Take the recent Phase 5 expansion of Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, Michigan. The multi-year, multimillion-dollar project added a 16-story hotel, a spa, new dining options, and the star of the show: a six-story glass atrium called the Wawyé Oasis.
The Oasis features three pools that serve multiple client groups at once: families in one area, adults and VIPs in another. After dark, it transitions to a club or concert hall, and can also serve as a party venue, meeting space or wedding chapel. The development was a risk-reward proposition for the Gun Lake Tribe, which sought to turn a locals casino into a regional draw. Designers and tribal leaders insisted the Oasis make use of every square foot in every available hour.
That’s innovation with a purpose. And that’s the theme of this edition of Casino Style.
On Page 18, industry veteran Andrew Klebanow identifies global markets still ripe for development, including potential blockbusters like the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Brazil.
RevPAR has long been the measure of hotel performance, calibrating room revenue against occupancy. But there may be better ways to gauge success—and create the conditions to support it. Read Conor Reynolds’ story on Page 26.
Are you cautious about investing in an uncertain economy? Turn to Page 28 for Jess Marquez’ story on ways to plan and execute thoughtful upgrades, even in turbulent times.
Murphy’s Law was named for Edward Murphy, a World War II aerospace engineer who studied the effects of G-forces on pilot safety. Ed’s axiom reminds businesspeople that they must anticipate trouble to prevent or mitigate it. On Page 32, engineers Lesley Duffy and Shaun Walters explain how protective and seismic design bolster structural integrity. Because, as everybody knows, “Anything that can go wrong, will.”
When it comes to design and hospitality, there may be no happier union than that of WATG and SOSH. When the two firms joined forces last year, they created a powerhouse that redefines the term “full service.” See Roger Gros’ profile on Page 36.
On Page 16, Dike Bacon of the Fremont-Wright Collaborative talks with industry leaders about a new category of “super-regional resorts,” which use luxury hotels, high-end F&B, indoor-outdoor pools and other amenities to boost visitation and guest revenue.
Do you have an appetite for construction? See our Building Excitement lineup for inspiration.
As always, we welcome your input, and hope you enjoy reading this issue of Casino Style.
