The casino under construction as the centerpiece of a $1.2 billion resort in Sullivan County has a new name befitting its regional location and its recently licensed international gaming brand: Resorts World Catskills.
Empire Resorts Inc. announced the change for its formerly named Montreign Resort Casino, which is rising on the razed site of the renowned Concord Resort Hotel at Kiamesha Lake. Scheduled to open in March 2018, it will include an 18-story hotel, more than 100,000 square feet of casino floor space and 27,000 square feet of multipurpose meeting and entertainment space.
In April, Montreign Operating Corp., the Empire Resorts subsidiary that will operate the casino, entered into a license agreement to rebrand the Catskills casino as a Resorts World property. Resorts World is a joint venture company of the Malaysian conglomerate Genting Berhad. It operates Resorts World Casino New York City in Queens and five other gaming resorts worldwide and is building another property in Las Vegas.
Empire Resorts officials in Monticello said the name Resorts World Catskills was chosen following market research regarding the rebranding. It pays homage to the four-county Catskills region, which is “known for its crisp mountain air and fresh food and has traditionally served as a year-round resort destination of choice for New York residents,” according to Empire.
Emanuel Pearlman, executive chairman of the Empire Resorts board of directors, said the new name “melds the allure of the Catskills region with the prestige of the Resorts World family. This recognized worldwide gaming and hospitality brand will provide us greater power to market our resort casino, which is designed to meet 5-star and 5-diamond standards, and provide regional, national and international exposure for the Catskills region.” He said the company aims to reach a market of Resorts World customers worldwide.
The licensing agreement gives Montreign rights to use Resorts World and Genting branding in casino marketing, sales, management and operations. It also allows the branding to be used at the entertainment village and redesigned Concord golf course being developed by Montreign subsidiaries on the rural site in the town of Thompson.
