Beau Rivage Resort & Casino - The Largest Employer in Biloxi - Puts 3,800 Employees Back to Work
Re-Opens Resort 12 Months After Katrina
BILOXI, Miss., The Beau is back. In a symbolic ceremony led by U.S. Senator Trent Lott, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway and MGM MIRAGE executives, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino opened its doors for business today, ushering in nearly 4,000 employees and continuing the era of hope and recovery for the Gulf Coast.
"The re-opening of Beau Rivage represents a milestone in the recovery of the Coast and underscores an important message that Mississippi is again open for business," said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. "From the earliest days after Katrina, I said the private sector will determine the success of our efforts to build a Mississippi that is bigger and better than ever, and the tourism and entertainment sectors remain absolutely crucial elements of that goal. I applaud the courage, commitment and determination of the Beau's management and employees to get back to work."
For this significant occasion, uniformed Beau Rivage employees paraded up the main drive to the porte cochere for a ceremonial "door opening" as they literally took steps to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives: going back to work. Along both sides of the processional, their families and members of the community lined the streets to support them. Employees were welcomed by Lott, Barbour, Holloway; Terry Lanni, MGM MIRAGE Chairman and CEO; Bobby Baldwin, President and CEO of Mirage Resorts; and George Corchis, President and COO of Beau Rivage. The resort opened to guests immediately following the ceremony.
The opening will have an immediate, significant impact on the local economy while simultaneously helping to revitalize Biloxi tourism as the premier resort destination on the Coast. Gaming has long been a catalyst for economic development in the region, spurring tax income and capital investments to benefit the local community and the entire state.
"MGM MIRAGE is pleased to play a leading role in the rebuilding of Biloxi and helping to reinvigorate Gulf Coast tourism," said Mirage Resorts President and CEO Robert Baldwin. "The State of Mississippi and its leadership have shown tremendous courage in the face of adversity and we have absolute confidence that Biloxi will once again be a top tourist destination. I'd also like to extend a special thank you to our outstanding business partners at Tishman Construction, Yates Construction and Gensler Architecture, as well as our own MGM MIRAGE design team, for helping us achieve an ambitious construction schedule."
Beau Rivage President George Corchis said: "This day is about hope and perseverance. We're extremely proud to bring our employees back to work and of the incredible job our team and partners have done to get the Beau open just 12 months after Katrina. This is a tribute to the people of Biloxi and their unyielding determination to prevail. We share in this determination and will work aggressively to help Biloxi achieve a more prosperous status than ever before."
Beau Rivage currently features 1,740 guest rooms and suites, a redesigned casino, seven restaurants, four lounges and bars, seven retail venues, spa and salon, pool and convention center. Additional restaurants, retail outlets and attractions will be introduced throughout the fourth quarter.
FEATURES OF THE 'NEW' BEAU RIVAGE
* Completely enhanced architecture and interior design scheme boasting
contemporary ambiance infused with the resort's signature southern
charm and elegance
* Redesigned casino floor including a new poker room, state-of-the-art
gaming areas and a stylish high-limit room
* Enhanced atrium and lobby area featuring a variety of magnificent
15-foot butterfly replicas
* Redesigned guest rooms and suites with fresh, modern decor and
luxurious amenities including pillow top mattresses and 32-inch flat
screen TVs
* A spa and salon with an expanded service menu, which includes a fusion
of treatments found at the world's top resorts and perfected with a
southern flair
* New casino lounge -- Breeze Bar -- located at the heart of the action
* 50,000-square-foot meeting and convention facility flexible enough for
small groups or conventions accommodating up to 1,800 people
* Three new gourmet restaurants scheduled to open in December, including
celebrity chef Todd English's Olives
* Fallen Oak Golf Course, designed by Tom Fazio, scheduled to open in
November 2006
