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Dan Thrift / Tahoe Daily Tribune file / Caesars Tahoe in Stateline will undergo a name change early next year to MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa.
Tipping its hat to the chic, Columbia Sussex announced Monday it will change the name of Caesars Tahoe to MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, as first reported in the Tahoe Daily Tribune that morning.
Signs reflecting the new name will go up by January. A month later, a grand opening is planned.
MontBleu, which is French for blue mountain, is expected to come with seven restaurants, four nightclubs and a spa. Details of the their names, cuisine and floor plan are due in about a month. The company plans to replace about 200 slot machines. The cost estimate of the remodeling job is undisclosed at this point.
The property will be run by two general managers - one on the casino side and the other overseeing the hotel.
Signs reflecting the new name will go up by January. A month later, a grand opening is planned.
MontBleu, which is French for blue mountain, is expected to come with seven restaurants, four nightclubs and a spa. Details of the their names, cuisine and floor plan are due in about a month. The company plans to replace about 200 slot machines. The cost estimate of the remodeling job is undisclosed at this point.
The property will be run by two general managers - one on the casino side and the other overseeing the hotel.
"It will be a complete re-configuration," said Fred Buro, chief marketing officer for parent company Columbia Sussex.
The Fort Mitchell, Ky., company, which also owns Horizon Casino Resort and operates 80 hotels, resorts and casinos in 28 states, bought Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment's Tahoe property for $45 million in June. The transaction came with Columbia Sussex agreeing to use the Caesars name for no more than a year.
"I can tell you all references to the Roman theme will be gone. It's not going to be a French property. But we spent a lot of money in focus groups. What we came up with is a cool, contemporary, visual image," Buro said.
The idea is to position the casino to appeal to a young demographic seeking a place for sophistication. Columbia Sussex has mentioned the Palms of Las Vegas as an example. Buro hinted the MontBleu design from the music to the lighting will reflect the mood.
The Fort Mitchell, Ky., company, which also owns Horizon Casino Resort and operates 80 hotels, resorts and casinos in 28 states, bought Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment's Tahoe property for $45 million in June. The transaction came with Columbia Sussex agreeing to use the Caesars name for no more than a year.
"I can tell you all references to the Roman theme will be gone. It's not going to be a French property. But we spent a lot of money in focus groups. What we came up with is a cool, contemporary, visual image," Buro said.
The idea is to position the casino to appeal to a young demographic seeking a place for sophistication. Columbia Sussex has mentioned the Palms of Las Vegas as an example. Buro hinted the MontBleu design from the music to the lighting will reflect the mood.
"There are 29 million Californians out there. I don't think Lake Tahoe gets its fair share of that. We want to raise the bar and differentiate ourselves," he said.
It's unknown of how the changes will specifically affect the personnel pool. But Buro said he believes the rate of employees coming and going will be of a normal attrition. For example, those working in the Roman Feast restaurant, one of the few eateries and two nightclubs there now, will probably be trained for the incoming restaurant.
John Packer of Harrah's Lake Tahoe thinks the investment is a good thing for the area.
"It can create Tahoe as more of an attraction with whatever their plans are," said Packer, who also serves as the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority chairman. The TDVA is a Stateline arm of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
It's unknown of how the changes will specifically affect the personnel pool. But Buro said he believes the rate of employees coming and going will be of a normal attrition. For example, those working in the Roman Feast restaurant, one of the few eateries and two nightclubs there now, will probably be trained for the incoming restaurant.
John Packer of Harrah's Lake Tahoe thinks the investment is a good thing for the area.
"It can create Tahoe as more of an attraction with whatever their plans are," said Packer, who also serves as the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority chairman. The TDVA is a Stateline arm of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
Columbia Sussex management is aware of the LTVA branding the region the "Blue World" in its $1 million advertising campaign.
"I think they've done their homework," he said.
Carl Ribaudo, an LTVA board member, said the casino selecting a blue name bodes well for the campaign.
"For an organization of that size putting blue on its name speaks well for the Blue World. There are a lot of businesses in the community who have made the connection," Ribaudo said.
They include: the BlueGo bus service, Blue Angel Cafe and Blue Water Bistro. But the latter evidently took the blue name by coincidence, Timber Cove Pier restaurant manager Kristin Mozzochi said.
"I think they've done their homework," he said.
Carl Ribaudo, an LTVA board member, said the casino selecting a blue name bodes well for the campaign.
"For an organization of that size putting blue on its name speaks well for the Blue World. There are a lot of businesses in the community who have made the connection," Ribaudo said.
They include: the BlueGo bus service, Blue Angel Cafe and Blue Water Bistro. But the latter evidently took the blue name by coincidence, Timber Cove Pier restaurant manager Kristin Mozzochi said.
