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Harrah’s Cherokee enlarges casino, adds leisure facilities
The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in Swain County, North Carolina, is getting a substantial $633m makeover.
The venue, owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will double the size of its casino floor as well as building 532 new hotel rooms, a 3000-seat events centre, and a spa.
New golf facilities, restaurants and retail outlets will complete the transformation of Harrah’s Cherokee, which opened in 1997.
David Londo, General Manager of the casino, said that “the goal is to expand the casino’s appeal beyond the 3.5m gamblers who now visit annually from Atlanta, Asheville, Charlotte, Knoxville and other cities”.
Among its targets will be the populous and affluent markets of the Triangle area about 300 miles to the east, such as Raleigh and Durham.
The Eastern Band managed to secure financing for the expansion in 2007 before credit became difficult to find.
Said Londo: “As long as [the economy] comes back in 2012, we’ll be fine. We’ve got a pretty conservative business model.”
