THACKERVILLE, OKLA. - Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby was joined by tribe dignitaries and local officials Friday, Sept. 9 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the newest upscale development at WinStar World Casino and Resort: the WinStar Convention Center.
The luxurious multi-purpose facility, spanning 66,950 square feet, is located at the southeast corner of the casino, with direct access to the casino's gaming floor and hotel towers.
Gov. Anoatubby said the WinStar Convention Center creates new jobs for area residents as well as builds on the casino's economic impact in the region, as it is expected to draw visitors from around the region, and beyond.
"The WinStar Convention Center will draw even greater numbers of worldwide visitors and serve as a platform to showcase the WinStar campus, as well as bring more tourism to Chickasaw Country," Gov. Anoatubby said.
More than 50 jobs will be added to the casino-resort, bringing the total number of employees to 3,673.
The state-of-the art facility is located along Interstate 35, giving business travelers, companies, organizations and wedding planners a destination to hold meetings, events, conventions and conferences of varying sizes with a resort experience.
"The design of the convention center enables multiple events to be held at the same time," said Bill Lance, Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce. "We took great consideration with the layout of the facility with the customer experience at the forefront of our planning. Guests can expect a world-class experience whether it's for an elegant wedding or large, multi-day business conference."
Measuring over 15,000 square feet, the convention center's grand ballroom has capacity for up to 1,000 people and is equipped with a flexible wall system as well as audio, video and lighting capabilities. Smaller groups can secure the junior ballroom, which can accommodate up to 700 guests. There are also three executive boardrooms and a kitchen for event catering.
Casino officials said the decor elements of the grand and junior ballrooms give them an elegant touch. One example is the 17 chandeliers located grand ballroom – each featuring numerous hand-blown glass pieces delicately installed by hand.
Designed by Oklahoma City-based architectural firm Rees Associates, construction for the convention center began in April 2015. Manhattan Construction Group served as general contractor for the project.
Tags:
