Category Archives: Atlantic City

Cliché of the Year

Posted on May 20, 2008 by David McKee

"It's hard to pinpoint which one it is, but it's like the perfect storm — they all hit you at the same time." — Harrah's Entertainment Eastern Division President J. Carlos Tolosa. Nothing against Mr. Tolosa but this is becoming … Continue reading →

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Columbia Sussex quickies

Posted on May 7, 2008 by David McKee

Tropicana Entertainment Co-President Scott Butera has really been working the phones — a salutary, welcome change from the truculence and stonewalling reporters came to expect from Columbia Sussex. (Apparently Las Vegas Tropicana execs were among those left in the dark about … Continue reading →

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Tahoe: Scratch one casino

Posted on May 6, 2008 by David McKee

Part of the ongoing fallout from the Tropicana Entertainment bankruptcy is an even more dire forecast for the Lake Tahoe market. How bad is it? Well, even though Columbia Sussex has an option to renew its lease on the Horizon, … Continue reading →

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Still more updates!

Posted on May 6, 2008 by David McKee

Another day, another default. Tucked snugly at the bottom of Tropicana Entertainment‘s notice of default is another news nugget. Seems that the City of Evansville has informed the Columbia Sussex subsidiary that it’s defaulted on certain terms of its lease … Continue reading →

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More updates (or, Trouble with Trolls)

Posted on May 6, 2008 by David McKee

First, a correction: The Tropicana Casinos & Resorts Web site is here, finally up and running after languishing in a half-finished state for an entire year. I don’t know why Columbia Sussex has left the Tropicana Entertainment domain name sitting … Continue reading →

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Coming soon: Venetian Baghdad?

Posted on May 5, 2008 by David McKee

It’s not quite so crazy at it sounds. Well, OK, it does sound off-your-rocker crazy, at least while mortar shells continue to drop on the Green Zone: A $5 billion commercial development in the heart of the world’s most, um, … Continue reading →

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‘Luxoricana’?; When unions attack (each other)

Posted on April 22, 2008 by David McKee

Labor unions aren’t very popular these days but sometimes even the mere threat of one is enough to effect improvements. Such seems to be the case at Luxor, where the International Union of Security, Police & Fire Professionals of America … Continue reading →

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MGM Mirage: What's it all about?

Posted on April 16, 2008 by David McKee

By now it’s old news that MGM Mirage took a paring knife to its personnel roster and gave 440 staffers the sack on Monday. Admittedly, saving $75 million seems like trimming a fingernail off a company whose 2007 profit was … Continue reading →

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Nine down, 153 to go

Posted on April 11, 2008 by David McKee

Our blogging software just ate a lengthy post on the smoking controversy in Atlantic City. And a follow-up effort. Which is technology's way of saying, "Fuck it; it's Friday and I'm outta here!" In other news, Bill Clinton still can't … Continue reading →

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Columbia Sussex evicted (sorta)

Posted on April 11, 2008 by David McKee

In what has been described as an “abrupt” end to the Columbia Sussex/Park Cattle Co. lawsuit, playing out up in Douglas County, Nev., the former has paid out $40 million of an eventual $165 million and given Park Cattle the … Continue reading →

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Double whammy in Atlantic City

Posted on April 10, 2008 by David McKee

Casinos made a bad bet in Atlantic City. They wagered that the City Council didn’t have the resolve to ban smoking altogether (except in what promise to be hellish little cells). So they dragged their feet when it came to … Continue reading →

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Quote of the Day

Posted on April 7, 2008 by David McKee

“Corporate thinking is to squeeze every penny, paying attention only to today’s bottom line and ignoring the negative effect that impersonal and greedy service has on future revenues. But is this not the style of business that has forced the … Continue reading →

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High spirits in Evansville

Posted on April 7, 2008 by David McKee

The acquisition, by Reno's own Eldorado Resorts, of the Casino Aztar riverboat, is playing to the expected hosannas. Interestingly, while 21% of the workforce was pink-slipped by outgoing owner Columbia Sussex, that seems to be the least of players' concerns. … Continue reading →

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The Westin scandal …

Posted on April 4, 2008 by David McKee

… is growing legs. No, not these kind of legs. (Well, that too.) It’s also unearthed another strange-but-true story of business as usual at Columbia Sussex. That $25/bedbug bounty at the Trop is unwontedly generous by ColSux standards — a … Continue reading →

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Hooters sagging

Posted on April 3, 2008 by David McKee

Yes, they’re drooping again at the mammary-themed hotel — revenues, that is. The recession continues to hit the bargain-niche properties first and hardest. The interesting info is buried toward the end, as potential buyer Richard Bosworth (who’s already put $3 … Continue reading →

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Columbia Sussex sinks to new low

Posted on April 2, 2008 by David McKee

Let’s say you’re Columbia Sussex, owner of the Westin Casuarina and notorious for your pinch-penny ways. What do you do if a convention organizer can’t pay up on its $50,000 tab? Why simply — and sneakily — bill it to the … Continue reading →

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Columbia Sussex loses one, wins another

Posted on March 31, 2008 by David McKee

Where to start? Well, Gov. Steve Beshear is about to throw in the towel on his casinos-for-Kentucky push, having decided he couldn’t get it past the House. And remember: That was supposed to be the easy part; the state Senate’s … Continue reading →

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That wacky Columbia Sussex

Posted on March 25, 2008 by David McKee

According to The Press of Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex is countersuing its bondholders, which it contends are trying to force the company into bankruptcy or seize an ownership in the Atlantic City Tropicana Casino & Resort. 'ColSux,' you will remember, … Continue reading →

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Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant

Posted on March 20, 2008 by David McKee

It's Day Five of the "Hell No, We Won't Go" crisis and Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners members Drs. Daniel McBride and Javaid Anwar continue to thumb their noses at Gov. Jim Gibbons. As does board Executive Director Tony … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, The Strip | Comments Off on Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant

Meet Bill Yung

Posted on March 19, 2008 by David McKee

That preening Master of the Universe wannabe you see above is Columbia Sussex CEO William Yung III, subject of a lengthy (and deeply unflattering) exposé in the Louisville Courier-Journal. The article basically explains what Missouri Gaming Commission Director Gene McNary … Continue reading →

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