Officials of the Encore Boston Harbor last week shared their plans for attracting 8 million visitors to the $2.6 billion casino to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The casino is scheduled to open June 23.
Casino President Robert DeSalvio told commissioners during an hour-long presentation, “how we invite the world to visit Massachusetts.”
Danielle Ashurst, who directs travel industry sales at the casino noted that the worldwide network Wynn has created in properties stretching from Asia to Las Vegas includes more than 10 million guests. “We’re able to market to them as often as we like and our newest property has been very palatable to the guests that have enjoyed our properties in Las Vegas and Macao,” she said.
The casino plans to offer guests “familiarization tours” for international influencers and travel professionals to introduce them to the Boston metro area—with the goal of increasing tourism to the Bay State. It also plans an advertising campaign in nearby states where it hopes to draw customers. It considers its local market to include New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Maryland. But it is also aggressively marketing to California, Canada, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.
The casino is almost unique in combining a five-star luxury resort with a major American city outside of Las Vegas.
The casino has purchased $125,000 in gift certificates from top restaurants in the immediate area that it will be awarding to guests and partnered with farmers and breweries.
It also has relationships with the Boston Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and New England Patriots to provide a VIP experience for its patrons. It’s also a member of most area chambers of commerce.
Joan Esneault, executive director of hotel sales and catering at Encore Boston Harbor told commissioners, “Even though there’s a lot to do at the resort, they’re also going to explore Boston and the region, and we encourage that. We understand the importance of supporting the local businesses and having the guest to experience and explore all of those businesses.”
Parking PR Problem
Meanwhile, the casino, which has had a public relations problem for many months, didn’t improve its image when it leased 700 parking spaces from a private parking garage for its employees, leaving hundreds of commuters high and dry with less than 30 days’ notice to find alternative places to park. It Is also negotiating with other parking operators for another 100 spaces, according to the Boston Herald.
One of the commuters that will be affected, a 25-year old commuter, showed up at the Station Landing Garage owned by Pilgrim Parking and was met with signs saying that her $105 monthly parking passes won’t be good after the first of July. She told the Herald, “It kind of leaves me stranded. I am still looking forward to the casino, but it’s going to add traffic and frustration to my commute.”
An Everett resident who is a legal assistant called the move “a low blow, and told the Herald, “I was supportive of the casino. Now I’m angry. This is not fair to commuters. How else are we going to get to the trains? It would have been nice for them to give notice to residents of surrounding cities. Now I’ll have to leave my car at home and take a bus and a train.”
Michael Weaver, a spokesman for Wynn Resorts, told the Herald, “The decision by the private company to not allow monthly parking is their decision,” adding “That’s their business decision. We are fulfilling the requirement we had to obtain, 800 parking spaces exclusively for employees.”
The Herald using a public records request obtained documents that Wynn submitted to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission that said, “As the project has progressed, it was determined that there was not sufficient availability of parking in Malden Center, so Encore Boston Harbor focused its efforts on securing parking near the Wellington MBTA Station. Encore has secured 400 parking spaces in the parking garage at Station Landing, and is negotiating with the owner for additional spaces. This garage has direct pedestrian access to the Wellington MBTA station.”
Medford Mayor Stephanie Burke and Rep. Paul Donato, whose district includes Medford, issued a joint statement: “We are very disheartened that Pilgrim, a private entity, decided to inform their monthly parking pass holders less than 30 days in advance that they will no longer offer monthly passes.”
The mayor said she had been told that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (called the “T” by local residents) had enough spaces to accommodate those who would be using mass transit “and Pilgrim is indicating that there is more than enough parking spaces to accommodate anyone who wants to use the garage. The only difference they’re saying is going to happen is instead of a monthly rate it’s going to be a daily rate.”
Everett City Councilor Mike McLaughlin criticized the Encore “for its more aggressive approach to the community with current customers.” The councilor added. “I think that the state should take this as a serious concern and try to work with the owner of that lot, try to work as hard as everyone can to try to find suitable parking for those individuals so that their lives are not negatively impacted.”
Even Governor Charlie Baker weighed in, suggesting other parking garages in the Wellington Station area that commuters might use instead.
The MBTA told the Herald that it has plenty of parking spaces daily which commuters can access for a monthly pass that costs $160.
MGM Springfield
There have been calls for the MGM Springfield casino advisory committee to hold its first meeting. The city of Springfield created the 11-member advisory group earlier this year, as was mandated by the city’s casino host agreement with MGM Springfield. Many say it’s “overdue” to meet.
Council members are urging Mayor Domenic J. Sarno to convene the panel.
The $960 million casino opened last August.
A candidate for city council commented, “If not for the sake of honoring the host agreement, we need to act for the residents to give them a voice at the table. This is their city.”
The panel is supposed to meet four times a year for the first year the casino is open and biannually thereafter. According to the agreement, the committee ““may make non-binding recommendations to the Developer and the City concerning matters involving the Project which directly impact the City and its residents.”
