Foxwoods Celebrates 20 Years; Unveils Plans for Future
February 16, 2012 - In honor of Foxwoods(R) Resort Casino's 20th anniversary, a large crowd gathered in Fox Theater today to celebrate two decades of tribal gaming, growth and philanthropy and Foxwoods' role as a pioneer in the global gaming industry. The ceremony featured remarks by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler and Foxwoods President & CEO Scott Butera; a dedication to Foxwoods employees who have served the casino for more than 20 years; and a presentation of 20th anniversary cupcakes courtesy of the resort casino's Executive Pastry Chef Franck Iglesias.
President Butera unveiled a number of innovative guest and business initiatives, including ambitious plans for The Premier Outlet Shoppes at Foxwoods, a new luxury retail outlet center; a new, fully-integrated branding campaign; an unrivaled guest rewards program; and key mobile and web enhancements.
"Our 20th Anniversary celebration gives us a chance to reflect upon the many significant accomplishments of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino over the past two decades as well as celebrate a new beginning," said Butera. "Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated team members, and our loyal patrons, Foxwoods has stood as the preeminent gaming resort destination in the Northeast. The many initiatives we are announcing today signify our relentless desire to improve and achieve excellence by providing extraordinary experiences to all of those who visit Foxwoods."
In 1986, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation revolutionized the U.S. gaming industry with the opening of Mashantucket Pequot High Stakes Bingo. With the addition of slot machines and table games in 1992, the Pequots solidified their status as Indian gaming pioneers as they began an ambitious expansion that paved the way for Foxwoods to become North America's largest resort casino.
"Premier" Shopping at North America's Largest Resort Casino
The Premier Outlet Shoppes at Foxwoods -- the new luxury outlet center slated to begin construction in spring, 2012 -- will augment Foxwoods' already-impressive reputation as an upscale shopping destination, and will transform Connecticut's retail landscape. The outlet center, a collaboration between Foxwoods, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and renowned retail developer The Gordon Group, will feature over 85 luxury outlet stores and the first-ever retractable roof in an outlet center to allow for seasonal outdoor shopping. The 320,000 square-foot "convertible" retail space is expected to draw shoppers from all over all over the world and will connect the MGM Grand Hotel to the Grand Pequot Hotel.
A New Brand Campaign That's Anything But Ordinary
Today, Foxwoods introduced an innovative branding campaign. Anything But Ordinary represents the award-winning property's vast array of offerings and amenities, delivering key messages that highlight Foxwoods' unique entertainment and leisure experiences. Spearheaded by new Foxwoods CMO Rebecca Carr, this "brand promise" conveys the extraordinary experiences Foxwoods guests may enjoy through the timeless black and white photography of Grammy Award-winning photographer Danny Clinch. It also stars five distinct personalities, inspired by Foxwoods' diverse and passionate patron base -- the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Joker -- encouraging guests to "Be Anyone, Do Anything and Have It All."
Foxwoods Rewards Program
Being a loyal guest at Foxwoods has its privileges and with the new and enhanced reward program, there has never been a better time to start earning reward points. The new program has 5 club tiers -- Royal, Ace, King, Crown and Wild - that guests can earn toward throughout the year. Property discounts, hotel accommodations, golf fees and entertainment tickets are just a few of the benefits not to mention the continued option to exchange points for cash. For more information, visit www.foxwoods.com.
About Foxwoods
North America's largest casino, Foxwoods Resort Casino(R) is located at the Mashantucket Pequot Indian reservation in the midst of the rolling hills of southeastern Connecticut, easily accessible from Boston, New York, Hartford, and Providence. Owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Foxwoods has something for everyone as the East Coast's premier entertainment destination. Four award-winning hotels offer accommodations to suit every budget, along with luxury butler-serviced villas, extensive retail offerings, and more than 38 dining experiences featuring everything from world-class gourmet cuisine to casual fare. Six casinos offer non-stop gaming excitement with more than 6,300 slots and 360 table games; 94 poker tables; a High Stakes Bingo hall; and Ultimate Race Book. The renowned Norwich Spa at Foxwoods and the tranquil oasis of G-Spa provide the perfect escape to recharge the mind, body, and soul. Meetings and convention goers will find more than 115,000 square feet of meeting space, including the largest column-free ballroom in the northeast, MGM's 50,000 square foot Premiere Ballroom. Two acoustically-perfected theaters offer weekly entertainment for all ages. The original state-of-the-art Fox Theater, seating 1,400, was opened in 1993 by the legendary Frank Sinatra. The majestic 4,000-seat MGM Grand Theater hosts an impressive variety of weekly headline entertainment. Conveniently located adjacent to Foxwoods is Lake of Isles(TM), featuring two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Rees Jones and a state-of-the-art Golf Academy. Foxwoods supports responsible gaming, and plays a leadership role in the Connecticut Council of Problem Gambling, of which it was a founding entity. For more information, call 800-FOXWOODS or visit www.foxwoods.com.
About the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
The Mashantucket Pequots are a native Algonquin people in southeastern Connecticut who endured centuries of conflict, survival, and continuity on and around one of America's oldest Indian reservations, established in 1666. As the first native people within the borders of the continental United States to suffer attempted genocidal massacre by Puritan Colonists in 1637, the Pequots and their repatriation is an unprecedented story of restoration exhibited in detail at the Tribe's world-class Museum and Research Center ( www.pequotmuseum.org ). Today, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation owns the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino ( www.foxwoods.com ), along with several other economic ventures, including the Lake of Isles Golf Course ( www.lakeofisles.com ); a joint-venture partnership establishing the MGM Grand at Foxwoods; and Foxwoods Development Company, dedicated to world-class resort development throughout the United States and Caribbean. All together, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation remains one of the State of Connecticut's highest tax payers and largest employers, and has contributed more than $3 billion to the state of Connecticut in accordance with the Tribe's gaming-revenue-sharing agreement, established in 1993. Likewise, the Tribe provides significant financial contributions to state and local nonprofit organizations that support neighboring communities.
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