SALAMANCA, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2011 -- Strengthening their position as the premier gaming operator in the Western New York region, Seneca Gaming Corporation announced that it plans to build a new hotel tower at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca. The project was recently approved by separate votes of the company's Board of Directors and the Seneca Nation of Indians Council.

Seneca Gaming Corporation is planning a $53 million project that will add approximately 200 hotel rooms at the gaming and entertainment resort, essentially doubling the number of hotel rooms available for patrons. The current 212-room hotel tower opened in 2007 and has received a Four Diamond rating for service and quality from AAA in each of the past four years.

"The ability to offer additional hotel capacity will help strengthen our position in the marketplace and further establish Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel as a true destination resort," said Karen Karsten, Chairman of the Seneca Gaming Corporation Board of Directors. "As we continue to expand our reach, strengthen our marketing programs and work with other tourism leaders in the Southern Tier, we need to offer our patrons the complete experience they have come to expect from Seneca Gaming Corporation."

In addition to its current 212-room hotel tower, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel offers patrons the complete gaming resort experience. The property features 68,300 square feet of world-class gaming space with more than 2,000 slot machines and 30 table games, outstanding entertainment in the 2,300-seat Seneca Event Center, a full-service spa and salon, an indoor swimming pool, four exquisite dining destinations and multiple retail outlets.

"We are proud that our Nation's Allegany Territory is home to the premier gaming destination resort in the region and the destination of choice for millions of visitors each year," added Robert Odawi Porter, President of the Seneca Nation of Indians. "Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is a symbol of quality and stands as a testament to the Seneca Nation's entrepreneurial success and our bright economic future. The new hotel tower is the start of an exciting new chapter for the property and the latest milestone in our efforts to achieve true financial sovereignty for the Seneca people."

The hotel at Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel has been a particularly strong performer. According to Seneca Gaming Corporation officials, occupancy rates are above 95 percent for the past nine months. More than 1.5 million people have visited the resort so far this year, including significant numbers from Pennsylvania and Ohio.

"Logistically, we simply cannot meet the demand for on-site hotel accommodations, particularly during peak times and for concerts and special events, creating scenarios where guests seeking hotel rooms were turned away," said Gus Tsivikis, General Manager, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel. "In today's gaming market, patrons are looking for getaway opportunities that are not only convenient, but that also stand out in their quality, comfort, service and excitement. All of the right factors are in place for this project to succeed."

Located in the foothills of the Allegany Mountains, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is minutes away from nearby Ellicottville, New York and a focal point for the area's growing tourism economy.

"Not only will the new tower improve the hotel, it also will create dozens of new jobs during its construction, with even more long term jobs available once it is completed. The expansion also means even more visitors will spend their tourism dollars that are enormously important to our region's economic well-being. I appreciate the Seneca Nation's continued investment in the local economy and wish them success as this exciting new project progresses," said New York State Senator Catharine Young.

With the Seneca Allegany project, Seneca Gaming Corporation will have significant capital projects in either the planning or development stage at all three of its casino properties. In recent weeks, the company and the Seneca Nation have begun a hotel room renovation project at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls and are reviewing proposals from interested architectural and engineering firms for the design of a new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in downtown Buffalo.

Since opening Seneca Niagara Casino in 2002, Seneca Gaming Corporation has grown to employ more than 3,700 people. Seneca Gaming Corporation operates world-class facilities offering more than 6,500 slot machines, 140 table games, 800 hotel rooms, a championship golf course and other related amenities.

For more information, visit www.senecacasinos.com