the
continues
THE KALISPEL TRIBE OF INDIANS MARKS 15 YEARS OF PROGRESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER
) s n io t la u t a r g n o (C Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. Happy 15th Anniversary from your friends at Garco.
KALISPEL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
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Tribal Chair Glen Nenema. . . . . . . . . . . 5
TRADITIONS AND TRANSITIONS
Dining, Drinks and More. . . . . . . . . . . . 8
KALISPEL TRIBAL ECONOMIC AUTHORITY
INSIDE: The Kalispel Tribe: A People’s Story. . . . 4
EPIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Masselow’s Steakhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Quest Team: Joan Cramer. . . . . . . . 9 Legends of Fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Impulse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority . . . 12 Kalispel Golf and Country Club . . . . . . 12 The Kalispel Tribe’s Charitable Fund. . . 13 Northern Quest Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Quest Team: Kelly Good. . . . . . . . . 15 Northern Quest Entertainment . . . . . . . 16 Northern Quest Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Quest Team: Annette Wulff. . . . . . . 19 La Rive Spa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 From Casino to Resort: A Timeline . . . . 23
BY PHIL HAUGEN, COO
A
s a former high school basketball coach, I place high value on executing the fundamentals, paying attention to details and demonstrating great teamwork. Those principles are a huge focus of everything we do at Northern Quest Resort & Casino, and in all of our Kalispel Tribal businesses. We’re committed to providing a high-quality product and consistently delivering outstanding customer service in the form of Kalispel Hospitality. As a proud member of the Kalispel Tribe and one of the first Northern Quest employees, I was fully aware the Tribe was taking a huge risk when we opened the doors of the Casino on December 28, 2000. We began with great hope for the future, but an equal fear of failing the entire Tribe and future generations. Our original Casino was just 50,000 square feet, featuring 425 slot machines and 360 employees. Since then, we have completed five major expansion projects and grown our facility space more than 15 times. We now provide a huge variety of more than 1,600 slot machines, 37 table games and a destination resort, operated by 1,500 team members dedicated to making every guest feel special. With our modest beginnings, we never dreamed we would achieve this measure of success in just 15 years. As a Tribe, we came from having nothing — and not realizing how poor we really were — to finally being able to provide essential health care services,
education and social service resources for our people. Prior to the Casino’s existence, Tribal members experienced a history of extreme poverty, substance abuse and limited opportunities for higher education. While the Kalispel Tribe has made progress, it will take many years of success to overcome the generational problems caused by decades of struggle. Resources provided by Tribal businesses fund all of our essential government services. We have helped to save the Salish language from extinction with our language program, developed education and earlylearning programs, funded roads, infrastructure, law enforcement and fire protection on the reservation, and created access to a variety of health and wellness programs not previously available to our Tribal members and surrounding residents. We’ve also given more than $15 million to local nonprofit organizations. These past 15 years have been an incredible journey for Northern Quest, the Kalispel Tribe and for the dedicated team members who have become part of our family. We’re thankful to so many of you who have supported us and helped make Northern Quest and the Kalispel Tribe successful business and community partners. With continued focus on making sound business decisions, diversification and a commitment to giving back to our community, we look forward to a bright future.
FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
3
THE KALISPEL TRIBE
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A Kalispel village on the banks of the Pend Oreille River (1910); John and Baptiste Bigsmoke fishing in a sturgeon-nosed canoe, (1910); Manresa Grotto overlooking the Pend Oreille River is the traditional Kalispel place of worship following the establishment of the St. Ignatius Mission.
A PEOPLE’S STORY F
or millennia before Euro-American explorers first appeared, the Kalispel people inhabited the lands along the Pend Oreille-Clark Fork system of rivers and tributaries. Although the Tribe was semi-nomadic and roamed across 4 million acres of aboriginal lands in northeastern Washington, Idaho and into western Montana for seasonal sustenance, the greater Pend Oreille watershed, 55 miles north of Spokane, was their ancestral home — “the center of everything, the place where it makes the most sense to be Kalispel,” says Deane Osterman, Executive Director at Kalispel Natural Resources. The Kalispel subsisted on the ample game in the region’s forests, the abundant salmon in its rivers, the berries and 4
NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO
camas growing in its marshy meadows. So important was the nutritious camas root to the Kalispel that they were referred to as “camas people” by neighboring tribes. Far from being warlike, they enjoyed a reputation for kindness and generosity among their fellow Salish-speaking tribes. The overarching philosophy of the Kalispel has always been one of “collaborative sufficiency,” which is anchored in the belief that the best way to achieve anything is to do so with the mutual support of one’s kith, kin and the wider community.
I
n the autumn of 1809, the famed British-Canadian explorer David Thompson made contact with the Kalispel. Some parts of the Tribe had been so insulated from the few white ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INLANDER
traders and Jesuit missionaries operating in the area that they still lacked iron tools. Nevertheless, in a typical demonstration of hospitality, they equipped Thompson with food, a canoe and a guide to assist him on his continued journey. Around this time, the Kalispel population was recorded as being 1,600 strong. The respect and friendliness that were characteristic of Thompson’s encounter with the Kalispel would not go on to define future dealings with the white settlers who were migrating rapidly westward. The federal Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced the resettlement of the Native Americans whose homelands lay east of the Mississippi River, was a portent of what was to come for the tribes of the Inland
Northwest. Negotiated by Isaac Stevens, governor of the recently created Washington Territory, the Hellgate Treaty of 1855 marked the first external attempt to consolidate all the Bitterroot Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai tribes on a single reservation. Resistance from Chief Victor led to hasty provisions in the poorly translated document during the proceedings. So the Lower Kalispel Tribe returned to the Pend Oreille River area north of Spokane under the assumption that their ancestral lands were now theirs by right. This was not the case, as they soon came to realize. Other unsuccessful treaty negotiations followed, as EuroAmerican settlement increased throughout the late 19th century. By 1875, the Kalispel population had fallen to just 395, due in part to disease and diminishing access to once-plentiful resources. Then came an increasing influx of settlers who laid claim to tribal land under
Congratulations on
15 YEARS
OF FUN!
