Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

By Donald Wittkowski, The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.McClatchy-Tribune Regional News

April 03, 2011--ATLANTIC CITY -- Atlantic City's stagnant gaming market means that Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is still the newest place in town, even though it is approaching eight years old.

But Borgata won't hold that distinction much longer. The $2.4 billion Revel megaresort, rising at the northern end of the Boardwalk, will open in mid-2012 to finally break the casino drought.

Revel's upscale casino is expected to compete for the same well-heeled customers who now gamble at the posh Borgata, so Borgata is giving itself a fresher look to fight its younger rival.

Boyd Gaming Corp., Borgata's parent company, is spending about $50 million to renovate the casino's 2,000-room hotel tower. More than 300 suites were redesigned last year. Renovations are now under way on 1,600 regular guest rooms, hallways and other parts of the hotel. Completion is scheduled for summer 2012, about the same time Revel will open.

Borgata is keeping things under wraps at this time -- declining to release architectural designs, allow photographers inside for a sneak peek or even discuss the project beyond a brief written statement.

"Offering a compelling guest room or suite experience has been an important aspect of the relationship that we enjoy with our customers. For many of them, the enduring comfort and style of our guest rooms has made Borgata their 'home away from home,'" Dave Coskey, Borgata's vice president of marketing, said in the statement.

Harvey Perkins, a casino analyst and executive vice president of Spectrum Gaming Group, called Borgata's project a "brilliant reinvestment strategy." Using the now-defunct Sands Casino Hotel as an example, he noted that older gaming halls that neglect their appearance are doomed in a highly competitive market.

"By deploying fresh rooms, they will continue to position themselves as a preferred destination among their customer groups," Perkins said of Borgata. "The timing of their deployment in 2012 also shows their defensive posture due to the anticipated opening of Revel. From where I sit, it's more about Revel."

Simple arithmetic indicates Borgata will spend about $31,000 per room for the 1,600-room renovation, a figure that Perkins called "adequate."

Borgata, which opened in July 2003, has more hotel rooms than any other Atlantic City casino. Its main 2,000-room tower was joined in 2008 by the new 800-room Water Club, a boutique-style property that cost $400 million to build.

Perkins said Borgata's hotel renovations are not only aimed at Revel, but also at the rival Pennsylvania casinos.

"This is a posture of anticipating new hotels in Pennsylvania," he said.

Since casino gambling began in Pennsylvania in 2006, Atlantic City gaming revenue has plunged from a peak of $5.2 billion in 2006 to $3.6 billion in 2010.

Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Pocono Mountains is the only Pennsylvania casino that currently has a hotel. However, the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem is preparing to open a 300-room hotel this spring. Other Pennsylvania casinos are considering hotel projects in hopes of becoming more like the resort-style properties in Atlantic City.

"I think hotels are the next obvious step in this market. In order to compete, we need more amenities," Wendy Hamilton, general manager of the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, said in remarks last month during the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress. "When you want to game, you stay in Pennsylvania. When you want a weekend, you go to Atlantic City."

Pennsylvania originally was limited to slot machines, but added table games last July to become an even tougher competitor for Atlantic City. In 2010, Pennsylvania's 10 casinos grossed about $2.7 billion in gaming revenue, compared to $3.6 billion for the 11 properties in Atlantic City.

Wall Street analysts, during a panel discussion at the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress, predicted that Pennsylvania's surging gaming industry will likely overtake the slumping Atlantic City casinos in 2012 to become the nation's second-largest casino market behind Nevada.

Contact Donald Wittkowski:
609-272-7258
DWittkowski@pressofac.com

Atlantic City, NJ (March 19, 2008) - This June, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa will redefine dining in Atlantic City, when it opens Izakaya - A Modern Japanese Pub. The East Coast's preeminent dining destination welcomes acclaimed chef and star of Style Network's "Pantry Raid," Michael Schulson, who will oversee this innovative concept, offering guests a unique way to indulge their appetites for both enticing Japanese cuisine and an alluring social scene, within a sensual, energetic environment.

"Opening my first restaurant at Borgata was a natural decision for me as it truly elevated the city to a leading dining destination," said Chef Michael Schulson. "My vision for Izakaya is to offer a contemporary interpretation of Japanese fare in a unique setting that is upscale, but not uptight."


By traditional Japanese terms, an izakaya is a cross between a restaurant and bar, bringing together diverse types of Japanese cuisine under one roof. Borgata will push the boundaries of the concept, crafting its own interpretation of "a modern Japanese pub" by infusing a refreshing, contemporary and playful vibe throughout several of Izakaya's engaging environments. Guests can choose to converse over small plates and cocktails at the communal sushi and sake bars, or alternatively dine in one of the more intimate restaurant areas, which will offer options for a full, multi-course meal. The restaurant will also boast an authentic Robatayaki grill or Japanese barbeque, allowing guests to dine at the Robatayaki bar.


