2017 marks the 20-year anniversary for one of Western North Carolina’s largest employers, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. What began as a modest, video games-only casino has transformed into a modern resort complex featuring traditional slots and table games with a wide range of amenities including the largest hotel in the Carolinas.
Since opening, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has distributed over $1.3 billion in wages in addition to competitive benefits packages for its employees. In 2016 alone, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort paid $56 million for products and services from vendors across Western North Carolina. Beyond that, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has been committed to helping non-profits in the region, providing over $5.2 million in grants and services since its opening. Harrah’s Cherokee employees take great pride in helping their communities become a better place. Since 2006, employees have donated over 200,000 hours of community service.
Throughout 2017, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort will be celebrating their anniversary with promotions culminating in the 20th Anniversary of the grand opening in November.
Perhaps the biggest announcement of 2017 is the announcement of a property expansion that includes a convention center and fourth hotel tower that was recently approved by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Tribal Council. The project is expected to include approximately 100K square feet of convention meeting space, 600 to 800 hotel rooms, and a new parking deck, substantially increasing the resort’s total convention meeting and hotel room inventory, solidifying Harrah’s Cherokee as the largest hotel resort in North Carolina.
“We are excited to add yet another amenity to the Harrah’s Cherokee brand and be able to offer accommodations and meeting space to the strong convention sales business that has taken root in North Carolina,”said Brooks Robinson, Regional Senior VP & General Manager of Harrah’s Cherokee. “The addition of hotel rooms will also allow us to accommodate destination and leisure travelers as well, increasing tourism dollars to the Qualla Boundary and Western North Carolina. This project will employ numerous construction workers and ultimately allow us to continue to grow our employee base at Harrah’s Cherokee.”
The project will be constructed on the property of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, which is currently undergoing construction for its bowling and entertainment complex, set to open in late 2017.
HARRAH’S CHEROKEE TIMELINES
1997 – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino opens on November 13, 1997, to a crowd of thousands
2002 – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino officially opens a 16-story hotel and the gaming floor expansion to 80,000 square feet
2005 – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel opens the 16-story, hotel Tower II
2008 – $650 million expansion is approved by Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council for a 21-story hotel tower (Tower III), additional food venues, retail space, spa, parking garages, central energy plant, and new entertainment venue.
2009 – Alcohol sales begin at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel
2010 – Harrah’s Cherokee opens Tower III, expanding its room count to 1,108
2012 – Traditional card games are introduced with live cards and dice.
2012 – The Resort expansion is completed and property name changes to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
2013 – Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, the Resort’s sister property, breaks ground in Murphy, NC
2014 – The Pools open at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, providing both indoor and outdoor pools, a bar and cabana service
2015 – Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel opens September 28.
2016 – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort breaks ground on the Bowling Entertainment Center Complex
ABOUT Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
An enterprise of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. The Casino has 150,000 square feet of gaming space, and offers traditional table games such as black jack, roulette and craps. The property also features over 1,100 hotel rooms, the Le Fu Men gaming area, 10 restaurants, the ESSENCE Lounge, the luxurious 18,000 square feet Mandara Spa and seven retail shops. In addition to the 56-acre property, guests have privileged access to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation-owned Sequoyah National Golf Club.
ABOUT Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel
An enterprise of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is located near Murphy, North Carolina. The Cherokee County, NC facility features 50,000 square feet of gaming space with over 1,000 slot games and 70 traditional table games, The Food Market and a 300-room, full service hotel.