TRIBAL CHAIR
GLEN NENEMA F
or nearly 38 years, Glen Nenema has led the Kalispel Tribe as their democratically elected Tribal Chair. Not only does this give him the distinction of being the longest-serving Tribal Chair in the country, it has provided the Kalispel with stable government and guidance. “My heart is and has always been at home on our land with our people,” Nenema says. “Many of the things our Tribe has accomplished happened over many years. Things take time, vision and patience, and leaders need consistency in order to make things happen.” Under Nenema’s leadership, the Tribe has ushered in an era of rapid transition and growth. The founding of the Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority and Kalispel Natural Resources, the construction and expansion of Northern Quest Resort & Casino, the creation of the Camas Center and Tribal donations of nearly $15 million to regional charities and nonprofits have all taken place during this time. At the heart of all these is “the movement toward wellness, and the vision for a safe and healthy community,” he says — ethics that have long informed the Kalispel’s endeavors. “Our Tribe’s beliefs remain strong,” Nenema adds. “I was taught to lead by example, and that is what I have tried to do for my people.” the provisions of the Homestead Act of 1862. Within 40 years, the Kalispel Tribe barely numbered 100. “By 1914, we had lost most of the land we depended on for survival,” says Glen Nenema, the current Kalispel Tribal Chair. “Our last chiefs refused to leave this small strip of 4,600 acres along the Pend Oreille, near Cusick, where our ancestors had always been, rather than relocating like other tribes were forced to do. It was eventually established as our reservation. Without their determination, we wouldn’t be here today.”
L
ike many Native American reservations, this was land that had been deemed undesirable for white settlement. Measuring only nine miles long and one mile wide, the Kalispel Reservation was — and remains to this day — a clay floodplain
with little agricultural value and scant natural resources. Having fought for this sacred soil and prevailed, the Tribe nevertheless found itself faced with decades of challenges that threatened its very existence. Following the hydropower boom of the 1930s, construction projects such as the Grand Coulee Dam dramatically altered the landscape and cut off the natural supply of salmon. Depression and alcohol abuse rooted in the lack of socioeconomic prospects tore Tribal families apart. By 1965, the annual per capita income for the Kalispel was a meager $1,400. The reservation had just one telephone and two homes with indoor plumbing, though the water remained undrinkable. Just 20 years later, the Tribe was on the verge of disappearing altogether. “Throughout this time we endured ...continued on page 7 FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
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THE KALISPEL TRIBE
Congr atulations on 15 great years!
Jessie Isadore works with a team of Kalipsel Tribal members to keep the Salish language alive.
hardships, but we survived because we were always brought up to be resilient, to be strong and to help each other move forward,” says Nenema. Under his emergent leadership throughout the latter part of the 1980s, the Kalispel slowly began to coalesce and re-envision their future. Drawing upon their age-old philosophy of collaborative sufficiency, they resolved to capitalize on their innate resiliency, their gift for hospitality and their desire for symbiotic community partnership to create what had been denied them for so long: Access to health care and education. Economic opportunity. Stable, holistic growth. In 1992, the Tribe founded Kalispel Natural Resources and issued a vision statement that evolved out of a much broader and more ambitious planning effort. Every major achievement since then has stemmed from this forwardlooking process of self-revitalization — whether it’s the purchase of 200 acres of development-ready trust land in Airway Heights, the construction and expansion of Northern Quest Resort & Casino, the establishment of the state-of-the-art Camas Center for Community Wellness on the reservation or the recent launch of the Kalispel Golf and Country Club, to name only a few milestones. What’s more, the Kalispel Tribe has made it a priority to reclaim and fortify a culture and language that were nearly lost. In 2000, only a handful of
Tribal elders could speak fluent Salish. Now younger tribal members, like Jessie Isadore, are raising their children to speak Salish, a language she describes “as if creeks were speaking to one another — a beautiful, sweet, soft sound.” Her children and their peers are the first generation in nearly 80 years to be brought up as native Salish speakers. “We’re working to preserve and save the language because our language is our identity,” Isadore says. “By actively working with it every day, we bring our culture back to life.”
T
oday the tribal population is close to 500 — and growing. More than 50 percent of the Tribal members are under the age of 18. More people are speaking Salish at traditional dance ceremonies, and the Tribe has been holding regular culture camps and camas cooking demonstrations to involve, as well as educate, the wider community. Isadore attributes this resurgence to younger tribal members’ increased awareness of their own heritage and, just as important, to the guidance of elders like Nenema, who helped give the Kalispel a renewed sense of purpose at a crucial time. “Our vision has reflected our past and is a focal point for the future,” Nenema says. “The Kalispel Tribe is still here, on our homeland. We remain strong. We are still moving forward.”
