Tribal Cooperation
ILANI CASINO RESORT , SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
IT ’ S BEEN DECADES SINCE THE COWLITZ
Indian tribe of Washington state declared it wanted to build a casino in the southwestern part of the state near Portland , Oregon . Opponents sprang up , ranging from the state to private citizens to surrounding tribes . Despite the challenges , construction began in 2015 , and in April 2017 , the U . S . Supreme Court cleared the way for the ilani Casino Resort to open .
The project was made possible by a partnership with the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority , which funded construction and manages the property .
“ This is the culmination of a pledge to the Cowlitz Indian tribe by the MTGA , and it represents an enormous accomplishment by the dedicated teams of both organizations and all our talented construction partners ,” says Mitchell Grossinger Etess , chief executive officer for MTGA .
Mohegan tribal member Kara Fox-LaRose is the president and general manager of ilani .
“ In addition to a variety of gaming and entertainment options , we ’ ve assembled a fine collection of restaurants , bars and retail establishments to provide a fabulous experience for our guests at every turn ,” she says .
While there ’ s no hotel at this time , the resort offers 15 restaurants and bars , including Michael Jordan ’ s Steak House for elevated comfort food ; Rose & Thorn , serving handcrafted cocktails and upscale international street food ; Longhouse , a raw bar , sushi and noodle shop ; Line & Lure Seafood Kitchen and Tap , showcasing the best from local waters ; and many others .
Shoppers can have a day away at ilani as well . Select retailers include Marshall Rousso women ’ s fashions , from casual to evening wear ; and Ruby Blue for accessories , handbags , jewelry and gift items . The Cowlitz Trading Post stocks ilani merchandise , gaming gifts and an assortment of other items .
Designed by the Friedmutter Group , ilani incorporates high-quality aesthetics and Pacific
Northwest elements — including plentiful wood , stone and glass — while ensuring stunning views .
Gamblers will feel right at home at ilani inside 100,000 square feet of gaming space with 2,500 slots and 75 gaming tables .
— Patrick Roberts
OWNER : Cowlitz Indian Tribe ARCHITECT : Friedmutter Group DEVELOPER / MANAGER : Salishan-Mohegan LLC CASINO FLOOR : 100,000 sq . ft . INVESTMENT : $ 510 million
New Horizons
PECHANGA RESORT & CASINO TEMECULA , CALIFORNIA
THE $ 285 MILLION RENOVATION OF
Pechanga Resort & Casino is a meaningful development for the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians , who operate the property on their tribal reservation in Temecula , California .
The comprehensive overhaul was undertaken for good reason : the resort , which opened in 2002 , is consistently 100 percent occupied with a lengthy waiting list , and even in slow months is forced to turn away thousands of would-be guests .
The expansion will add a 568- room , AAA four-diamond hotel tower ; a 23,000-square-foot , twostory standalone spa ; a 4.5-acre family-friendly pool area ; a 67,000-square-foot convention and event center ; and two new food and beverage outlets , including a poolside bar and grill , among other amenities . The property ’ s fivelevel , 2,400-space “ intelligent ” garage , complete with way-finders and charging stations , opened in April .
The impressive upgrade will enable the tribe to keep pace with its many competitors in Southern California ; by the end of 2017 ,
the expanded resort will offer more than 1,000 rooms , making this the largest hotel in the Golden State .
The additions could mean a total economic benefit to the region of about $ 550 million , and will also add some 750 new jobs . “ This is great news for Riverside County ,” says Carrie
Harmon , deputy director of Riverside County ’ s Workforce Development Division . “ This announcement demonstrates Pechanga Resort & Casino ’ s presence as a large-scale employer and an economic driver for the Southwest region .”
The Pechanga have also introduced a new , digital-friendly logo : the letter “ P ” with a sleek , stylized feather silhouette . “ This new logo is modern , elegant , and captures the essence of Pechanga Resort & Casino : laid back luxury ,” says Edith Atwood , president of the Pechanga Development Corp . “ This new look and feel is all about positioning Pechanga Resort & Casino for the future .” — Ed Healy
OWNER-OPERATOR : Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians
ARCHITECT : Delawie LOGO / BRANDING DESIGN : Troika INVESTMENT : $ 285 million
2017 CASINO STYLE l 11