http://www.sunherald.com/2011/10/03/3481072/ip-casino-now-a-boyd-gaming-property.html
Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011
Posted on Mon, Oct. 03, 2011
IP Casino now a Boyd Gaming property
By MARY PEREZ
BILOXI -- IP Casino Resort closed late Monday with a plan to reopen a short time later under the same name, with the same employees and new ownership.
Officials from the Mississippi Gaming Commission oversaw the change in command from Imperial Palace of Mississippi and Key Largo Holdings to Boyd Gaming, a public company headquartered in Las Vegas. Signs posted at the resort said the casino is expected to be open by midday today.
Customers won’t notice any immediate changes and for Boyd Gaming, the IP Casino is practically move-in ready, said Paul Chakmak, Boyd Gaming chief operating officer.
Former general manager Jon Lucas was given an impromptu send-off by the employees Friday. Monday the staff welcomed new general manager Jack Bernsmeier, an Iowa native who has worked for Boyd Gaming for 17 years, most recently as director of operations for the three Boyd Gaming properties in Louisiana.
“He’s done a phenomenal job with Louisiana operations,” said Chakmak. “We definitely wanted to bring our best to the game here.”
Bernsmeier had 10 years of experience in the hotel business before joining the company in 1994 at Sam’s Town in Tunica. He went on to other Boyd properties -- Treasure Chest in Kenner, La., Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino in Vinton, La., and Shreveport Sam’s Town.
Bernsmeier said he is most impressed with the “genuine friendliness” of the IP employees and the large number of amenities at the IP. “It’s a great property to come to,” he said.
Boyd Gaming bought the 1,100-room IP Casino Resort for $278 million, with an agreement to donate another $10 million to the Engelstad Family Foundation, created by Imperial Palace Casino founder Ralph Engelstad and his wife, Betty. The foundation has actively supported charities and programs in Biloxi and around the country.
“We look to continue that,” said Chakmak. The company will contribute $2 million a year for five years to causes that he said are important to the property and management team. He said Boyd is a big contributor in all the markets in which the company operates and supports employee volunteer efforts.
The company will create construction jobs as it immediately undertakes $44 million in capital improvements. The heating and air conditioning system will be updated to improve air quality and comfort and the life of the casino barge will be extended by building a pool to raise it out of the salt water. A similar system was used in Shreveport, Chakmak said.
The resort will stay open throughout the project that is expected to begin in the next four to six weeks and be completed by summer, he said. “It shouldn’t affect the customers at all.”
He said Boyd Gaming didn’t just buy the resort, the company in essence bought the employees and customers. The demographics are consistent with Boyd Gaming’s other casinos and he sees the opportunity to cross-market IP Casino with Boyd properties throughout the South and Las Vegas. Biloxi markets from Houston to eastern Florida, he said, creating east-west flow with the company’s other casinos along Interstate 10. He also expects a north-south flow from Snowbirds who are loyal players at Boyd properties in Illinois and Indiana and winter on the Gulf Coast.
Customers will continue to use their IP Rewards Cards until early next year, when the resort will become part of Boyd’s B Connected program that links its 17 properties. The Orleans Casino in Las Vegas is the largest and Boyd’s has three Sam’s Town casinos in Las Vegas, Shreveport, La. and Tunica.
He said Boyd has about 13 additional acres adjacent to IP Casino, but isn’t prepared to talk about any future plans for the site.
“The company looked at Biloxi before deciding to build in Tunica,” said Chakmak. That was around 1994 and he said Boyd didn’t stop looking at Biloxi. “The company’s been back here and look at opportunities over the years, a number of times,” “It was a good fit for us,” he said. “Biloxi is one of the biggest markets we didn’t have a presence in the U.S. I think there’s great opportunity at the IP for Boyd Gaming,”
Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011
Posted on Mon, Oct. 03, 2011
IP Casino now a Boyd Gaming property
By MARY PEREZ
BILOXI -- IP Casino Resort closed late Monday with a plan to reopen a short time later under the same name, with the same employees and new ownership.
Officials from the Mississippi Gaming Commission oversaw the change in command from Imperial Palace of Mississippi and Key Largo Holdings to Boyd Gaming, a public company headquartered in Las Vegas. Signs posted at the resort said the casino is expected to be open by midday today.
Customers won’t notice any immediate changes and for Boyd Gaming, the IP Casino is practically move-in ready, said Paul Chakmak, Boyd Gaming chief operating officer.
Former general manager Jon Lucas was given an impromptu send-off by the employees Friday. Monday the staff welcomed new general manager Jack Bernsmeier, an Iowa native who has worked for Boyd Gaming for 17 years, most recently as director of operations for the three Boyd Gaming properties in Louisiana.
“He’s done a phenomenal job with Louisiana operations,” said Chakmak. “We definitely wanted to bring our best to the game here.”
Bernsmeier had 10 years of experience in the hotel business before joining the company in 1994 at Sam’s Town in Tunica. He went on to other Boyd properties -- Treasure Chest in Kenner, La., Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino in Vinton, La., and Shreveport Sam’s Town.
Bernsmeier said he is most impressed with the “genuine friendliness” of the IP employees and the large number of amenities at the IP. “It’s a great property to come to,” he said.
Boyd Gaming bought the 1,100-room IP Casino Resort for $278 million, with an agreement to donate another $10 million to the Engelstad Family Foundation, created by Imperial Palace Casino founder Ralph Engelstad and his wife, Betty. The foundation has actively supported charities and programs in Biloxi and around the country.
“We look to continue that,” said Chakmak. The company will contribute $2 million a year for five years to causes that he said are important to the property and management team. He said Boyd is a big contributor in all the markets in which the company operates and supports employee volunteer efforts.
The company will create construction jobs as it immediately undertakes $44 million in capital improvements. The heating and air conditioning system will be updated to improve air quality and comfort and the life of the casino barge will be extended by building a pool to raise it out of the salt water. A similar system was used in Shreveport, Chakmak said.
The resort will stay open throughout the project that is expected to begin in the next four to six weeks and be completed by summer, he said. “It shouldn’t affect the customers at all.”
He said Boyd Gaming didn’t just buy the resort, the company in essence bought the employees and customers. The demographics are consistent with Boyd Gaming’s other casinos and he sees the opportunity to cross-market IP Casino with Boyd properties throughout the South and Las Vegas. Biloxi markets from Houston to eastern Florida, he said, creating east-west flow with the company’s other casinos along Interstate 10. He also expects a north-south flow from Snowbirds who are loyal players at Boyd properties in Illinois and Indiana and winter on the Gulf Coast.
Customers will continue to use their IP Rewards Cards until early next year, when the resort will become part of Boyd’s B Connected program that links its 17 properties. The Orleans Casino in Las Vegas is the largest and Boyd’s has three Sam’s Town casinos in Las Vegas, Shreveport, La. and Tunica.
He said Boyd has about 13 additional acres adjacent to IP Casino, but isn’t prepared to talk about any future plans for the site.
“The company looked at Biloxi before deciding to build in Tunica,” said Chakmak. That was around 1994 and he said Boyd didn’t stop looking at Biloxi. “The company’s been back here and look at opportunities over the years, a number of times,” “It was a good fit for us,” he said. “Biloxi is one of the biggest markets we didn’t have a presence in the U.S. I think there’s great opportunity at the IP for Boyd Gaming,”