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FOOD AND BEVERAGE
DINING, DRINKS AND MORE I
magine an acrobat balancing plates, simultaneously keeping two, three, even a dozen disks spinning in midair. He makes it look easy, like second nature, but as we all know from experience, nothing is as easy as it looks. With 14 public food and beverage establishments operating seven days a week under one sprawling roof, Bob Rogers, Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s Director of Food and Beverage, is a bit of an acrobat. And he not only makes it look natural, he has fun doing it. Rogers started his culinary career in 1975 at the original Davenport Hotel as a 15-year-old tableside flambé artist. No experience, just a willingness to learn, a quick rapport with diners and no fear of fire. He came to Northern Quest six years ago as the chef
at Masselow’s, then worked his way to his present position in charge of the resort’s food and beverage department. Rogers oversees a talented team of nearly 500 food and beverage staff who serve a total of 15 dining venues (including the Team Member Dining Room) on the extensive property. Last year, Rogers was recognized by his peers with the coveted Washington Restaurant Association 2016 Back of the House Employee of the Year Award. At Northern Quest, his passion for providing guests with a memorable experience is contagious. “For our team, preparing and serving amazing food is not just a job,” Rogers says. “Our team loves what they do. They’re passionate about using the finest and freshest ingredients. They have high expectations of themselves and take great pride in every dish and
cocktail they serve. I believe that passion reflects in everything they do. And that’s what makes for exceptional dining experiences at Northern Quest.” That dining array includes everything from the elegant Masselow’s Steakhouse to the casual Fatburger for made-to-order burgers, to the Deli for pizza and sandwiches, to the Marketplace for coffee or a glass of wine with your Wi-Fi, to the immensely popular River’s Edge Buffet, a local favorite on Friday nights when seafood reigns. Rogers estimates that Northern Quest’s restaurants and banquet facilities serve more than one million meals a year, and that’s not counting the 1,000 employees they feed daily in the behind-the-scenes Team Member Dining Room, where each employee receives one free meal during every shift.
EPIC
Dominated by a massive 30-foot by 10-foot HDTV screen that broadcasts the nation’s top spectator sporting events, EPIC is tons of fun and everything a sports pub should be. A dozen smaller television screens are scattered through the restaurant, so viewing is unobstructed no matter where you sit. Get your appetite in gear with small plates of calamari or ahi poke, then fill ’er up with two-fisted burgers, a pizza or half-rack of ribs. Everything’s fresh, housemade and so good you might be distracted from that hole-in-one or crowd-pleasing alley-oop broadcast on the big screen. EPIC serves breakfast, too, hearty fare like housemade buttermilk biscuits, steak and eggs, and poutine, along with “Epic” Bloody Marys and mimosas.
MASSELOW’S STEAKHOUSE
The jewel in Northern Quest’s dining crown is Masselow’s Steakhouse, an elegant restaurant that manages to be sophisticated but not stuffy. The décor sets the tone — soft browns and rich wood, sleek tables with linen napkins but no tablecloths, high-backed booths, amber lights, fresh white orchids and large photographs of the Kalispel people living and working on tribal lands on the shores of the Pend Oreille River. The restaurant is named for Kalispel Chief Masselow, who guided the Tribe 100 years ago and successfully negotiated with the U.S. government to allow his people to stay on their native homeland. The chief ’s photograph, along with several other tribal images, decorate the walls of the restaurant; a serene alabaster sculpture of a native woman by Kalispel tribal member Allie Chaddlesone is the entry’s centerpiece. The restaurant’s unevenly arched ceiling was purposefully designed to emulate an ancient, sacred Kalispel grotto on the shores of the river. Steak is Masselow’s specialty, but seafood and poultry are imaginatively prepared as well by the culinary team led by Chef Tanya Broesder. Produce comes from Jackson Farm in the Spokane Valley; cheese is made at Spokane’s Heron Pond Farms. Diners receive a complimentary amuse-bouche of fry bread with huckleberry purée. A list of more than 325 domestic and imported wines, on-site cured meats, an outstanding menu and exemplary service have earned the restaurant the coveted AAA Four Diamond status, the only restaurant in Eastern Washington to achieve such an award. If you’re lucky enough to spend the night at the Resort, don’t miss Masselow’s for breakfast. Breads are made from scratch with sustainable Shepherd’s Grain wheat; granola and sausages are housemade, as well, and there is an array of egg dishes to choose from. 8
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The entire URM family congratulates Northern Quest on 15 AMAZING years! We are honored to be your partner since your ground breaking, and are inspired by your continuous industry innovation! As one local business to another, we appreciate your thoughtful community involvement.
THE QUEST TEAM
JOAN CRAMER
Cheers to your ongoing success and our partnership!
SERVER, EPIC
O
ne of the things customers love about EPIC sports bar and restaurant is its warm, inviting atmosphere. That’s why, even when she’s busy taking enough dinner orders to feed an athletic team, Joan Cramer prides herself on making Northern Quest customers feel at home. “I want to make everyone feel welcome, so I remember their names, little things about them, about their kids or their jobs,” she says. “I try to make sure the dining experience is something they’ll remember — and that they’ll want to come back.” Joan’s approach to memorable customer service has been the same since she began working here more than 11 years ago. It’s not hard to do, she says, since that same kind of consideration is shown by everyone in the organization. “It’s pretty rare to find a company where the executives really care about the employees. When they say, ‘Hi, Joan, how are you today?’ they really want to know how you’re feeling. When they care so much, it trickles down to us, and so we end up wanting to make our customers feel special too.”
