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www.scdemocratonline.com VOL. CXXVII NO. 70 5 SECTIONS | 36 PAGES
EARLYBIRD EDITION
EDITORIAL: Casino is the real deal. 11A
Published twice-weekly TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2018 $1.25
Modern design meets Catskills at the new casino BY REBECA C. RIVERA
THOMPSON — Surrounded by glass, the 18-story hotel at Resorts World Catskills shines brightly amidst the surrounding mountains. The gleam and glow of the new structure, however, goes beyond the slot machines and 10 restaurants and is overwhelmingly present in the casino’s modern design and architecture. The hotel and casino were planned and designed by JCJ Architecture, a firm who has worked on several notable projects such as upgrading Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater and the Empire State Building’s Observation Deck in New York City. A tree-lined path brings guests up close to the $1.2 billion resort destination campus that sits on 1,100 acres and includes several 5star and 5-diamond amenities. “The building is actually designed to reflect the natural environment,” Charles Degliomini, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs & Corporate Communications of Empire Resorts, said. The building’s reflective glass exterior provides visitors with the illusion that it is changing depending on the outside weather. “If you’re here in the morning at 6 a.m., the building looks cold. If you’re here on a blue, sunny day, the building looks blue. On the kind of overcast day… it looks greenish,” he said. Additionally, the design purposefully enhances the feeling “that every single day the building looks just a little bit differently.” Casino main entrance doors open unto a rotunda, which was created, according to Deliogmini, to provide a “sense of calmness” and to provide visitors with a feeling of stepping into a non-hectic environment. The casino floor offers guests an array of gaming options, but no one should
By the Numbers
$980 million The total cost of constructing the Resorts World Casino
1.6 mil Property square footage, over 1,600,000 square feet, including more than 100,000 square feet of gaming area. MATT SHORTALL | DEMOCRAT
Byran Pitts, from Westtown in Orange County, tends bar in front of the 7.7 million pixel waterfall. Custom-designed by Fusion CI Studios, this computer-generated waterfall hides a secret door where performers enter onto the stage. At left, floral-shaped light fixtures help to bridge the casino’s modern and natural design strategy.
REBECA C. RIVERA | DEMOCRAT
lose focus on the carefully chosen “sleek and modern” design elements that surround it. Many casinos have been accused of limited views to the outside world and dining internal lights so as to create an isolated gaming experience. However, Sullivan’s new casino has fully embraced the light by creating a space that is illuminated by natural sunlight during the day and
moonlight and stars at night. “The natural environment spills onto the gaming floor,” Degliomini stated. Therefore, floor to ceiling windows allow visitors to take in the beauty of the mountains and trees as they roll the dice or enjoy an authentic Szechuan dish on the approximately 100,000square-foot casino floor. Along with exterior light, the casino features lighting fixtures that resemble modernist interpretations of flowers. Hanging high above the casino floor, translucent fixtures appear as if they are floating against the blue-gray ceiling. Similar lighting appears in other places such as the casino’s Asian market that feature oval shaped, open lights. Several of the more than
150 table games that are featured in the casino are covered by garden-style pergolas that stand at approximately 12 feet tall. The dark brown, non-intrusive structures cascade over the players, enhancing the design’s concept of traditionally used external elements onto the casino’s gaming floor. Adjacent to the pergolas are columns, which resembles a tree in its height, color, and placement. Each column features light boxes with a thoughtfully placed stenciled flower pattern. Textured and calming colored walls help in aligning with the casino’s design mixture of nature and modern aesthetics. Horizontal lines flow gracefully across several walls that assist in creating the illusion of openness and help to draw one’s eyes deep-
er into the casino. Further helping to illuminate the space is the color-changing walls, located near the casino’s technologically advanced food court, that are appropriately referred to as the “mood walls” by some of the employees. Every few minutes, the circles on the walls slowly fade from one calming color to another. At first glance the change is not noticeable, but if you stand and wait patiently, the changing colors alter the perspectives of the surrounding design elements. Although some may say that this casino is like any other, many would probably disagree for Resorts World Catskills is a destination resort whose goal is to provide local residents and visitors with a unique and sophisticated experience.
