Construction has begun on a nine-story, 250-room hotel tower and a 1,600-seat multi-use event center at the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan. The project is expected to be completed next summer.

General Manager Matt Harkness said, “The No. 1 request that we received from our guests since opening was to add more hotel rooms. By adding 250 rooms, we’ll be able to accommodate a larger number of guests, including those coming to the property for big-name entertainment at our new event center.” The new hotel rooms will bring the resort’s total to 415.

Pokagon Band Chairman Matt Wesaw said, “The expansion validates the continued success we have had at Four Winds Casino Resort since it opened in August 2007. The hotel expansion and event center also fulfill the vision we had for the property dating back to its original conception.”

In addition, the tribe announced the early buyout of its agreement with Lakes Entertainment Inc., which has provided development and management services for Four Winds.

Said Wesaw, “The early buyout of our management agreement with Lakes Entertainment is a direct result of the tremendous success we have achieved with Four Winds Casino Resort.”

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.