(509) 467-2755 urmfoodservice.com
ON 15 GREAT YEARS!
WE’RE BETTING ON A BRIGHT FUTURE!
scientificgames.com FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
9
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
LEGENDS OF FIRE
This place is just sexy, with plush leather club chairs, intimate cocktail tables, gleaming bars, rows of highend spirits backlit along the wall, and a glass-walled humidor storing an impressive selection of fine cigars. You could be in London or New York; that guy in the corner could be Mark Twain or Winston Churchill. More likely, it’s your South Hill neighbor who’s
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NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO
here to indulge. Legends of Fire is the only premium cigar bar in the region, hence the only spot for miles where cigar smokers can satisfy their passion in a sophisticated atmosphere. (No cigarette smoking, however.) New to the ritual? Drop by for the Tuesday Cigar Social from 6 to 9 pm to learn more. And to pair with that fine cigar? Why, a glass of
25-year-old Macallan scotch, or a snifter of Courvoisier VSOP cognac. Sit back, sip and savor, and consider actor Raul Julia’s poetic take on the cult of cigars: “Maybe it’s like becoming one with the cigar. You lose yourself in it. Everything fades away. Your worries, your problems. Your thoughts. They fade into the smoke and the cigar, and you are at peace.”
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IMPULSE
If you’re having too much fun to stop the party, head for Impulse and dance the night away where you’ll find lots of neon, thumping music and a see-and-be-seen-crowd. Friday and Saturday from 9 pm to 1 am, popular Spokane DJs keep the dance floor humming. Not a dancer, you say? Stop by for First Thursday comedy nights and laugh along with live stand-up comedians.
Congratulations on 15 years of excellence!
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KALISPEL TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT
BUILDING ECONOMIC DIVERSITY W
hile Northern Quest has provided the Kalispel Tribe with a stable economic foundation for the past 15 years, the Tribe remains keenly aware of how important diversification is to its long-term business development plan. That’s why the KALISPEL TRIBAL ECONOMIC AUTHORITY was formed in 2006. Charged with ensuring that diversity is at the core of the Tribe’s business ventures, it is responsible for overseeing not just the success of Northern Quest Resort & Casino, but also the tribe’s two Fatburger franchises, two Chevron fuel stations and convenience stores, the new Kalispel Golf and Country Club, as well as an up-and-coming commercial laundry facility called Kalispel Linen Services, which partners with a major health care organization in Spokane. Brandon Haugen, General Manager of Kalispel Development, says KTEA is also looking at innovative ways to develop the more than 300 acres south of the casino: “We know the West Plains needs more economic development to Brandon Haugen at the Kalispel Linen Services project — the Tribe’s new commercial laundry facility.
A WHOLE NEW SWING “I ’m amazed at the incredible transformation the Kalispel Tribe has made to the club in just a few months,” says an excited Doug Off, Assistant Golf Professional at the KALISPEL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. “Almost daily, we watched as each new section of the clubhouse received a facelift in time to open the new downstairs restaurant and the golf course for early spring play on March 18.” In 2015, the Kalispel Tribe purchased the venerable 118-year-old Spokane Country Club as part of its Tribal Enterprises mission; renovations started immediately. The name change was followed by the creation of a new logo with a bright-green frog that looks ready to leap. According to Phil Haugen, Kalispel Tribal member and Chief Operating Officer of Northern Quest Resort & Casino, the frog represents transformation, renewal and rebirth in the Indian culture. Part of the transformation includes two state-of-the art golf simulators, which were installed to allow members to train during winter months or inclement weather. 12
NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO
“Golfers will be able to play 93 world-famous courses,” says Assistant Golf Professional Nick McCaslin. “The simulators are set to accurate weather and turf conditions and are great fun.” A fleet of snazzy new golf carts are buzzing around the greens as well. Equipped with high-tech amenities like GPS screens and USB ports, the new carts also come with traditional features like coolers and club washers. The clubhouse has been completely renovated, and a fitness room with personal training space was added for club members. Dining options include the new Kalispel Grill, open daily at 7:30 am, and the 1898 Public House. Led by well-respected Executive Chef Tyler Schwenk, the family-friendly gastropub will be open nightly to the public and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekends. The Kalispel Golf and Country Club is primarily membership-based, but the resort will offer stay-and-play packages to hotel guests. There are also a limited number of tee times open to the general public.
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bring people out here for living and entertainment, so we’re interested in finding more residential opportunities and more community partners.” But KTEA doesn’t merely pursue diversification for its own sake. True to the Kalispel Tribe’s legacy of holistic thinking, each venture is strategically chosen for its positive socioeconomic impact and its ability to capitalize on the Tribe’s inherent strengths. “The Kalispel Tribe has always been regarded as a humble Tribe and hospitable Tribe, so when it comes to growing our business, the Tribe is very much interested in doing it so everyone benefits,” says Haugen. The ongoing commitment to those ideals has paid off. Along with the success of Northern Quest, their Fatburger franchise is among the 10 busiest Fatburger locations in the world. The original Chevron at Legacy Landing won two sought-after design awards shortly after opening. “We always want to make sure there’s mutual benefit, growth and prosperity,” Haugen adds. “And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a consumer or a business-to-business relationship — everything we do is centered around making people feel special.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Camas Center for Community Wellness on the Kalispel Reservation; the rooftop garden outside the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Sacred Heart was funded by a grant from the Tribe’s Charitable Fund; Tribal elder Francis Cullooyah at the dedication.
