Fallsview Casino celebrates a decade of gaming in Niagara

NIAGARA FALLS, ON, June 6, 2014 /CNW/ - Fallsview Casino turns 10 on June 10. The 24-hour casino resort, overlooking the mighty Niagara Falls - one of the top vistas in the world - celebrates a decade of great gaming and strong community partnerships in Niagara.

"This is an incredible milestone for our organization," said Art Frank, President of Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara. "Despite the industry's ebbs and flows, we've remained a competitive player in our market, and as we reflect on our achievements and look forward to the next 10 years, we do so with tremendous gratitude to our patrons, employees and partners, who make us one of North America's premier entertainment and tourist attractions."

To mark its 10th anniversary in June, Fallsview Casino has been offering patrons an assortment of special festivities from exciting gaming promotions and dining experiences to fun promotional giveaways. June's activity calendar is further bolstered by a stellar live entertainment lineup featuring the likes of international percussion sensation STOMP and Grammy-winning Gladys Knight.

When Fallsview Casino opened to the public on June 10, 2004, it signaled the arrival of Las Vegas-style entertainment in Niagara Falls. It represented the largest privately-financed construction project in Canada and a defining role in the tourism revitalization of the City and the Region from a seasonal stopover to a year-round destination.

Ten years later, Fallsview Casino still draws nearly eight million visitors a year with its 2.5 million square feet of shopping, dining, hospitality and entertainment. It remains one of the Region's largest employers and maintains a commitment to its legacy of responsible corporate citizenship and generous community support.

Looking back, Fallsview Casino has a lot to celebrate.

Since the legendary Paul Anka christened the Avalon stage with a pair of shows in June 2004, the casino has hosted nearly 2,500 performances spotlighting many of entertainment's greats such as Sophia Loren, Al Pacino, Ringo Starr, Carol Burnett, Keith Urban, Aretha Franklin, Reba, and more.

As a four-year recipient of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers award, Fallsview Casino has earned recognition and honours highlighting everything from operational excellence and creating a healthy workplace to philanthropy and community partnerships. Grantors include Benefits Canada, Canada's Top 100 Employers, Canadian Cancer Society (Niagara Unit), City of Niagara Falls, United Way, CAA and Wine Spectator, to list only a few.

Readers of the Niagara Falls Review, Toronto Sun and Hamilton Spectator newspapers recently voted Fallsview Casino Resort "Best Live Entertainment Venue", "Ontario's Favourite Casino" and "Favourite Entertainment Destinations (Casino/Slots)", respectively.

"The Readers' Choice awards carry a lot of weight for us because it's awarded based on customer vote," said Frank. "The healthy workplace and philanthropy awards are equally as important because they reflect the kind of company we strive to be for our employees and for our community."

Synonymous with excitement and entertainment, Fallsview Casino continues to push the bar higher to shape impressive audience experiences, including venturing outside the realm of traditional advertising. With a smartphone in nearly everyone's pockets nowadays, Fallsview Casino, in partnership with Toronto's Blammo Worldwide, leveraged mobile technology to launch its first augmented reality billboard in 2013, which gave onlookers a unique and interactive visual experience.

Its ability to push creativity to produce distinctive and humorous marketing campaigns hasn't gone unnoticed in the gaming-entertainment industry, garnering yearly nods in "Best Outdoor Advertisement" and "Best Broadcast Advertisement – Television".

Together, the casinos boast a proud history of corporate philanthropy giving more than $15 million to support an array of social service programs and providers within Niagara, including, but not limited to, the United Way of Niagara Falls and Greater Fort Erie ($3.6M), Niagara Health System Foundation ($2.5M), Niagara Community Foundation ($750,000), Niagara College Foundation ($750,000), Boys & Girls Club for the Niagara Falls Community Centre ($250,000), and McBain Community Centre in Niagara Falls ($250,000).

Fallsview Casino has been a proud, long-time host sponsor of three Niagara signature fundraising events, namely the Niagara Wine Festival's Icewine Gala, Niagara Community Foundation's Cuvée and Niagara College Foundation's Seafood Gala.

The economic impact of Fallsview Casino doesn't stop with charitable contributions. Many employees, executives and senior managers donate thousands of volunteer hours each year serving on boards of local tourism and non‐profit organizations while helping to raise awareness for local initiatives. 

Other Business Highlights 2004-2014:

• Paid out nearly $3B in payroll and benefits largely in the Niagara Region
• Invested nearly $15M in donations to local charities and sponsorship of community events
• Held 17 United Way workplace campaigns with donations exceeding $3.6M; annual donations represent nearly 25% of UW's total campaign goal
• A significant supporter of blockbuster and signature events in Niagara Falls
• Maintain corporate memberships with various local chambers of commerce and destination marketing associations
• Earned ninth consecutive CAA Four-Diamond honours for Fallsview's luxury hotel
• Earned CAA Four-Diamond honours for fine-dining restaurants, 21 Club (eight years) and Ponte Vecchio (four years) as well as Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence for both establishments
• Garnered fourth consecutive designation as one of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers

About Fallsview Casino Resort
Overlooking the world-famous Horseshoe Falls, Fallsview Casino Resort is an award-winning resort that has been offering premier entertainment and superior guest service since 2004. Featuring a CAA Four-Diamond Hotel with 374 luxury rooms and suites, Fallsview Casino Resort houses one of the largest and impressive gaming floors in the world with over 3,000 slot machines and 100 gaming tables. Winner of the Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence and CAA's Four-Diamond Award for its two signature restaurants, Ponte Vecchio and 21 Club, this vibrant resort property also features a full–service spa and fitness centre, a state-of-the-art 1,500-seat Avalon Theatre, dozens of dining and shopping options and over 30,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Fallsview Casino Resort has been voted "Ontario's Favourite Casino" for six consecutive years by Toronto Sun Readers' Choice Awards and recognized as a "Hamilton-Niagara Top Employers" for four consecutive years. For more information, visit fallsviewcasinoresort.com, or call 1-888-325-5788, or on Twitter @NiagaraCasinos

About Casino Niagara
Operating since 1996, Casino Niagara offers non-stop excitement in the heart of Niagara Falls' tourism district. The Casino features action-packed gaming with over 1,500 slot machines, 40 gaming tables, including one of the largest poker rooms in Ontario, a designated sports section and exciting tournaments. The property also includes four restaurants, free live entertainment and Yuk Yuk's standup comedy. For more information, visit casinoniagara.com, or call 1-888-325-5788, or on Twitter @NiagaraCasinos

About Falls Management Company
Falls Management Company is a consortium of five firms selected by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to operate Casino Niagara and to finance, design, build and operate Fallsview Casino Resort. Falls Management Company built Fallsview Casino Resort, on time and on budget, which the Province of Ontario then purchased. In its role of development and operation of the two casino projects in Canada, Falls Management Company creates prestigious, year-round tourist destinations offering a full range of amenities in addition to gaming activities. These facilities help to generate economic development, complement existing tourism infrastructure and expand Niagara's tourist base.

SOURCE: Fallsview Casino

Jennifer Murphy, Communications Specialist, Fallsview Casino Resort, T: 905-371-7538, [email protected], @NiagaraCasinos