Luxury property welcomes guests on sixth anniversary of ilani
RIDGEFIELD, WA. (April 24, 2023) – ilani Hotel, the much-awaited luxury hotel from ilani, the Pacific Northwest’s premier gaming, dining and entertainment destination, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting celebration on Monday, April 24, at 9:30 a.m. Held at the threshold of the Cowlitz Cultural Corridor, which connects the new hotel to the casino, the ceremony featured the tribal drum group, a blessing by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s spiritual leader, and brief remarks from tribal, project and local leadership. Following the ceremony attendees had an opportunity to tour the property and its amenities.
Now open, the 14-story hotel tower is the latest phase of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s master development plan. It offers four-diamond level guest service and amenities, including nearly 300 luxury guest rooms, an indoor-outdoor pool experience complete with cabana service, and a signature top-floor Italian-influenced restaurant, Bella Vista, with floor-to-ceiling windows that capture panoramic scenery from the beautiful Cascade Mountains to the foothills of the Coast Range.
“We are thrilled to welcome guests to the ilani Hotel and offer an opportunity to extend their world-class gaming and entertainment experience in a fabulously luxurious setting,” said Kara Fox-LaRose, president and general manager of ilani. “From well-appointed guest rooms and suites to carefully crafted menus and service offerings, no detail has been overlooked in creating a memorable stay.”
Design details sprinkled throughout the glass hotel tower pay homage to the heritage of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. For instance, the Cowlitz Cultural Corridor connects the new ilani Hotel tower to the existing casino resort with an immersive experience that preserves and celebrates the cultural heritage and aboriginal lands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
The corridor was custom-designed and curated by a group of Cowlitz Indian tribal members and leaders, and features hand-selected items from the Tribe’s collection of historical artifacts, as well as items created specifically for the corridor. Guests can see and learn about traditional woven cedar baskets and hats, button blankets and regalia, stone bowls, pestles, fishing equipment, and other tools representative of those used by Cowlitz Indian tribal ancestors.
An impressive central light fixture illuminates the hallway, featuring an array of hand-carved Cowlitz tribal artisan canoe paddles commissioned specifically for the corridor. The walls of the corridor also boast seamless video displays that immerse guests in high-resolution footage from the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s historical homelands and teachings of the Tribe’s history.
The Cowlitz Cultural Corridor shares not only a story of the Tribe’s past but serves as a reminder and a celebration of the unwavering Cowlitz spirit.
“The opening of the ilani Hotel is a landmark achievement for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and reflects our unwavering commitment to our tribal members, to our guests, and to our community,” said Cowlitz General Council Chairwoman Patty Kinswa-Gaiser. “We have deep gratitude for the decades of work that have gone into transforming our reservation into a world-class gateway for Southwest Washington, an engine for economic prosperity and community development, and a tribute to the Cowlitz Tribe’s rich cultural heritage. While we celebrate the ilani Hotel opening as a symbol of profound progress, today is just the beginning of an increasingly bright future”
The hotel’s decor incorporates high-quality aesthetics and elements of the Pacific Northwest, including plentiful wood, stone, metal and glass. A color palette of creams, blues and grays creates a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, enlivened by unmatched views from floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby and guest rooms. At the same time, the property’s services and amenities create an atmosphere of indulgence, from top to bottom.
Bella Vista, the hotel’s top-floor Italian-inspired restaurant, offers unparalleled views day and night, enhancing an elevated dining experience. Diners will be treated to tableside preparations, gaining insight to the craft and artistry that infuse signature dishes. Rotating, seasonally influenced menus will feature wine pairings carefully selected to suit each dish. Although the eclectic wine list will lean heavily on Italian producers, it will offer ample variety to please any palate.
At ground level, a fully equipped fitness center keeps guests on track with their exercise routines while relaxation takes center stage at the state-of-the-art indoor-outdoor pool experience. The pool area features a craft bar, an exclusive dining menu, private and fully serviced cabanas, and comfortable daybeds, among other perks. The Lobby Cafe offers coffee, blended drinks, snack, breakfast and lunch with drinks from locally made Red Leaf Organic Coffee, while the Lobby Bar & Bistro offers expertly crafted cocktails in a relaxed environment. The property’s in-house bakery furnishes scratch-made pastries for its dining areas and room service. Additionally, the hotel’s staffed concierge is available 24/7 to guide visitors to the can’t-miss property and area attractions.
A range of guest accommodations are available in the 28 spacious suites. The Executive Suite is the epitome of luxury, boasting approximately 1,600 square feet, with an elegant living area complete with plush seating and two guest rooms. Sprawling Deluxe Suites offer more than 1,300 square feet, including living, kitchenette and dining areas and a separate bedroom with a king-sized bed. Corner Suites offer 180-degree floor-to-ceiling views of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s reservation and either the Coast Range or the Cascade Range, with Mount St. Helens in the distance. King and Queen Guestrooms are ideal for on-the-go visitors who desire high-end features — such as sparkling tile bathrooms with walk-in showers, in-room dining menus, complimentary Wi-Fi and movies on demand, large-screen televisions and Keurig coffee — in between gaming, concerts, shopping, dining and other area activities.
Families and younger guests will find plenty of activities as well. The hotel has partnered with Kids Quest, a drop-in, first-come-first-served hourly childcare center and entertainment facility, to serve ilani guests. Kids Quest is an entertainment experience for children 30 months to 12 years of age, where kids are physically and mentally engaged with age-appropriate play and events.
Underway since April 2021, the ilani Hotel is the latest addition to the ilani facilities and cements the facility as a premier travel destination. Visitors can craft multi-day stays customized to their interests, from taking in headline acts at the Cowlitz Ballroom to indulging in culinary events and offerings to winning big at table games, slots and sportsbook.
More information about ilani Hotel and hotel bookings are available at ilaniresort.com/hotel.html.
High-resolution images and b-roll of the property can be downloaded at: https://bit.ly/43YIPnG
ABOUT ILANI:
Located on the Cowlitz Reservation in Ridgefield, Washington, ilani, developed by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Salishan-Mohegan, a partnership that includes Mohegan Sun, one of the world’s foremost gaming and entertainment developers and operators, is the Pacific Northwest’s premier gaming, dining, entertainment and meeting destination. With nearly 400,000 total square feet, ilani includes more than 100,000 square feet of gaming space with nearly 3,000 slots and 75 gaming tables; 18 different restaurants, bars and retail outlets; and a 2,500-seat meeting and entertainment venue hosting nationally recognized performances. For more information, visit ilaniresort.com and follow ilani on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT THE COWLITZ INDIAN TRIBE
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is a growing force in community building in the Pacific Northwest. The Cowlitz Reservation neighbors Ridgefield, Washington, and is home to ilani, the Pacific Northwest’s premier gaming, dining, meeting, and entertainment destination. The mission of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe is to preserve and honor the legacy of its elders and ancestors by empowering a tribal community that promotes social justice and economic well-being, secures aboriginal lands, respects culture and sovereignty, and fosters justice, freedom, and mutual welfare. More information can be found at cowlitz.org.