Two major resort and casino brands recently unveiled new properties in the northeast and south with plentiful meeting and event space for planners. 

Caesars Opens New Resort and Casino in Virginia 

Caesars Entertainment celebrated the grand opening of Caesars Virginia, a new 587,000-square-foot resort destination casino resort and meetings property in Danville, Virg., which is located in southern Virginia along the North Carolina border about 60 miles north of the Research Triangle Park.  

Opened on Dec. 17 with a ceremony led by Caesars executives and attended by local dignitaries and hundreds of community members, Caesars Virginia features a 320-room hotel tower; 50,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and convention space; a more than 90,000-sq.-ft. casino; premium dining outlets, upscale bars and lounges, a full-service spa, a pool, and myriad entertainment offerings. 

“This has been an impressive development project to see come together over the past couple of years and we couldn’t be prouder to finally open the doors of this beautiful destination,” said Caesars Virginia Senior Vice President and General Manager Chris Albrecht at the opening celebration, which included Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, President and COO Anthony Carano, and Regional President Barron Fuller, along with Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Chief Michell Hicks. Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones; Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones; Senator Tammy Mulchi; and Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maggie Beal were also in attendance. 

Kicking off with a parade of race cars and supercars supplied by the Virginia International Raceway, Kaizen Autosport, and Foreign Cars Italia that weaved through the heart of Danville, the celebration featured five-time NBA Champion Dennis Rodman serving as the master of ceremonies and included a ribbon-cutting followed by opportunities for guests to enjoy the new state-of-the-art casino. In the evening, the festivities were capped off with a fireworks and drone show. 

Notable for event groups is resort’s 320-room hotel tower, with rooms offering stunning floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the Southern Virginia skyline and the historic “Three Sisters” smokestacks, as well as 50,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and convention space that is designed to double as a 2,500-seat live entertainment venue.  

Dining options include Ramsay’s Kitchen by multi-Michelin-starred chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay; Dan Dan Noodle Bar; Three Stacks; and the 500 Block Food Hall by local developer Rick Barker and local restaurateur Steve Parry. 

“The grand opening of Caesars Virginia in Danville marks another proud moment of our partnership with Caesars,” said Chief Hicks. “It reflects the EBCI’s commitment to economic growth, job creation, and community investment. We’re honored to be part of an effort that creates lasting opportunities for the people of Danville and the surrounding region.” 

Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana Gears Up to Open Next Month 

The new $270 million Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is getting ready to make its debut on February 13, pending approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, in Louisiana’s Ark-La-Tex region, a unique geographical area where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas converge.  

Situated along the Red River in Bossier City and adjacent to Shreveport, the new gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, and meetings destination features a host of offerings and amenities designed appeal to business and leisure guests alike, including:  

• 12-story, 549-room Live! Hotel with resort-style pool and fitness center 
• A multi-purpose Event Center offering 25,000-sq.-ft. of customizable meeting space that can accommodate groups ranging from 12 to nearly 1,200 guests 
• 30,000 sq. ft. of premium dining outlets and entertainment options, including The Prime Rib steak house; Sports & Social sports bar and restaurant; PBR Cowboy Bar; Luk Fu Asian-themed restaurant; and Ridotto Grand Café 
• 47,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art gaming space, the market’s first-ever land-side casino 
• A 31-site RV park with concrete pads and full hook-ups 

“We are so ready to go Live! in 2025 and deliver this top-tier gaming and entertainment experience that is unmatched by anything else in the four-state region,” said John Chaszar, executive vice president and general manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, which is developed, owned and managed by LRGC Gaming Investors, LLC, an affiliate of The Cordish Companies, a Baltimore-based real estate development and entertainment operating company.  

Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is now accepting reservations. 

Related: NEW LOUISIANA MEETINGS HOTEL AND CASINO SET TO OPEN IN EARLY 2025 

Have some meetings hotel news to share? Reach out to lisa.savas@informa.com and danica.tormohlen@informa.com.

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