Harrah's Entertainment Tops Casino Player's Best of Gaming Awards
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- For the seventh consecutive year, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET) led the gaming industry in Casino Player's Best of Gaming Awards, the magazine's annual poll of gaming customers from across the country. Harrah's casinos received 228 first-place awards and 562 total awards in the 2006 competition.
"Our consistent leadership of the 'Best of Gaming' Awards is a testament to our employees and their continued commitment to memorable guest service," said Gary Loveman, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Harrah's Entertainment. "These awards represent the collective voice of gaming customers from coast-to-coast. Once again they have overwhelmingly selected our brands and our properties as the best the industry has to offer."
Among the highlights of this year's competition:
-For the first time in the company's history, Harrah's captured the top spot in the Las Vegas Strip market, winning 78 awards, including 39 first-place honors. Highlights included:
-Caesars Palace headliners Celine Dion and Elton John capturing the top two spots for "Best Headliners" in Las Vegas.
-Caesars Palace, Harrah's Las Vegas and the Rio sweeping three categories in the Las Vegas Strip market: Best Overall Casino, Best Casino Promotions and Luckiest Casino.
-Pure at Caesars Palace recognized as "Best Nightclub" on the Strip.
-Eight Harrah's properties were named "Best Overall Hotel Casino" in their markets including: Caesars Palace, Harrah's Laughlin, Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Harrah's Rincon, Grand Casino Tunica, Harrah's Council Bluffs, Casino Windsor and Horseshoe Bossier City.
-Total Rewards, Harrah's companywide customer-loyalty program, was named "Best Players Club" in seven markets: Las Vegas Strip, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Iowa, Missouri, Shreveport/Bossier City and Chicagoland.
-Eight properties were honored for providing the "Best Service" in their markets, including: Harrah's Las Vegas, Harrah's Laughlin, Harrah's Rincon, Harrah's Atlantic City, Harrah's Council Bluffs, Harrah's St. Louis, Horseshoe Bossier City and Harrah's Joliet.
-Harveys Lake Tahoe led the company with 41 total honors, including 20 first-place finishes; sister property Harrah's Lake Tahoe closely followed with 40 awards, 19 first-place. Other strong performances were posted by Harrah's Laughlin and Horseshoe Bossier City (36 awards each), Casino Windsor (35 awards), Harrah's Rincon (33 awards), and Caesars Indiana (31 awards).
