BUFFALO, NY -- 11/02/07 --
Delaware North Companies, a leading global
hospitality and food service provider, will introduce its new gaming
hospitality arm at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2007 Nov. 13 to 15 at the Las
Vegas Convention Center.
"The Delaware North Gaming Hospitality Group has been created to assist
organizations with integrating hospitality -- including food and beverage,
entertainment, retail and lodging -- into their gaming operations," said
Dennis J. Szefel, president of Delaware North's overall hospitality
business.
Szefel said the new group will draw from Delaware North's resources and
expertise within some of its key operating companies, including Gaming &
Entertainment, Sportservice, Travel Hospitality Services, and Parks &
Resorts. Culinary arts, customer service, supply management, technology,
design and other vital areas of expertise and programs that have been
established across those companies will also be leveraged by the new group,
he said.
"Our expertise extends to all facets of hospitality management," Szefel
said. "We operate and manage hotels, resorts, and spas in some incredible
locations and develop and operate hundreds of restaurant and retail
properties at high-profile hotels and stadiums."
A $2 billion company, Delaware North provides hospitality and all levels of
food service and dining at major international and U.S. sports venues,
including Soldier Field in Chicago and the new Wembley Stadium in London,
and owns and operates TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.
The company also operates several historic hotels and resorts such as The
Ahwahnee at Yosemite National Park and The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in
New Hampshire that feature restaurants offering upscale cuisine. Later this
year, Delaware North will begin jointly operating the grand ballroom of the
iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City.
In addition, the company operates dozens of restaurants and retail outlets
at airports nationwide and has significant experience in operating gaming
venues such as Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in New York and Wheeling Island
Racetrack & Gaming Center in West Virginia. The company specializes in
racing venues with world-class entertainment and hospitality amenities such
as video gaming machines, poker rooms, full-service restaurants, nightclubs
and hotels.
Szefel said Delaware North knows how to approach hospitality from a gaming
operation's perspective as a result of operating its own gaming and
entertainment venues.
"This allows us to understand what they are looking for," he said.
Szefel said the company's broad experience will allow it to customize
hospitality solutions for other organizations.
"In everything the company does, we are extremely innovative and creative.
For example, with culinary operations, we operate everything from stadium
concessions to luxury suite buffets to four-star restaurants that are
guided by certified executive chefs. One size, type or brand does not fit
all when it comes to hospitality, and Delaware North has experience with
many of them," he said.
Another key strength in hospitality that Delaware North can bring to
another organization is its proven guest and customer relations program,
GuestPath®. It's a continuous process that empowers Delaware North
associates with the knowledge and skills required to address every aspect
of the overall customer experience.
Szefel said Delaware North is exploring new ventures in the growing
national and international gaming arena with a focus on leveraging the
company's racing/gaming, hospitality and culinary expertise.
"We can really help an organization focus on its core gaming product by
ensuring that world-class hospitality becomes a credible brand attribute of
the facility," he said. "For example, most casino patrons are now looking
for fine dining to be a part of their experience, and we can work with a
facility to provide that."
The group can also assist entertainment venues with integrating gaming into
their operations, which Delaware North has successfully done at Saratoga
and its own racing venues, he said.
At G2E, the pre-eminent show for the gaming-entertainment industry,
Delaware North is the exclusive sponsor of the Culinary Demo Stage at F&B,
a culinary marketplace designed to highlight food and beverage within
gaming.
On the culinary stage, Certified Executive Chef Rolf Baumann, a silver
medalist in the 2004 Culinary Olympics, will showcase recipes from the
company's second cookbook, "Home Plate: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine." He
will be assisted by two other top Delaware North Companies Sportservice
chefs, Certified Executive Chef Kevin Doherty of TD Banknorth Garden in
Boston and Executive Chef Mark Szebeczak of Comerica Park in Detroit.
The new cookbook celebrates Delaware North's 90-year legacy of feeding fans
at dozens of sports venues. It features traditional and regional favorites
such as the St. Louis hand-rolled pretzel, as well as contemporary dishes
such as crab and shrimp ceviche, which Baumann will prepare during the
demonstration. The cookbook, which can be ordered at
www.ShopDelawareNorth.com, gives fans their first opportunity to create and
savor authentic stadium, arena and ballpark dishes from across the United
States and Canada in their own homes.
Directly across from the culinary stage in the F&B at G2E exhibit hall, the
Delaware North Gaming Hospitality Group booth (FB538) will welcome
attendees and other exhibitors to relax and enjoy great hospitality in a
contemporary lounge setting. Beer, wine and select cocktails will be
available from 1 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 13 and 14.
In addition, Delaware North is sponsoring the Food & Beverage track of the
conference. At 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 14, Dennis Szefel will moderate a panel
discussion on using third-party operators for restaurants, hotels, retail
and other hospitality services at gaming facilities. Bill Bissett,
president of Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, and several
other Delaware North executives are scheduled to participate in other panel
discussions.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world's leading hospitality and food
service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North
Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment,
Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North
Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International, TD
Banknorth Garden and American Park 'n Swap. Delaware North Companies is one
of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues
exceeding $2 billion annually and 40,000 associates serving half a billion
customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and
New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
For more information, contact:
Glen White
Delaware North Companies
(716) 858-5753
Email Contact
www.DelawareNorth.com
