See our new insights on navigating Covid-19 in Indian Gaming Magazine
See article in Indian Gaming Magazine
Insights from HBG Design Principal, Dike Bacon:
NAVIGATION: HBG Design has historically been able to navigate through industry challenges in a nimble fashion – and that hasn’t changed with COVID-19. Like many professional services firms around the country, we transitioned both our Memphis and San Diego offices to a work-from-home model in response to COVID-19. We were pro-active with this decision before local government directives required it. Our primary goal was and still is to keep our staff safe and healthy. Fortunately, we had plenty of very sophisticated technological platforms and accessible infrastructure in place to move swiftly and be fully operational in a matter of days.
Regarding our tribal clients, we have been fortunate in that much of our work has continued to progress. A number of our projects have continued through planning and design phases. It seems many clients have proactively decided to continue to advance their projects and get them ready for construction when the timing is right. We also have a number of projects that were in construction pre-COVID-19 and these have continued to progress through the pandemic. A big part of this success is attributed to construction companies that implemented numerous health and safety protocols in order to keep projects on schedule.
DRAWING CUSTOMERS: We have been studying the re-design of a number of the typical resort amenities. One of the most important has been food and beverage. We think that design solutions that respond to spacing requirements and COVID-19 restrictions should be flexible and adaptable as conditions continue to change and improve. This means more modular systems and easily modified seating arrangements that can actually create a feeling of luxury and exclusivity. The temporary re-use of existing conference and meeting space has been in recent discussions. The conference business will come back but in the interim these large spaces can creatively and temporarily be used for gaming space. Wiring, security and ingress/egress have to be addressed but it can work. In the right climates, increased outdoor activities may continue to be a very successful way to serve higher numbers of guests and keep the proper distances.
New Insights: Sportsbook Design as seen in Tribal Government Gaming
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/tribal_government_gaming_2020/22
HBG Design's 2020 Predictions for Hospitality & Gaming Industry
As published in Indian Gaming Magazine's Ask the Experts Column titled "Spotlight on 2020 and Beyond"
Big data and the leverage of big data will continue to have a huge impact on Indian Gaming and the entertainment and hospitality industry for years to come. Data is such a significant part of our everyday lives and the management and analysis of big data by AI (artificial intelligence) is stunning if not a bit shocking. Like it or not, big data is watching you. Virtually every digital interaction we choose to make – things like internet engagement and behavior, tele-communications, electronic/card transactional history, social media activity, etc. – leaves a digital trail that is collected and stored. Similarly, location-based services and cell phone connections track our physical moves, from major travel activity to simple everyday actions like walking down the street or migrating through a store or a casino. Our movements are mapped and stored. It’s virtually impossible to hide. There’s certainly no hiding from the steady improvements in facial recognition software or even parking lot license plate readers. Cameras are literally everywhere. Law enforcement agencies, security companies, retailers, and casinos are implementing these new technologies that instantly connect a face or a car to a person and then to a huge wealth of data.
Big data has become a significant tool in creating competitive advantage, having a profound and positive impact on Indian Gaming. When a gaming operation knows what its guest wants; when they know what their personal preferences and spending habits are; that enterprise is much better positioned to create tailored products, services, and experiences and deliver them in very personal and memorable ways. When a guest gets what he wants, he’ll spend more, patronize more, and in many instances, drive further for the personalized experience. It’s been said that the most successful brands have an emotional connection to their customers. Big data can provide insight into demographic, behavioral and psychographic attributes like values, attitudes, and beliefs that resonate personally and culturally. Big data offers casino resorts the opportunity to create real value that connects directly to their customer base. And by the same example, when a casino knows very detailed demographic and psychographic information about the customers that it doesn’t have, the casino is much better equipped to design and deliver very targeted and tailored amenities with higher projected returns and success rates.
At HBG Design, we have been exploring and leveraging demographic, behavioral and psychographic data in order to enlighten our clients about its impact on competitiveness. Data can inform planning and design decisions that are targeted and specific. Generally, most existing casino operators know their guests through loyalty programs and surveys; which are often narrow and depend upon guest participation. By diving deeper and studying information such as detailed spending habits, income levels, travel habits, casino visitation, etc., we can improve decision-making, and uncover valuable insights that influence program, quality levels and price points. The benefits of big data are still unfolding in our industry, but the results of leveraging this kind resource are clear: higher guest satisfaction, competitive advantage, and of course higher profits.
The Commercial Appeal Names HBG Design a Top Workplace for Fifth Year in a Row
The Commercial Appeal has awarded HBG Design a 2019 Top Workplace Honor for the fifth year in a row. The Top Workplaces award is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner, Energage, LLC. The survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, values, execution and connection, just to name a few. “HBG is very intentional about promoting our core values across the organization,” said Terri Struminger, Chief Operating Officer of HBG Design. “We have a highly engaged team of talented professionals who inspire creativity and comradery in our daily experiences. The reward and acknowledgement of our strong workplace culture – especially for the fifth year in a row – is a compelling message to our team.”