Izakaya's tempting cocktails and sharable plates make it the premier spot for after-hours nosh and drinks, or a delicious late night meal. The restaurant's wide selection of traditional and contemporary drinks dually make it the ideal start to a night of dancing and socializing for guests set to continue their evening at nightclubs mur.mur and MIXX. A resident DJ will set the mood throughout the space with combinations of sensual beats and upbeat global sounds, making Izakaya the place to see and be seen for the fashionable set.


Inspired by his time living in Japan and global travels, Schulson will create a dining experience that celebrates traditional Japanese culture with classic dishes, an expanded sushi menu and tea service presented with a modern approach. Menu highlights include Poached Sweet Shrimp with Sake Cherry Bomb; Lobster Ramen Noodles with Lemongrass and Tobiko; Teriyaki Pork Belly with Spicy Shallots and Steamed Buns; fresh fish options such as Tuna Tartare with Smoked Ponzu and Hamachi Salad with Ramps Spring Onions and Hot Oil; light refreshing salads, tempura and meat and seafood from the Robatayaki grill. Many of the ingredients served at Izakaya will be sourced locally and Schulson will create a flavored soy sauce and udon noodles, among other menu staples, as a foundation to many signature dishes. Schulson's menu items will be complemented by signature cocktails and a vast array of high-end sake, hand-picked by the restaurant's Sake Sommelier.

The stylish restaurant, created by New York based designers Rafael Alvarez and Brannen Brock of Alvarez-Brock Design, offers a contemporary interpretation of Asian elements, including a floating glass sake bar, a modern pagoda-style sushi bar and a glass bridge entrance over water. The restaurant will accommodate up to 200 guests. The multi-leveled, dimly lit space offers a number of experienced-based dining options, creating a unique energy throughout the room.


"Izakaya will offer guests a seamless blend of dining and nightlife in a singular destination," explains Nicolas Kurban, VP of Food and Beverage for Borgata. "The innovative concept will further elevate and diversify Borgata's dining portfolio with Michael Schulson's exceptional cuisine and an atmosphere that's fun, lively and equally enticing. With the addition of Michael to our roster of celebrated chefs, no where else on the East Coast can you experience such high-caliber dining."
Michael Schulson and Izakaya join Borgata's stellar of chefs and restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck (Wolfgang Puck American Grille), Bobby Flay (Bobby Flay Steak), Michael Mina (SEABLUE - A Michael Mina Restaurant), Geoffrey Zakarian (The Water Club, A Signature Hotel By Borgata - opening June 2008) and restaurants Old Homestead Steakhouse, Specchio and Ombra.


About Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Borgata is a joint venture of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) and MGM MIRAGE NYSE:MGM). Located at Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, it features 2,000 guest rooms and suites, 161,000 square feet of gaming, 200 gaming tables, 4,100 slot machines, 14 destination restaurants, 12 retail boutiques, a 54,000 square foot spa, 70,000 square feet of event space and parking for 7,100 cars. For more information on Borgata, please visit theborgata.com. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at boydgaming.com; additional information on MGM MIRAGE can be found at mgmmirage.com. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at ; additional information on MGM MIRAGE can be found at

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Contact:
Noel Stevenson
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
609.317.7380/noelstevenson@theborgata.com

7:30 p.m. Update - Add two more celebrity chefs to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa's high-profile culinary roster as Geoffrey Zakarian and Michael Schulson will join Borgata's dining lineup.

Zakarian, chef/owner of Manhattan's Country and Town restaurants, will be the first to offer celebrity branded, in-room dining in the city. It will be available in The Water Club, a $400 million, 800-room hotel that will open this summer.

Schulson (Style Network's "Pantry Raid," "The Today Show") will open an "innovative Asian restaurant and nightlife experience" in the former location of Susanna Foo's Suilan. Schulson also served as executive chefs for Stephen Starr restaurants, including Buddakan in New York.

Details for both projects are still being finalized. Menus have not been created yet, and Schulson's new eatery doesn't even have a name, though it is expected to open by summer.

Giving Borgata visitors access to branded room service meals is sure to up the ante in Atlantic City's already competitive dining scene.

"My restaurants are located inside boutique hotels," said Zakarian, who has made appearances on NBC's "The Today Show" and Bravo's "Top Chef." "The Water Club is a boutique hotel, and this is really a natural extension for me. It will be all about differentiating ourselves with our room service. It will be an experience so that people will want to order room service. It won't be just an afterthought."

"Having Geoffrey for our in-room dining shows The Water Club is not just another tower. It will be a boutique hotel experience," said Larry Mullin, Borgata's president and chief operating officer.

Schulson, who worked at the Four Seasons in Japan, said Japanese cooking is one of his major strengths that he plans to exploit.

"It will be something new and different that most people have not seen in Japanese cuisine," said Schulson, who was developing an Asian restaurant in Manhattan that he has now put on hold for the Borgata project.

Zakarian and Schulson join Bobby Flay Steak, Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Michael Mina Seablue, Luke Palladino's Ombra and Specchio and Marc and Greg Sherry's Old Homestead Steakhouse at Borgata.


By SCOTT CRONICK Staff Writer, 609-272-7017
(Published: January 22, 2008)