Holtmann Joins Raving Consulting as VP of Communications
RENO -- Reno-based Raving Consulting Company is pleased to announce the addition of Andy Holtmann to its staff. As the company’s new vice president of communications, Andy will be responsible for handling the company’s day-to-day communications and public relations operations. He will also take a lead role in developing new business initiatives and company growth strategies. Prior to joining Raving, Andy spent more than eight years in editorial roles with Casino Journal. He had served as the magazine’s editor since January 2006 and played an instrumental role in other facets of business for parent company BNP Media’s Gaming Group division. Andy has also served as a reporter and managing editor of the Pahrump Valley Gazette and as a reporter for the Las Vegas Sun.

Mohegan Sun Promotes Robertson to Director of Hotel Operations
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Mohegan Sun recently promoted Lisa Robertson to Director of Hotel Operations. In her new role, Robertson will be responsible for approximately 1,200 guest rooms and suites, pool and staff operations, a staff of more than 120 employees, guest services, front office operations, Sagamore and Aquai VIP Reception, and the Concierge Department. The greatest responsibilities Robertson will face will be to plan, open and hire employees for the new 920-room Earth Tower set to open in 2010. Robertson's career at Mohegan Sun began as an Assistant Hotel Manager in 2002, and in July 2006 she was promoted to Hotel Manager. This past February, Robertson was promoted to Director of Housekeeping where she was responsible for a staff of 300 housekeeping employees. She will bring more than 14 years of experience to her new position. Currently, she is an active member of Mohegan Sun's Core Leadership Program and Freeman Train, a trainer/service management program at Mohegan Sun. Robertson has also received a number of awards from Mohegan Sun including “Leader of the Season,” as well as the Micimee Award for perfect attendance.

Steelman Named Executive Sous Chef of Fine Dinning at Mohegan Sun
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Mohegan Sun is pleased to announce that Jeffrey Steelman has been named Executive Sous Chef of Fine Dinning. In his new role, Chef Steelman will design and manage fine-dining menu selections throughout the property. He will administer several restaurants including: The Longhouse, Pompeii & Caesar, Birches and Todd English’s Tuscany, and will oversee more than 60 culinary staff members. For the past seven years Chef Steelman has worked for many of Mohegan Sun’s signature restaurants, most recently as Chef De Cuisine of Todd English’s Tuscany. During his tenure, Chef Steelman also served as Restaurant Sous Chef for the property’s former signature gourmet restaurant, Rain.

Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino Adding Two Entertainment Venues to Santa Fe Scene
SANTA FE -- Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, a combined project of the Pueblo of Pojoaque and Hilton Hotels Corporation, is bringing to Santa Fe a thrilling entertainment line-up at Blue Tower Lounge and Turquoise Trail Bar & Grill. Both venues are located on the casino level and will open with the resort on Aug. 12, 2008. Blue Tower Lounge will offer an upscale nightlife experience that is sleek and stylish. This high-end location will feature signature cocktails, a flair bar, VIP packages, bottle service and live entertainment for the ultimate night out in Santa Fe. The first guests of Blue Tower Lounge will be delighted by the electrifying energy of Latin Vida. Recognized for their unique blend of Top 40, Latin Crossover, Latin Traditional, and stage choreography, Latin Vida sizzles with listening and visual excitement. The first guests of Turquoise Trail Bar & Grill will be wooed by the charismatic guitar of “living legend” Wayne Wesley Johnson, an internationally known talent and pioneer of the new “jazzamento” movement.

The Mill Casino Opens 92-Room Hotel
NORTH BEND, Ore. -- A careful snip of a ceremonial ribbon declared a new seven-story hotel is now open for business at The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park. Officials from the Coquille Indian Tribe and its businesses were joined by community members at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the latest addition to the Oregon South Coast’s tourism and hospitality offerings. A week later, every room was filled as The Mill’s top players and regular guests flocked to the coast to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend and get a first chance to see the results of two years of construction on the casino and hotel expansion. Guest rooms in the 92-room hotel tower offer a contemporary décor with luxurious pillow-top beds, flat-screen televisions and bay views from nearly every room. Six luxury suites provide added comfort including soaking tubs with a bay view as well as private outdoor patios where guests can take in the sights of scenic Coos Bay. Coupled with the existing 112-room lodge, The Mill Hotel is among the largest on Oregon’s South Coast. A stairway from the remodeled lobby and registration area leads to a second floor complex that includes an ample reception area and five meeting rooms. The lobby and second floor areas also feature several Coquille Tribe cultural exhibits including an interactive display presenting the story telling tradition of the Coquille people. The hotel opening marks the near completion of a multi-year expansion project that has touched nearly every area of the facility. The final piece of the project -- an indoor pool with outdoor, bayside hot tubs along with a fitness room, arcade and business center -- is scheduled for completion in mid July.

San Manuel Amphitheater Set to Debut
SAN MANUEL INDIAN NATION, Calif. -- San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino and Live Nation have announced a long-term agreement for exclusive naming rights to North America’s largest amphitheater. Effective immediately, the facility formerly known as Glen Helen Pavilion will be rebranded San Manuel Amphitheater. San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino is one of Southern California’s premier entertainment destinations. They’re known for providing incredible live performances by some of the biggest names in the industry. This announcement further demonstrates their commitment to providing great forums for live entertainment to the greater Los Angeles area. Rated by fans and artists alike as one of the most spectacular outdoor venues in Southern California, San Manuel Amphitheater is located amongst the majestic foothills of San Bernardino. It offers the largest capacity of any amphitheater in North America. Depending upon the individual show and its production requirements, as many as 65,000 fans can enjoy top-notch entertainment under a picturesque sky.

