L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Opens to
Enthusiastic Crowds and Record Loyalty Club Memberships;
Lauded as Big Win for Baton Rouge Economy
September 1st was Proclaimed L'Auberge Baton Rouge Day
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:PNK) opened L'Auberge Casino & Hotel
Baton Rouge to robust crowds on Saturday, September 1st. Enthusiastic
guests began lining up to be the first to experience L'Auberge hours
before the 2pm CDT opening. More than 18,000 excited guests streamed in
the doors throughout the weekend leading to record new memberships for
Pinnacle's mychoice loyalty program. The L'Auberge culinary team served
more than 8,000 meals throughout opening weekend, showcasing the
flavors of Louisiana and its rich cultural history in 18 STEAK, Stadium
Sports Bar & Grill, Bon Temps Buffet and more.
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Melvin 'Kip' Holden proclaimed September
1st as L'Auberge Baton Rouge Day in an official proclamation presented
during Saturday's opening ceremony. Mayor Holden said, "Pinnacle
Entertainment chose to make this significant investment in East Baton
Rouge Parish and we look forward to working with them and their
employees as they become another great asset in promoting our city as a
great place to live and visit."
The economic impact of L'Auberge will be immediate with more than 1,000
new jobs created and anticipated annual tax impact of more than $50
million. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu said, "The opening of Pinnacle's
fourth statewide location is exciting news for Baton Rouge and all of
Louisiana." She adds, "Pinnacle has a strong record as a good community
partner in this state. They have contributed millions to local
charities, created thousands of permanent jobs and made strong
investments in our economy. I welcome the arrival of L'Auberge Baton
Rouge and thank Pinnacle for their continued commitment and support to
the people of Louisiana."
Louisiana Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, whose office oversees tourism in
the State, voiced his support for the region's newest tourism
destination. Dardenne said, "With the opening of L'Auberge comes more
than 1,000 new hospitality jobs for Louisiana. We are happy to have
L'Auberge as part of Louisiana's already burgeoning lodging and
entertainment landscape." Pinnacle Entertainment now employs more than
5,000 team members statewide and has more than one billion dollars
invested in Louisiana.
L'Auberge Baton Rouge provides a best-in-market casino entertainment
complex featuring an expansive single-level, 74,000 square foot casino;
nearly 1,500 slot machines; 50 table games, including a poker room; a
12-story hotel with 205 guest rooms and a rooftop pool; four dining
outlets; a unique casino entertainment lounge with breathtaking views
of the Mississippi River; 2,400 total parking spaces, including 800 in
a covered parking garage; a multi-purpose event center with concert
seating for over 1,500 people or banquet seating for up to 800 people;
and outdoor festival grounds with capacity for up to 2,500.
A complete project fact sheet can be found at www.mylauberge.com;
information on Pinnacle's guest loyalty program is online at
www.pinnaclemychoice.com.
About Pinnacle Entertainment
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates seven casinos, located
in Louisiana, Missouri, and Indiana, and a racetrack in Ohio. In
addition, Pinnacle holds a 26% ownership stake in Asian Coast
Development (Canada) Ltd. (ACDL), an international development and real
estate company currently developing Vietnam's first large-scale
integrated resort on the Ho Tram Strip.
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the ticker symbol PNK. To learn more about Pinnacle
Entertainment, please visit www.pnkinc.com.
The Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13121
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements included in this press release, other than historical
information or statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These
forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the future
annual tax impact and the potential job creation as a result of
L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge, are based on management's current
expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in
circumstances that could significantly affect future results.
