In Biloxi, Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant Biloxi recently announced ground will be broken this spring on a new 250-room hotel, including 170 deluxe guest rooms and 80 suites. The project will be completed in spring 2015. Officials also announced the property will become one of the first resorts to offer time-share units.
Margaritaville President and Chief Executive Officer Doug Shipley said, “Margaritaville Biloxi will be making a considerable investment in creating a resort destination the likes of which Biloxi has never seen. The addition of time-shares to our hotel will attract a whole new type of customer—not one that’s not currently visiting the Biloxi area. It truly is an exciting opportunity for our city.”
Shipley added at the property the casino floor will be expanded and renovated and meeting space will be added, along with a resort-style pool and spa. A new buffet and steakhouse also will be offered. Additionally, the existing marina will be re-engineered to provide improved overnight docking, and a one-of-a-kind bayfront resort pool and pool bar with outdoor gaming will be added.
Also in Biloxi, the framework of the unfinished $700 million previously named Margaritaville resort will be demolished immediately and the Grand Biloxi Casino north of U.S. 90 will be renovated and renamed Harrah’s Gulf Coast, Jonathan Jones, general manager of Grand Biloxi Casino, recently told the Biloxi City Council. Construction of the casino stopped in 2008, a casualty of the recession.
Jones said following the demolition, Caesars Entertainment will build a boardwalk and entertainment lawn to host concerts and music festivals on the beach south of U.S. 90. Caesars Entertainment also will add three new restaurants and bars, redesign the casino floor and upgrade hotel rooms at the Grand Biloxi, which will be linked to the new boardwalk by crosswalks. All of the construction will be completed by spring, Jones said.
Among the new restaurants, one will be a fine dining opened by celebrity chef Kelly English, who grew up in Southern Louisiana and was named Best New Chef by Food & Wine Magazine.
Caesars Entertainment properties in New Orleans, Memphis and Atlanta also use the Harrah’s name.
In Gulfport, after three attempts, the Mississippi Gaming Commission has approved Rotate Black’s plans for a $112 million casino resort to be called Hemingway’s, with a theme based on the writer’s life. Work will begin on the project in April and be completed in summer 2015. Rotate Black Chief Executive Officer John Paulsen said the property will offer a 4-star, 205-room Hemingway Hotel, 35,000 square foot gaming floor, steakhouse, buffet and café and “over-the-top pool areas.” The resort will be built on privately owned land on the west side of Gulfport harbor.
Added Paulsen, “You know, we’ve been working on this project so long. It’s come together and it’s going to be wonderful for Gulfport. We’re really excited about it.”
In 2013, the gaming commission approved new rules, effective January 1, requiring all future Gulf Coast casino developers to increase investment and minimum square footage.
In Natchez, the city clerk recently reported gaming revenue increased by 64 percent, from $27.2 million to $44.6 million, between November 2011 to December 2013. The Isle of Capri Casino had been the sole casino in the market before Magnolia Bluffs Casino opened December 18, 2012. Natchez Mayor Butch Brown commented, “It appears the two casinos are sharing the market that exists, but the promotional activities on the parts of both casinos are beginning to attract more people to the area. Competition is good and competition is keen right now, and I think we will see some expansion, but the jury is out on how much that market will expand.”
Magnolia Bluffs Casino President Kevin Preston said the casino employs 219 people with a payroll of $6 million, and paid $499,709 in taxes to the city of Natchez. The casino pays $1 million in annual rent for a city-owned waterfront location on Roth Hill. The lease agreement also calls for the casino to pay $225,000 annually for community development and a one-time $1 million contribution for a YMCA, recreation center or civil rights museum. Preston added the casino will make two one-time $300,000 payments for a park along the Mississippi River and for the Natchez Trails project.
Isle of Capri spokeswoman Jill Alexander said the Isle has strong Natchez roots and remains committed to the market. “Our goal is to continue to provide the best gaming experience for our customers. We are also proud of our wonderful employees for their continued dedication in delivering the best gaming experience in Natchez. Moving forward Isle continues to evaluate our casino to determine how best to reinvest our capital dollars so we can maximize our operations and market position.”