A GIVING TRADITION P
hilanthropy is rooted deep within Kalispel culture. Throughout its long existence, the Tribe has always looked outward and sought to improve the welfare of its neighbors. In this spirit, the KALISPEL TRIBE’S CHARITABLE FUND has quietly given $15 million to local nonprofits in Spokane and Pend Oreille counties since Northern Quest opened. This action-oriented altruism is an extension of a provision of the gaming compact, which states that a certain percentage of casino revenue must be channeled to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. “Ever since we opened our doors, we have been a strong community partner,” says Curt Holmes, a Kalispel Tribal member and Executive Director of Public and Governmental Affairs for the Kalispel Tribe. “But it goes back farther than that. Even when the Tribe was broke and had no resources, people would talk about how generous and giving the Tribe was.” The Kalispel Tribe fields more than 300 requests annually and aims to satisfy as many as possible through its Charitable Fund. The donations are generally directed toward five key areas identified by the Tribe itself: education, health care, arts and culture, social services and
environmental conservation. Over the years, more than 400 organizations — local schools, science centers and museums, meal programs and social service organizations, to name only a handful — have benefited. Many fundraisers are held inside the Resort & Casino as part of Northern Quest’s donation to those charities. In the spirit of giving, the Kalispel Tribe constructed the Camas Center, a 77,000-square-foot wellness complex located on the reservation. It houses medical and dental clinics, along with an early learning center and other amenities. The facility operates at a loss to better serve those most in need — not just the 470 tribal members, but also several thousand neighboring residents. And last year the Tribe partnered with Providence Health Care to build a $500,000 rooftop garden at Sacred Heart Medical Center, where cardiac transplant patients under long-term hospitalization can “get outside, feel the sun on their face and experience the things we take for granted every day,” says Holmes. “We’re trying to make a difference,” he adds. “When we all work together, it’s amazing what we can accomplish.” FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
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NORTHERN QUEST CASINO
A GAME FOR EVERY PLAYER “N
orthern Quest offers a complete casino package, not something all gaming establishments can claim,” says Kevin Zenishek, Director of Casino Games. From anybody-can-do-this penny slots to blackjack, gamblers of any ability level can try their luck at Northern Quest Resort & Casino. Spokane native Zenishek started his Northern Quest career 15 years ago as a 20-year-old blackjack dealer and worked his way up through the ranks to his present position in charge of all casino activity. He’s backed up by Casino Hosts like Ryan Guhlke, also a Spokane native, whose sole job is to make sure that patrons are having a great time. The 14
NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO
55,000-square-foot casino floor is staffed by about 1,500 full- and part-time employees who keep everything moving. A staggering 1,650 games are available on SLOTS AND PROGRESSIVES, with payouts starting at as high as $60,000. Progressives, for the uninitiated, are slot machines which have a jackpot that increases incrementally as players play the game. If you’ve tried slots, maybe it’s time to move on up to table games. Not sure where to start or how to make a bet without looking like a beginner? Free table-game lessons are offered on the casino floor at 6 pm every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
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and Saturday night, or 11 am on Tuesdays. As an added bonus, you get a voucher for $1 bets on any table for an hour following your lesson. Once you know the lay of the games, saunter up to the BLACKJACK table to bet against the dealer. “Hit” or “stand” (get another card, or stand with what you have), and try to get as close as possible to that magical total of 21 points. Even CRAPS isn’t quite so intimidating with a lesson under your belt. The dealers will help you learn the lingo and the rules, sweeping you up in the excitement in no time. And keep this in mind: Northern Quest is the only place in town where you can play craps.
Congratulations Northern Quest Resort & Casino
15
Looking forward to the next 15 years...And Beyond!
THE QUEST TEAM
KELLY GOOD
BLACKJACK DEALER
K
elly Good doesn’t just think of herself as a blackjack dealer; she’s also a host and entertainer. “For a lot of our customers, it’s not just about gambling. It’s also a time to visit and have fun, and you have to be there for them. That way they feel a connection, they feel more comfortable and they’re able to relax more.” A member of the Blackfoot Tribe, Kelly arrived at Northern Quest in 2004 after working in a government-run Canadian casino. What surprised her most was the level of ongoing training. “The Kalispel Tribe has been awesome to me,” she says. “Every opportunity that became available to learn something new, they made sure I was given the chance to better myself — whether it be learning a new game or something about the gaming floor. I know so many companies that offer training, but I think Northern Quest strives to ensure their employees know exactly what they need to do and what they need to strive for.” Her insider tip for new guests? The hotel’s amazing showers are as much an attraction as the casino, spa and restaurants.
