 |
|
News for the Hospitality Executive |
|
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Open
the $80 million Turtle Creek Casino and 7-story, 137
room Hotel
Near Traverce City, Michigan
 Williamsburg,
Mich., June 28, 2008 -- The all new, 360,000-square foot Turtle Creek Casino
& Hotel near Traverse City, MI that opened June 17, 2008 is a stunning
modern architectural structure. It was designed to appeal to the
senses as it evokes the natural environs with facilities and service that
bring casino gaming in Northern Michigan to an entirely new level of convenience
and comfort.
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, who own and operate the new Casino & Hotel, financed $80 million to construct the unique facility. The Tribe made a deliberate decision to create a striking modern design with many organic and eco-friendly elements. The building appears to rise from the earth with a Green Roof, a rarity in casino design. The exterior features metal panels painted "Turtle Creek brown," plus brushed and polished stainless steel panels that reflect the sky and surrounding landscape. The exterior of the Casino entrance features a Plaza framed by two large reflecting pools with streambed-like cobblestone bottoms. The Plaza is graced by 12 Champion Norway Maple trees and plantings that recall the forests and fields of Northern Michigan. Two massive waterwalls and a stunning glass and steel porte cochere are illuminated with LED lighting that captures and contrasts seasonal qualities of the year. The outdoor and indoor lighting presents those changing qualities with cool blues, spring greens, warm reds, and harvest yellows that slowly shift to present a constantly engaging experience. Entering the barrier-free Casino, one cannot help but be amazed by how bright, open and airy it feels. The 50-foot high sloping ceilings are white, as are the walls. A massive central 30-foot tall multi-colored waterwall framed by two escalators leads your eyes to upper floors where the Mid-Level Bar, Level 3 Lounge, Coffee Spoon, Ballroom, Native American Cultural Display, and the 137-room Hotel are located. A state-of-the-art air handling system brings fresh air into the complex through vents in the floor with air exiting through the ceiling, keeping the atmosphere always-fresh throughout the entire facility. Fresh air is complemented by natural light. A massive skylight, over a football-field in length, bisects the entire structure from north to south, visually uniting the Casino and Hotel and allowing natural light to penetrate from ceiling to floor, a unique feature for any casino. The natural light reduces the energy used for lighting on the floor by nearly 50 percent. All of the electrical lights are LEDs, reducing energy consumption. Recessed LED lights behind massive horizontal panels and in the ceiling reflect the changing colors of the seasons. To the right and to the left are the 54,000-square foot Gaming Floor with a welcoming openness that, again, is unique. Simple, yet elegant signs for special spaces including Coat Check, Players Club, Cashier, Poker Room, High Stakes, as well as Seasons Buffet, The Deli, and Bourbons 72 restaurants are easily visible from the floor. In addition, complimentary self-serve soft drink center makes Coca-Cola beverages available to guests. Both sides of the floor have a central 20-foot tall "Tower of Power." Each is a full-service bar with 16 large video screens that can be seen from anywhere on the floor. The Towers of Power are surrounded by 1,300 slot machines and over 40 table games. Slot machines, lighting and the Towers of Power are technologically interconnected, so when someone hits a jackpot, the video screens on the Towers of Power can come alive with a fireworks display and images of cash raining down to celebrate the win. The slot machines, all ticket-in-ticket-out (TITO) in design, reduce by almost half the needed electricity for slots, another eco-friendly feature. Plus, guests say they truly appreciate the cleanliness and convenience of TITO slots. Chairs for the slots and table games were carefully chosen for ergonomic comfort. The entire facility is as visually engaging as it is comfortable. The tile-work and granite counters in special spaces including restaurants and restrooms beckon to you to touch. In Bourbons 72, the floor-level steakhouse, multi-color LED lighting continues in a room-length chandelier filled with large crystals that glimmer and glisten. Finally, the rooms in the Hotel all feature plush top mattresses, flat screen televisions, and high-speed Internet access. For greater comfort, choose a Junior Suite, Deluxe Suite, or Hospitality Suite. Several rooms have barrier free design with zero-threshold showers. Comfort, architectural appeal, and eco-friendly features are the hallmarks of the new Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel. Come visit us soon. Call 800-922-2WIN or go to www.casino2win.com . About Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos is the Economic Development Corporation of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, which owns and operates Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown and Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg. The Grand Traverse Band has been in the casino gaming business since 1984, and owns and operates other economic development ventures including Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, four miles west of Turtle Creek Casino. In addition, the Tribe also owns and operates one hotel, several restaurants, a conference center, and a convenience store. For more information about Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos, visit
www.casino2win.com .
|
| Contact:
J. Michael DeAgostino
|
| Also See: | Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Building $80 million Casino Resort Near Traverse City, Michigan / September 2006 |
|
|