NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Leaders from Seneca Gaming Corporation and the Seneca Nation of Indians gathered inside Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino to celebrate the official unveiling of Lounge 101 in the resort’s hotel lobby. The name honors the May 14, 2002 referendum vote of the Seneca people allowing the Nation to enter into a gaming compact with New York State.
“Nineteen years ago, the Seneca people chose to give our government the authority to pursue a new path,” said Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels. “In doing so, they forever changed the trajectory of our Nation. We are happy to see that important moment memorialized here at Seneca Niagara.”
Just seven months after the referendum vote, Seneca Niagara Casino opened its doors. For the first several years the casino was open, Club 101 was a feature destination for guests to enjoy drinks and live music in the middle of the original gaming floor. It was later removed as part of a major renovation and redesign project. Located adjacent to the gaming floor entrance, the new Lounge 101 provides a convenient spot to meet to enjoy hand-crafted cocktails and delicious small plates at the start or the end of their evening. Lounge 101 is currently open from 3 – 10 p.m. Thursday to Sunday.
“We consciously try to reflect elements of Seneca culture and history in the design of our properties. We wanted to revive the 101 name because it is central to our company’s history and the history of the Seneca Nation,” said Lori V. Quigley, Chairwoman of the Seneca Gaming Corporation Board of Directors. “None of what we have accomplished in the years since our doors opened would have been possible without the confidence and strength the Seneca people showed in making that vote.”
In the two decades since the historic vote, the Seneca Nation has invested more than $1 billion to develop its three gaming resorts – Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.
The new Lounge 101 is a key element of the recently completed $40 million Seneca Arrival Experience project, which completely reimagined the atmosphere of the east entrance to the resort, from the moment guests enter into the hotel lobby. The opening comes as Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino once again celebrates its designation as a Four Diamond Award winner from AAA, and as it prepares for the upcoming summer tourism season.
“One of the reasons Seneca Niagara has remained such a strong and popular destination among our guests is that we always strive to exceed their expectations in every area of our operation,” said Seneca Gaming Corporation President & CEO Kevin Nephew. “We’re very excited to see how Lounge 101 elevates the experience for all of our guests. As more and more people continue to come through our door, I’m sure Lounge 101 will quickly become a very popular spot with its own unmistakable energy.”
