top acts in the casino event center such as Olivia Newton-John and comedian Tim Allen.
Choctaw Casino Resort, Durant, Okla.
Just an hour away from Dallas is Choctaw Casino Resort, one of eight casino properties owned by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The resort recently finished the 286-room luxury Spa Tower, one of two hotel towers on-site.
Located in its namesake tower are the casino’s new spa amenities, from the main spa, which features a full menu that includes luxury packages like the Rain Shower Cascade and Date Night Glam, or Princess for a Day, which includes a body treatment, a facial, a VIP room and a tiara to make the day special. Also included in the spa facilities are a fitness center, steam and whirlpool rooms, and a reflection pool to add a touch of inner peace to any spa day.
In addition to the new Spa Tower and existing Choctaw Grand Tower, the resort also offers two other lodging facilities, entertainment in the Grand Theater, the Choctaw Event Center and a Gilley’s, plus a number of other restaurants and bars.