HBG Design Continues to Rank Among Top Hospitality Design Firms in the Country
HBG Design Ranks Fifth in the Hotel Business Top Architects & Designers Survey. See complete list here.
Luxury Reimagined - The Spa at Cache Creek Resort as Featured in Global Gaming Business Casino Style Magazine
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/casino_style_2019/10
Sycuan Casino Resort Featured in Global Gaming Business Casino Style Magazine
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/casino_style_2019/28
Caesars Southern Indiana's New $90 Million Casino Opens for Business
ELIZABETH, Ind. (WDRB) -- Hundreds of people streamed into the new, $90 million land-based Caesars Southern Indiana casino on Thursday, saddling up to blackjack tables, slot machines and a Las Vegas-style sports betting theater.
The new facility replaces the Glory of Rome riverboat casino that operated as Horseshoe Southern Indiana for the past two decades.
Indiana lawmakers in 2015 allowed riverboat casinos to move on land.
"That really got us thinking, is there a better way to run a business than on a riverboat?" said Caesars Southern Indiana general manager Brad Seigel.
The 110,000 square-foot complex combines entertainment, dining, shopping and gaming on one floor, whereas the riverboat casino had four floors.
"The riverboat was great for 20 years, but if you are on the fourth level of the riverboat, you might have no idea what's going on on the second. Now can see from corner to corner," Seigel said.
Indiana legalized sports betting earlier this year. The casino has an area called The Book with wagering windows, kiosks, plush seats, huge TV screens and a large bar. Guests can bet on football, basketball, baseball and other sports.
A dining area called Piazza has five restaurants including pizza, Mexican and Asian foods. There is also a 24-hour restaurant for burgers and other fare along with a home-style restaurant serving foods like fried chicken and barbecue ribs.
Several new bars and lounges are included. Volt Lounge will offer craft cocktails and live entertainment on the weekends. The Juno Bar is in the center of the gaming floor, and the Laurel Lounge and its outdoor balcony is exclusively for Caesars Rewards VIPs.
Tony Rodio, CEO of Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment Corp., said Thursday that the bricks-and-mortar casino should attract even customers who don't gamble.
"There was no way anyone was going to that riverboat and spending an evening if they weren't interested in gambling. You could, I think, have an enjoyable evening here without making a wager," he said.
The casino also includes High Limits gaming with private parlors and a non-smoking gaming area.
Caesars Southern Indiana has also renovated existing meeting and convention spaces to accommodate larger groups.
Design of One Beale's second hotel approved
See full article in The Daily Memphian
By: Tom Bailey
December 5, 2019
The Design Review Board unanimously approved the proposed look of a second hotel for One Beale after hearing staff praise a plan that is "designed with authenticity and honors the heritage of the city."
The nine-story hotel was added to the $180 million, mixed-use project for which construction already has started on a 227-room Hyatt Centric hotel, 232 apartments and a 475-space parking structure.
But it was way HBG Design and developer Chance Carlisle and his Carlisle Development Corp. plan to preserve and use the historic facade of the industrial Ellis Building at 245 S. Front that drew compliments and a quick, positive vote from the board.
The bulk of the old machine shop, immediately south of the Hyatt Centric site, will be demolished. But the ornate, front facade will be preserved, bolstered and used as a border to a 17-foot-wide courtyard.
The courtyard will be sandwiched between the old wall and front of the boutique hotel.
The boutique hotel's second-floor meeting space will look out over the courtyard, "creating a unique space that will not only be a strong attribute to Front Street but also to guests and people using the space," Ellery Ammons told board members. She is development coordinator for the Downtown Memphis Commission.
In razing most of the old building, HBG Design principal Mark Weaver told the board, "We will try to harvest a lot of the timbers and reuse them in the lobby as a ceiling."
A board member asked Carlisle if he could reveal the name of the brand of the boutique hotel.
"We are itching to announce it," Carlisle responded. "... We are significantly down the way with a particular brand and I think everyone will be extremely happy with who they are and what they represent.
"We will make that announcement in the next month or two."
The boutique hotel will be brick. Asked what color, Weaver said dark gray is being considered. "We want it to stand out against that white face," he said, referring to the Ellis Building facade.
The old Ellis machine shop complex comprises six buildings, and Carlisle plans an adaptive re-use for four of them.
Design Review Board chairman Ray Brown, addressing Carlisle, said, "Once again, thank you for all you are doing and have done for Downtown. It's remarkable."
Carlisle has said his plan is to have the boutique hotel open by May 2021.
The Hyatt Centric is to open by December 2020 and the first apartments of The Landing Residences should be available to rent by spring 2021, he has said.