Mohegan Sun Welcomes Dixon as Director of Poker
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Mohegan Sun introduces Bruce Dixon as the new Director of Poker. Dixon brings over a decade of experience in the Atlantic City gaming industry to his new position. As the Director of Poker, Dixon is responsible for training and evaluating over 300 poker personnel, ensuring proper table security, strategic planning and budget analysis, and implementing Mohegan Sun poker policies and procedures. Prior to joining Mohegan Sun, Dixon served as Poker Room Shift Manager of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. There, he assisted in the grand opening and expansion of Borgata’s 85-table poker room. Additionally, Dixon has held the position of Shift Manager at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, as well as Floor Supervisor at the Trump Taj Mahal, in Atlantic City.

Turning Stone Celebrates 15 Years
ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS -- The Oneida Nation will celebrate Turning Stone Resort and Casino’s 15th anniversary with a ceremonial cake-cutting event at 11 a.m. July 21. The event is one of many planned during Turning Stone Resort and Casino’s Sizzling Summer Celebration. Ray Halbritter, Nation Representative and CEO, members of the Nation’s Council, and special guests are scheduled to attend the event, planned for The Garden adjacent to The Tower lobby. So much has changed since Turning Stone opened in 1993. The Oneidas, and the community at large, have witnessed numerous positive changes:

• The Oneidas have transformed from a poverty stricken group into a respected, productive and cohesive Nation.
• Major quality-of-life programs were introduced to Members. Because of such innovative programs, Oneidas have been able to further their education and encourage their children to obtain high school and college degrees. Members have become first-time home owners and are receiving quality healthcare services.
• Members are working to preserve Oneida culture through various programs including language, traditional crafts, lacrosse, living history programs and more.
• As an economic engine, the Nation has been able to expand its business offerings, launching S?vOn brand convenience stores and gas stations, offering marina services, and opening Name Brand Deals stores in Chittenango and Syracuse.
• The Oneidas established Four Directions Media, which includes Indian Country Today, the nation’s leading American Indian news source; Four Directions Productions 3D animation and HD cinematography group; and First Allies Living History Group.
• Once a modest gaming hall with a buffet and coffee shop, Turning Stone has grown into a full-service resort with several upscale restaurants, including the AAA Four Diamond-rated Wildflowers, and luxury accommodations at The Lodge and The Tower, also rated Four Diamonds by AAA.
• Atunyote Golf Course became home to The Turning Stone Resort Championship. In its first year, this PGA TOUR event raised nearly $250,000 for local charities through the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund. According to the PGA TOUR, events like this can pump millions of dollars into the host region’s economy.
• In fiscal 2007, the Nation spent $458.5 million for employee wages and goods and services from outside vendors. In 1993, the Nation’s total expenditures on these were $76.5 million.
• Today, the Nation is the fourth-largest employer in the 16-county Central New York area with nearly 5,000 people on staff. (Before Turning Stone opened in 1993, the Nation employed 201 people.)

Best New Table Games of 2008 Competition
Finally! A contest that puts table games companies and game concept creators back in the limelight -- the Best New Table Games of 2008 Competition. At the inaugural Raving’s Cutting Edge Table Games Conference, Sept. 14-16 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, many of the recent new table games ideas, advancements and innovations will not only have venue to be exclusively showcased, but also to be honored by the people that matter most -- the gaming industry’s table games professionals. Thanks to the boom of poker’s popularity in recent years, other table games that were perhaps in danger of fading into the oblivion have experienced a stunning resurgence. The Best New Table Games of 2008 Competition is open to individuals or companies that have developed (or own the rights to) casino table games which have been created in the last three years and currently have less than 50 total units in casinos worldwide. They must be fairly considered to be a table game for a table game environment, not an electronic version of a table game. Poker games and poker game variations are acceptable. Booth space at the show and entry to this year’s contest almost immediately sold out. Judging for the Best New Table Games of 2008 Competition will be conducted by attendees of Raving’s Cutting Edge Table Games Conference who have no affiliation with any of the individuals or companies whose new table games are entered in the competition. The main judging will occur during the opening night reception for the conference Sept. 14 from 6-9 p.m. Additional time for judging will be allotted during the conference for qualified attendees unable to attend the opening night reception. Attendees who fully complete the judging process will then be entered to win a drawing for a trip for two (including airfare) to Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, an acknowledged industry leader in table games operation and innovation. Results of The Best New Table Games of 2008 Competition will be tallied by a point system based on the number of first-, second- and third-place votes each entrant receives.

Navajo Gaming Announces New Hires
CHURCH ROCK, N.M. -- The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (NNGE) continues to build its management team with leaders in the industry by choosing Michael Devaney as COO and Renee Martin as the Human Resource Director for the casino. Devaney brings more than 13 years of experience in gaming and resort operations, including the most recent three in Native American gaming. Not only has he served in management positions for other casinos, Devaney has also been responsible for the actual design and construction of the Victorian Penny Park Casino as well as the Emerald Island Casino in Nevada. Along with Devaney’s full time jobs in Casino Finance and Operations, he also served as the President Elect of the Gila County Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of the Economic Development Committee for Southern Gila County and taught history, political science, business and economics at the college level for the past 14 years. Martin will be the Human Resource Director for the Enterprise. Martin was the Human Resources Director for Seven Clans Casinos in Red Lake, Minnesota for a number of years; she brings several years of senior level gaming and resort Human Resource and development experience to the team as well as 12 years of senior level academic development and leadership experience.