There’s something about a spinning
ROULETTE WHEEL that amps up
the anticipation and makes it feel like Vegas. Round and round she goes, and if you’ve put your chips on the same number where the ball lands, you win! And what’s a casino without card games like EZ Pai Gow, Spanish 21, Three Card Poker or Texas Hold ’Em? The floor is constantly abuzz with card players, watchers and wishers. POKER fans can gather in Northern Quest’s nine-table poker room to play live games against each other, not the house. A state-of-the-art, glass-en-
Happy 15th Anniversary
closed, non-smoking poker room keeps the air clear with positive air pressure. Poker lessons are available at 5 pm on Tuesday nights, followed by $1 and $2 limit games. Call in advance to get on the live list for fixed-limit and spreadlimit games. Once you’ve got your poker chops, sit in on a weekday morning tournament with a $600 guaranteed prize pool or a $125 Saturday morning tournament. Discounts are available during evening tournaments for ladies, seniors, hospitality industry members, first responders and military personnel. FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
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NORTHERN QUEST ENTERTAINMENT
BEHIND THE MUSIC E CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Kid Rock was one of the bestselling, most successful outdoor summer concerts at Northern Quest; The 1,250-seat Pend Oreille Pavilion; With a recent stage and rigging expansion, the outdoor venue can handle the biggest traveling acts.
ver wonder how Northern Quest manages to snag big-time rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Kid Rock? Popular funnymen like George Lopez or Penn and Teller? Country icons like Tim McGraw and Toby Keith? Stars who normally play to packed arenas seating 10,000-plus? Imagine a giant chessboard, and a staff of three in Northern Quest’s Entertainment Department diligently working with artist agents from all over the country to find a date for a desired entertainer that fits a “hole” in the schedule for both tour and venue. Then imagine a flurry of telephone calls, emails and texts to negotiate the artist’s terms and conditions, determine the production logistics, build the show infrastructure for ticket sales, VIP programs, fan clubs and sponsors, and develop the advertising materials for its campaign.
INSPIRING We INLANDERS love a great local success story; we also love an outdoor concert on a hot summer night. So thanks, Northern Quest, for inspiring us with your growth and development over the past 15 years. And we’re excited for the next 15!
YOU ARE WHAT
YOU READ 16
NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO
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Actually, it’s spreadsheets and calendars, not a chessboard, that track the details of nearly 40 performances a year at Northern Quest’s 1,250-seat indoor Pend Oreille Pavilion and 4,000-seat outdoor summer concert venue. “The entertainer’s fees and terms are very important, of course, but routing is really the first challenge,” says Justin Kobluk, Northern Quest’s Director of Entertainment. “We compete with many other larger markets and venues for the same limited plays, so there needs to be something compelling to land tours here. Northern Quest’s status as a world-class resort and its legendary ‘Kalispel Hospitality’ gives us that advantage. “The Kalispel Tribe believes in being inclusive, and the variety of entertainment we bring to the region demonstrates that,” Kobluk adds, citing a list of past shows that runs from classic to country, Broadway to hip hop. The outdoor entertainment venue that hosts Northern Quest’s Pepsi Outdoor Summer Concerts has gone through extensive expansion since 2015, doubling the size of the stage and increasing rigging capabilities to accommodate large productions
carrying as much as 90,000 pounds of lights, sound equipment and set designs. “Concerts and events at Northern Quest entertained nearly 60,000 people last season,” Kobluk says. “We had ticket sales from 42 states and five countries including, amazingly, Norway, Brazil and Oman. I met two patrons from Great Britain who came to see the Joan Jett, Melissa Etheridge and Blondie concert last summer, saying it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see those three legends together on the same stage.” Kobluk says the regional economic impact of Northern Quest’s shows is difficult to gauge, but he conservatively pegs it at about $8.2 million a year from direct revenues. That figure does not include hotel rooms, restaurants, gaming and employment, which all get a significant lift when there’s a show in town. To keep these major shows running smoothly, it takes between 100 and 200 people: stagehands, security, guest services, food and beverage, ticket sales, marketing, production techs, setup/tear-down, janitorial, artist hospitality and, of course, that Entertainment Department staff of three.
SOUNDS OF SUMMER THE PEPSI OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, 2011-16
2011 (first season) The Judds, Steve Miller Band, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, Eric Church, Carlos Santana, Michael Franti, Lynyrd Skynyrd 2012 John Fogerty, Ringo Starr, Earth, Wind and Fire, Kelly Clarkson, The Fray, Journey, Pat Benatar, Loverboy, Darius Rucker, Sugarland, ZZ Top, Heart, Crosby, Stills and Nash 2013 Bad Company, Poison, Ratt, Peter Frampton, Alan Jackson, Sammy Hagar, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Kid Rock 2014 New Edition with Bobby Brown, Tony, Toni, Tone, The Turtles, KC and the Sunshine Band, The Village People, Tim McGraw, Train, Foreigner, Styx, Loverboy, Toby Keith, Joe Nichols 2015 Hank Williams Jr., Melissa Etheridge, Blondie, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Jackson Browne, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, Rascal Flatts, Huey Lewis and the News, Eddie Money, Yes, Toto, Weird Al Yankovic
THE 2016 LINEUP
Thank you for being part of our community’s growth for the past 15 years.
JULY 6: Goo Goo Dolls, with Collective Soul and Tribe Society
AUGUST 27: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo and Melissa Etheridge
JULY 19: The Avett Brothers, with Grace Potter
SEPT. 2: Duran Duran
AUGUST 12: Culture Club, with Berlin and English Beat
SEPT. 21: Dierks Bentley
AUGUST 17: Big & Rich and Gary Allan
SEPT. 22: Dolly Parton
AUGUST 22: Steve Miller Band, with Foghat
FOR TICKETS: Call 509.481.2800 or 877.871.6772 or visit NorthernQuest.com
FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
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NORTHERN QUEST HOTEL
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The river-themed pool at Northern Quest Resort & Casino provides a relaxing place to get away; The beautiful lobby chandelier centerpiece pays tribute to the Circle of Life; One of 250 luxury rooms and suites.
