Caesars Pocono casinos up for sale

PENNSYLVANIA -- As reported by the Pocono Record: "...Will the Poconos' four Caesars resorts be next on the list of resorts-turned-mega-developments?

"With news spreading that Starwood Hotels has its four Caesars Pocono resorts up for sale, keeping them as resorts when new owners surface is important to local tourism officials.

"'We would be disappointed if they did not continue to be resorts,' Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau Executive Director Bob Uguccioni said. 'But it's not our decision to make. Obviously, we're strongly in favor of them staying resort properties.

"Luckily for the tourism industry, listing agent Davis Chant of Davis R. Chant Realtors in Milford said there has been 'substantial' local and out-of-town interest in the resorts — and nearly all of it has been to keep the properties as resorts.

"...There are four Caesars resorts in the Poconos, all owned by White Plains, N.Y.-based Starwood Hotels. As of the end of 2006, the chain owns, leases, manages or franchises 871 hotels worldwide, according to its Web site..."