Accordingly, Pinnacle cautions that the forward-looking statements
contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such
statements. For more information on the potential factors that could
affect Pinnacle's business and financial results, review Pinnacle's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"),
including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
L'Auberge is a registered trademark of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. All
rights reserved
____________________________________________________________
Now Open: Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Azerbaijan. Experience one of the world’s most exciting cities, Four Seasons-style. Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Azerbaijan
77/79 Neftchilar Avenue, Baku, Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan AZ1095 Baku, Azerbaijan – September 4, 2012 Now Open: Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Azerbaijan. Experience one of the world’s most exciting cities, Four Seasons-style..jpg)
Where do you want to go next? For many, the answer this year will undoubtedly be Baku. As football fans worldwide look forward to the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the fall, and the country’s first Four Seasons now welcoming guests, the capital of Azerbaijan is now clearly marked on the world map. What was once a well-kept secret among oil industry executives who did business in the region in the past century is now attracting the interest of a much broader range of travellers. With its recent hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest, rich cultural history and vibrant arts scene, designer shopping, developing wine industry, ever-changing skyline and pulsing nightlife, as well as the business opportunities that continue to emerge in the country’s post-Soviet era, people from all over the world are now making their way to the city by the Caspian Sea. “This is an incredibly exciting time for Baku. The city is changing almost daily now, and we are right in the middle of it all,” says Four Seasons General Manager Tarek Mourad, predicting that “this may be the year people finally stop asking, ‘where is Baku?’” More Reasons to Visit Baku Now Pinar Suer, lead concierge at the new Four Seasons Hotel Baku notes that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will also feature concerts by American pop diva Jennifer Lopez to open the competition, and megastar Shakira as part of the official closing. R&B queen Rihanna is also set to perform in Baku this fall. Another event in the city this year recommended by Suer is the opening of the acclaimed Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is set to open its new building – shaped like a giant rolled carpet – on the waterfront by the end of the year. As for the city’s infamous club scene – named by Lonely Planet as one of the top ten Ultimate Party Cities - the concierge team can help guests navigate the velvet ropes, identifying the best clubs on the best nights. The charming Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located adjacent to Four Seasons, offers centuries of architecture, including the famous Maiden Tower and Shirvanshah's Palace. Further afield, archaeological and cultural tours can be arranged to the Baku Ateshgah (the Fire Temple), Gobustan National Park with its petroglyphs and mud volcanoes, the 14th century Mardakan Quadrangular Castle in Gala, the fire-emitting mountain at Yanar Dag and many other unique sites. Have You Tried the Local Merlot? For food and wine lovers, Azerbaijan represents a new frontier of sorts. “Gourmands already know that the best saffron and caviar comes from this region, and now oenophiles are starting to take interest in our homegrown wine industry,” says Mustafa Suer, director of food and beverage, noting that the Hotel’s restaurants and bars will all feature Azeri wines, along with the best international selections. “Executive Chef Marco Bax and his culinary team promise to celebrate the local bounty and traditions, while bringing in the finest ingredients and new ideas from around the world for our local and international guests.” The reservations books are now open at the highly-anticipated top floor Kaspia restaurant and its adjacent see-and-be-seen bar, plus the ultra-exclusive Garabag private dining room. Zafferano, Piazza and Bentley’s are all on the ground floor, attracting curious peaks through the windows in the weeks leading up to the opening, “or perhaps they smell the chocolates that Executive Pastry Chef Ahmed Said has been making to fill our mini-pastry shop off the Hotel’s main lobby,” says Suer with a smile. A Calming Oasis Expect a new obsession with spa in the city now that the Hotel’s own Jaleh Spa and Pool is open. Spa Director Shawna Morneau has shopped the world for the very best spa and salon brands, and worked with her team of therapists to prepare a menu of traditional treatments and the newest wellness approaches. In addition to eight treatment rooms, two suites with private balconies overlooking the Caspian invite intimate shared spa journeys, and, given that her last position was in Morocco, it’s no surprise that Morneau enthusiastically recommends the traditional hammam experience and the local ghassoul ritual. The Hotel’s stunning indoor pool, with its soaring two-storey atrium topped by a glass roof, is an intimate enclave open to Hotel and Jaleh Spa guests, as well as a very limited number of Spa and Fitness Club members. Reasons to Celebrate Savvy brides and grooms have already put Four Seasons on the map, choosing the Segah Grand Ballroom for their weddings even before the Hotel opened. "Four Seasons has a worldwide reputation for highly personalized service and attention to detail – exactly the assurance that brides and grooms need on the most important day of their lives,” notes Aynur Mamedova, PR manager at the Hotel. Four Seasons Hotel Baku will also provide catering services to events at nearby embassies and corporate offices. Welcome to Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Azerbaijan Located on the promenade on the shores of the Caspian Sea in the Azeri capital, Four Seasons Hotel Baku offers the city’s finest accommodations in 171 rooms and suites, four restaurants and bars including the high-style Kaspia and Kaspia Bar, the exclusive enclave of the Jaleh Spa and Pool, lavish meeting spaces, and the signature service of Four Seasons hotels and resorts worldwide. The Beaux Arts-style Four Seasons Hotel Baku is the first in Azerbaijan, and the 89th property in the company’s worldwide portfolio of hotels and resorts. For reservations, visit Four Seasons Hotel Baku online. Where do you want to go next? For many, the answer this year will undoubtedly be Baku. As football fans worldwide look forward to the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the fall, and the country’s first Four Seasons now welcoming guests, the capital of Azerbaijan is now clearly marked on the world map. What was once a