BY JOSEPH ABRAHAM
Kristt Co. Kristt Kelly Office Systems Corp., also known as Kristt Co., has established quite the business relationship with the new casino. “I have had the good fortune of supplying most of the construction companies for the past two years or so with many items,” Kristt Co. Owner Les Kristt said. “Those things range from copiers, to furniture, to office supplies to wide format prints for their plans. That has obviously been helpful. The casino itself, once it had gotten its temporary offices, has leased two copiers from me along with many supply items.” According to Kristt, the casino recently ordered 19 copiers, which have already been delivered, and are looking for even more of them. They have set up 34 ALMANAC
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different offices so far to order supplies online from Kristt Co. “In the future, we, as everyone else here, very much look forward to the opening of the water park,” Kristt added. “It will hopefully bring the same type of opportunities for new business that the casino has.” On the impact on local businesses, Kristt says, “... since the construction began, the restaurants have seen a big increase in business, especially for lunch. Everywhere I go to eat, there are construction people. The real estate people have all told me this winter they have been quite busy, especially when compared to the last few years. That will only get better as the casino brings in more people to work. The people coming to visit the casino at the very least will be buying gas and other items from the convenience and grocery stores.” Gasko & Meyer, Inc. The Lake Huntington-based Gasko & Meyer, Inc., has gotten an initial order for draft beer from the casino. Also, County Fountain Supplies hooked up the draft beer systems there [Resorts World Catskills]. Jeff Nober, President of Gasko & Meyer, Inc., noted that they’ve probably gotten business from workers who’ve stayed in the area and purchased their products from the several local businesses where Gasko & Meyer, Inc., products are offered. “It [the casino] will be a big part of our business in Sullivan County,” Nober said. A. Alport & Son, Inc. South Fallsburg-based A. Alport & Son, Inc., has sold plumbing equipment and supplies to contractors working at Resorts World Catskills. This included material from the early stages of site work and infrastructure to the finishing touches of guest room sinks and faucets. Categories of products supplied are as follows... storm / sanitary / water pipe, valves and fittings, bathroom fixtures and faucets for the guest rooms and public bathrooms in the casino / events, drains and other equipment. “The construction process of Resorts World Catskills has had a positive impact on our business,” said Owner Dory Alport. “In general their seems to be a recharged energy among local businesses in the County. New jobs and new opportunities for our business community and residents have offered a lot of benefits for everyone.
Size, in square feet, of the largest room in the casino, called the Epicenter. The room will be used for multi-purposes, including meeting space, receptions, entertainment and other events.
10,958
Number of visitors the casino is expecting, on average, per day. Predictions call for 4,000,000 visitors per year.
2051
Number of slots machines at the new casino.
Local businesses feeling the love from Resorts World Catskills SULLIVAN COUNTY –Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, but even before the new Resorts World Catskills casino officially opened its doors last Thursday, several local businesses were already feeling the love. Here are just a few examples of how the new casino has impacted local businesses...
27,000
1500
Number of jobs created at the Resorts World Casino.
888
The address of Resorts World Casino, located on 888 Resorts World Drive. The number was chosen as 8s are considered good luck in Asian. MATT SHORTALL | DEMOCRAT
Dory Alport, the owner of A. Alport & Son, Inc., sold plumbing equipment and supplies to contractors working at Resorts World Catskills. “From the new Catskill Regional Urgent Care facility to the remodeling of the Trading Post... we are reinvesting in the overall long-term health of our residents, businesses, and community. It is an exciting time to live, work, and play in Sullivan County.” Combined Energy Services The Taylor family’s Monticello-based Combined Energy Services (CES) has sold the casino some carbon dioxide for their carbonated beverages, as well as some welding supplies during construction. “As a business owner, we’re hoping they bring quality employees to the area who will join the community,” Co-owner Mike Taylor said. Taylor added the casino brings quality jobs that will create more good quality earners, which will benefit the local fabric. The hope is that these individuals/families will come to CES to heat their homes, as well as spend money at other local businesses. “Hopefully we’ll each get a piece of it and [it will] boost the local economy,” Taylor said. Lazy Pond Bed & Breakfast During the building of the casino, several supervisors of the construction stayed at Lazy Pond Bed and Breakfast in Liberty. Owner Jeanne Tulp described the guests as, “very pleasant.” “I really do feel that it [Resorts World Catskills] will bring more people to the area,” Tulp said. “I think people will want to go to the casino and then explore the area. I don’t think they’re just going to do one thing.”
600
Number of new jobs to be created once the entertainment village, water park and golf course open.
332
The number of all-suite room available at Resorts World Catskills.
150
The number of table games at the casino
0
Days the casino will be closed. Once opened, the casino will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.