FLOWING WITH LUXURY M
ission statements, corporate vision and core values sound good on an annual report, but they don’t always make their way from the page into reality. Northern Quest Resort & Casino, however, has what it calls a Core Purpose, along with an extensive list of Core Values that are printed on a double-sized business card to remind employees of the Resort’s guiding principles. All employees carry this list in their pocket. Guest service is a top priority at Northern Quest, and the Core Values stress the importance of making patrons feel special, anticipating their needs and generally being warm, helpful and genuine. Meg Miller, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, cites an example of exemplary employee behavior. “A young couple was here with a very fussy baby, and when Kalispel Hospitality Ambassador Eddie Ambriz was alerted to the distressed child and parents, he immediately went to their room, found out the baby was teething and miserable. Although it was very late, Eddie jumped in his car, drove to the store and returned with some teething gel. The parents were extremely grateful.
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“Eddie embodies our core values,” Miller continues, “and has taken on the critical task of making those simple, heartfelt and infinitely valuable truths come true for our guests. If guests are here for a special occasion, like an anniversary or a birthday, we will upgrade them when possible or put flowers in the room.” “Proudly Representing the Kalispel Tribe” is another Core Value that is evident in nearly every element of design, art and décor, from the hotel to the eateries to the Casino. For centuries, the Kalispel Tribe has lived on the shores of the Pend Oreille River, and the ebb and flow of water is hinted at in the blue and brown curving designs on hallway and room carpets and the gently undulating pattern on wallpaper throughout the property. A winding inset of blue light above the hotel pool gives the illusion of a ribbon of flowing water, and the 16-foot-tall glass waterfalls illuminated with multicolor LED lighting continue the river theme in the Casino lounge. Just off the main lobby, a magnificent, half-ton, 21-foot chandelier constructed of blown glass and 17,000 Swarovski crystals imitates cascading water, camas bulbs, cattails and the circle of life.
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“The Heritage Hallway that connects the Hotel, Casino and some of the restaurants has museum-quality artifacts from the Kalispel Tribe and contemporary art by tribal members,” says Julie Holland, Director of Public Relations and Communications. A 100-year timeline of the Tribe traces their history, while a video of tribal elders narrates the Tribe’s story, past and present. When it comes to delivering Kalispel Hospitality, two of the top international rating organizations have verified that Northern Quest Resort & Casino meets and exceeds guest expectations. The resort and Masselow’s Steakhouse have both earned AAA Four Diamond designations; both the resort and La Rive Spa hold a Forbes Travel Guide Four Star ranking. To the uninitiated, such accolades are little more than words on a page, but in reality, achieving those diamonds or stars is akin to being at top form every single day with luxury accommodations, impeccable service and gourmet food. AAA and Forbes dispatch diners and hotel guests who arrive unannounced to secretly survey restaurants, rooms and public spaces. The slightest infringement of the pages-long rulebook
THE QUEST TEAM
ANNETTE WULFF HOUSEKEEPING
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HarborWholesaleFoods_CongratsNQRC_042716_QtrPg_KG.pdf
hen Annette Wulff and her sisters take their annual road trip to visit other casinos, she finds herself straightening the chairs. “I’m supposed to be on vacation,” she laughs, “but I can’t help it.” A member of the Colville Tribe, Annette joined the Northern Quest staff in 2003, starting out in the fast-paced kitchen before moving to the Casino floor and finally housekeeping, where she helps to maintain the high standards of cleanliness for which the Casino and Resort are known. In some ways, Annette’s career path is a reflection of Northern Quest’s growth over the past 15 years. Yet it also highlights the unchanging qualities that make Northern Quest unique. “The Casino has gotten bigger and bigger, but it’s always been a friendly place,” she says. “I got to know a lot of the regulars when I was on the floor, and even now if we run into one another they’ll give me a hug because they’re glad to see me. Everyone is truly interested in the guest and how they’re doing. That’s what keeps them coming back.”
is enough to knock that award right off the shelf. Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s 250 luxury rooms and suites consistently meet and exceed their criteria. Larger-than-standard rooms have beds topped with custom-made signature mattresses and 350-thread-count linens. The oversized spa showers with four shower heads continually draw rave reviews, like one guest on TripAdvisor who wrote that “The shower itself is worth the stay!” Area residents often work a night at the Hotel into their travel plans when they take advantage of Northern Quest’s Stay, Park & Fly program that allows them to park for free in the Resort’s lot when they spend a night at the Hotel prior to departure. A complimentary shuttle ferries guests to and from the airport. 19 RypienFoundation_NRQCBooklet_042716_QtrPg_KG.jpg FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
LA RIVE SPA
A NATURAL ESCAPE T
he river heritage of the Kalispel Tribe seeps into your pores and filters gently into your psyche at La Rive Spa. From the spa’s name (“on the bank of the river”), to the soothing décor, architecture and stunning water features, every detail is a tribute to the Kalispel Tribe and an invitation to shake off the outside world. “The products we use in spa treatments and in our spa boutique are specifically chosen for their quality, uniqueness and alignment with our vision for peace and wellness,” says Yvonne Smith, La Rive Spa Director. The Spa gift shop also carries luxury UGG loungewear, healthconscious VitaJuwel decanters from Germany and locally handcrafted aromatic candles from Dandles. The Spa and gift shop are open 364 days a year, from 9 am to 7 pm (closed on Christmas). The 14,000-square-foot spa offers an extensive menu of services, including massage, body, nail and facial treatments and a full-service salon, and guests receive a complimentary glass of champagne or wine with their treatment. Go natural and try the popular Pend Oreille River Stone Massage, which combines cedar wood oil and river rocks to soothe away muscle aches and mental stress. And the Loving Retreat is about as romantic as it gets. First, couples sip champagne while soaking in an oversized tub infused with an aromatic essential oil known to promote bonding. Then it’s a couples shower followed by a side-by-side fireside massage.