well-kept secret among oil industry executives who did business in the region in the past century is now attracting the interest of a much broader range of travellers. With its recent hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest, rich cultural history and vibrant arts scene, designer shopping, developing wine industry, ever-changing skyline and pulsing nightlife, as well as the business opportunities that continue to emerge in the country’s post-Soviet era, people from all over the world are now making their way to the city by the Caspian Sea. “This is an incredibly exciting time for Baku. The city is changing almost daily now, and we are right in the middle of it all,” says Four Seasons General Manager Tarek Mourad, predicting that “this may be the year people finally stop asking, ‘where is Baku?’” More Reasons to Visit Baku Now Pinar Suer, lead concierge at the new Four Seasons Hotel Baku notes that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will also feature concerts by American pop diva Jennifer Lopez to open the competition, and megastar Shakira as part of the official closing. R&B queen Rihanna is also set to perform in Baku this fall. Another event in the city this year recommended by Suer is the opening of the acclaimed Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is set to open its new building – shaped like a giant rolled carpet – on the waterfront by the end of the year. As for the city’s infamous club scene – named by Lonely Planet as one of the top ten Ultimate Party Cities - the concierge team can help guests navigate the velvet ropes, identifying the best clubs on the best nights. The charming Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located adjacent to Four Seasons, offers centuries of architecture, including the famous Maiden Tower and Shirvanshah's Palace. Further afield, archaeological and cultural tours can be arranged to the Baku Ateshgah (the Fire Temple), Gobustan National Park with its petroglyphs and mud volcanoes, the 14th century Mardakan Quadrangular Castle in Gala, the fire-emitting mountain at Yanar Dag and many other unique sites. Have You Tried the Local Merlot? For food and wine lovers, Azerbaijan represents a new frontier of sorts. “Gourmands already know that the best saffron and caviar comes from this region, and now oenophiles are starting to take interest in our homegrown wine industry,” says Mustafa Suer, director of food and beverage, noting that the Hotel’s restaurants and bars will all feature Azeri wines, along with the best international selections. “Executive Chef Marco Bax and his culinary team promise to celebrate the local bounty and traditions, while bringing in the finest ingredients and new ideas from around the world for our local and international guests.” The reservations books are now open at the highly-anticipated top floor Kaspia restaurant and its adjacent see-and-be-seen bar, plus the ultra-exclusive Garabag private dining room. Zafferano, Piazza and Bentley’s are all on the ground floor, attracting curious peaks through the windows in the weeks leading up to the opening, “or perhaps they smell the chocolates that Executive Pastry Chef Ahmed Said has been making to fill our mini-pastry shop off the Hotel’s main lobby,” says Suer with a smile. _________________________________________________________________ Hotel NewsFour Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai
210 Century Avenue, Pudong District Shanghai, China 200120 Pudong, Shanghai, China – September 4, 2012 Smart, Sexy and Stylish: Welcome to Four Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai. A chic and sophisticated hotel opens in the heart of a constantly changing city, capturing every exciting moment.
__________________________________________________________________ Starwood Hotels & Resorts to Open First Element Hotel in Europe  Starwood’s Trailblazing Eco-Wise Brand to Debut in Frankfurt in 2014 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) has signed an agreement with Bari Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG to open a new-build Element hotel at Gateway Gardens, Frankfurt`s new city district near the airport. Scheduled to open in 2014, Element Frankfurt Airport marks the much-anticipated European debut of the trailblazing eco-wise brand. The hotel will be located in a newly developed business district at the doorstep of Europe’s third busiest air travel hub, near the global headquarters of companies such as Lufthansa, Condor and DB Schenker. Launched in 2008, Element has made history as the only major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for high-performance buildings. More than just a “green” hotel brand, however, Element is designed to provide the balance that business and leisure travelers need to thrive on the road. “We are proud to partner with Bari Gruppe as we debut the first Element hotel in Europe,” said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “We see great opportunities to grow the Element brand in markets such as Germany, where there is a strong demand for affordable and innovative hotel brands. The signing of Element Frankfurt Airport underlines Starwood’s continued commitment to expanding our portfolio globally and particularly in Europe.” Marco Bari, Bari Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG added, “This is the beginning of what we anticipate will be a long-term relationship with Starwood as we introduce Element Hotels to Europe and establish it as the continent’s most eco- and guest-friendly extended-stay brand.” In keeping with the tenets of the Element brand, Element Frankfurt Airport’s 133 light-filled studios and one-bedroom suites will be stylish, sustainable and designed for comfort. Each will feature a fluid design of modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets. Bathrooms will be spa-inspired, with an invigorating rain shower and dual-flush toilet. Rooms will also feature fully equipped kitchens and the signature Heavenly® Bed. Other brand signatures will include a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness center – and a meeting room with modular furnishings, a flexible layout and state-of-the-art technology that can be customized to meet any business or social needs. In addition, Element Frankfurt Airport will offer a signature restaurant and espresso bar.
“In the years to come, we plan to expand Element throughout Europe with development partners, like Bari Gruppe, who are as committed as Starwood to innovation and sustainability in the hotel industry,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently operates 25 hotels and resorts throughout Germany under five of its nine distinct and compelling brands. Element Frankfurt Airport will be Starwood’s fifth hotel in Frankfurt, joining Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt, The Westin Grand Frankfurt, Sheraton Frankfurt Congress Hotel and the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center.
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