The new MGM Grand at Foxwoods will include 115,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as 825 guest rooms and a 4,000-seat theater.

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Foxwoods Resort Casino, the largest casino in North America, will expand its offerings this May with the debut of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. The new facility will offer 825 luxury guest rooms, 115,000 square feet of meeting space, a 4,000-seat MGM Grand Theater, a 21,000-square-foot spa, and dining, retail and gaming amenities. The casino will feature 1,400 slot machines and 53 game tables, as well as two ultra-lounges that may be rented out for private events.

The $700 million MGM Grand at Foxwoods will be Connecticut’s third-largest resort casino and offer access to Lake of Isles, which features two 18-hole championship golf course designed by Rees Jones and a golf academy. Foxwoods says the new MGM Grand is designed to “bring the outdoors in” and “will reflect the beauty of the resort’s natural surroundings.” This will be accomplished with an outdoor pool, lawn area, outdoor decks and outdoor terraces at select restaurants.

In October 2007, Gillian Murphy was appointed senior vice president and general manager of the new MGM Grand at Foxwoods. She says the MGM Grand will enhance the overall Foxwoods experience by offering guests more choices. “We have richer offerings in non-gaming experiences that will complement the core gaming competency of Foxwoods,” she says. “We have 120,000 square feet of meeting space, tremendously strong technical support in meeting spaces and a state-of-the-art boardroom, as well as celebrity chefs, a nightclub and spa, outdoor pool and cabanas – strong non-gaming offerings that, hitherto, Foxwoods has not explored.”  

‘The Roar Next Door’
The new MGM Grand at Foxwoods is on track for its May opening, Murphy says, and the company plans to launch a $21 million, four-month marketing campaign soon in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. Internally, it has already launched “The Roar Next Door” campaign – a nod to the MGM Grand’s lion logo – among new staff members and existing Foxwoods employees to build excitement and momentum, she notes.

The MGM Grand will employ 2,000 people, including 350 in salaried positions, of which 310 have been filled. The company is focusing on front-line staff hiring now. “We’ve worked with an agency to help us shape our message,” Murphy says. “Our line staff and management applicants complete a seven- to 10-minute online application that suggests to us their tendency to want to provide service for others. A question might be: Someone knocks at your door late at night. Do you: A) turn the light off, B) pretend you’re not in, or C) start making sandwiches in the kitchen. Our strategy is to hire the attitude; train the skill.”

According to Murphy, many people expressed doubts that the company would be able to find 2,000 people to fill its positions in Connecticut. As of last week, she says, 13,000 applications had been received. “We are more than pleased with the interest,” she adds.

Training is underway for employees already on board, part of a $10.2 million pre-opening commitment to labor and training tools. “Our vice president of human resources is formerly of the Disney Institute, so we have some marvelous resources,” she says.  

Foxwoods Renovation
In addition to the MGM Grand project, Foxwoods also plans to unveil its $55 million renovation to its existing facilities this spring.

The renovation offers new luxury retail and dining venues, including two David Burke restaurants – David Burke Prime and Burke in the Box. The renovation will also feature a new Blue Bar lounge and Bvlgari, Chopard, Judith Ripka and Rolex retail stores.  

“Since 1992, Foxwoods has been one of the most successful gaming establishments in the world,” Barry Cregan, interim president and senior vice president of resort operations said in a statement.     

“This project is the first in a series of enhancements we plan to undertake in order to bring a new level of service and amenities to our guest, as well as set new standards in resort casinos. We’re excited to unveil the next generation of Foxwoods in May 2008 in tandem with the opening of the new MGM Grand at Foxwoods.”