Thank you. Throughout our own history in the Inland Northwest, we’ve learned that it takes a community to care for those who need it most. We couldn’t do what we do without compassionate partners like the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. Congratulations on your 15th anniversary, and our sincerest gratitude for your support.
phc.org/giving
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THANKS FOR ALWAYS BEING OUR CORNER. The Spokane Sports Commission sends a special shout-out to the team at Northern Quest Hotel & Casino. Your commitment and dedication to sports in our community has allowed us to host amazing events including the first-ever USA Boxing Women’s Olympic Trials in 2012, and the USA Boxing National Championships in 2013 and 2014. Because of knockout events like these, Spokane continues to be a draw for La Rive Spa also reflects the water theme with three waterfalls reminiscent of spring runoff on native lands.
“The Spa has successfully earned the Forbes Four Star rating for the past four years,” Smith says, “validating our dedication to excellence in service as well as the beauty of our facility. I am personally blessed with an amazing team that is, honestly, the best group of massage therapists, estheticians and nail and hair stylists in this area. We all take great pride in what we do and are honored to represent the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.”
national and world-wide sports events—filling our region with traveling athletes and fans alike. You have helped the region realize the economic, social and communitybuilding benefits of sports.
WWW.SPOKANESPORTS.ORG
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A TIMELINE
Nick Pierre
2008
WITH A THIRD EXPANSION, an additional 50,000 square feet is opened up, expanding the gaming floor and including three new venues — The Q, Liquid and Legends of Fire Cigars and Fine Spirits. The six-story, 549,000-square-foot parking garage also opens, featuring 1,464 parking spaces.
2014
2012
2009
Northern Quest Resort & Casino receives the AAA FOUR DIAMOND AWARD for the Resort. Masselow’s also received its own AAA Four Diamond award, making it one of just six restaurants in the state of Washington so honored. The Kalispel Tribe expands its franchise operations with the opening of a new, stateof-the-art Chevron fuel station and convenience store, a half-mile south of Northern Quest.
Northern Quest is nominated for “Casino of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music Awards for its Pepsi Outdoor Summer Concert series. EPIC restaurant, formerly The Q, reopens after a large remodel and rebrand. The restaurant still features a giant 30-foot-by-10-foot HDTV wall. The Resort & Casino earn the prestigious FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE FOUR-STAR RATING — the gold standard in the hospitality industry since 1958.
The award-winning Masselow’s is rebranded as MASSELOW’S STEAKHOUSE, adding nine USDA Prime cuts of steak to the menu. The Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority (KTEA) opens a new Chevron fuel station and convenience store on Highway 2, creating a new southfacing gateway to the complex. KTEA purchases the former Spokane Country Club, the oldest golf club in the Inland Northwest, and renames it the KALISPEL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. In December, the Tribe celebrates 15 years of steady growth at Northern Quest Resort & Casino.
2015
2004
Another 160,000 square feet is opened to the public, including the PEND OREILLE PAVILION (accommodating more than 1,200 patrons for concerts and entertainment), a new buffet, promenade, gift shop and family-friendly entrance.
Northern Quest hosts the inaugural U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS for women’s boxing, featuring Queen Underwood. The Current Spa is rebranded as La Rive Spa, honoring the Kalispel Tribe’s connection to water, nature and the elements. And the Resort unveils a nearly $1 million remodel and expansion of the River’s Edge Buffet. Finally, the Tribe’s first business located away from the Northern Quest property, Fatburger, opens at Five Mile Shopping Center in North Spokane.
2013
2002
ALREADY OUTGROWING its new home, the Tribe expands its operation with 99,000 additional square feet for gaming and more back-ofhouse space.
Northern Quest opens its first nightclub, Impulse, just off of the casino floor. The Kalispel Tribe also opens two franchise operations inside the Casino — Fatburger and Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen. But the big news is the December grand opening of Northern Quest Resort — a $200 million, 250-room HOTEL AND SPA EXPANSION. Along with the new Resort, the Current Spa and Masselow’s restaurant open for business. This project increases the size of Northern Quest to more than a half-million square feet, and pushes total employment to more than 2,000 people.
2010
2000
In December, the Kalispel Tribe opens the NEW 55,000-SQUARE-FOOT Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights.
After an extensive remodeling project in the clubhouse, the semiprivate Kalispel Golf and Country Club opens to membership and the public. The Kalispel Grill opens in the clubhouse, along with the 1898 Public House — the Club’s first public restaurant. And after 15 years of service and a decade as Director of Tribal Gaming, NICK PIERRE becomes General Manager, overseeing Northern Quest Resort & Casino.
2016
FROM CASINO TO RESORT
FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS
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Thank You Northern Quest Resort & Casino
for choosing us as your construction partner
For a list of projects we’ve completed for Northern Quest, please visit www.lydig.com LydigConstruction @LydigConstruct