By Michael Lynch
After nearly a year-and-a-half of operation, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.'s Charity Casino in Thunder Bay is getting mixed reviews from businesses that are impacted by it.
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Stacey Ball, marketing and sales director for the Prince Arthur Hotel, says the casino is another draw for the city. |
Hotels and restaurants are experiencing little, if no increase in their business volume, but some say the long-term benefit of the casino to tourism development holds promise.
Thunder Bay's two major hotels, the Travelodge Airlane and the Valhalla Inn, have not seen an increase in room sales. The Valhalla's managing director Edward Meijer says the casino "creates employment and it captures money that used to go to the United States." He is also pleased with the shuttle service that transports hotel patrons to the casino.
Lucy Gonzalez-Kozyra, sales manager for the Travelodge, says the casino offers U.S. bus tour operators a "desirable attraction."
Some business owners in close proximity to the 48,000-square-foot gaming facility are upset with its location and feel it is robbing them of the street parking they have counted on for years. One of the most vocal opponents of the casino's location is Pizza Boyz owner Biaggio Bonazza.
"I have been in the same location for 15 years and as a result of the parking problem created by the casino I had to curb my hours in order to survive," Bonazza says. "It's both employees and casino customers who are parking on the street."
He says the Pizza Boyz restaurant is no longer open during the day due to a shortage of parking for customers.
The parking problems in the downtown north core of the city are expected to get worse, considering two new restaurants are under construction. Both are in close proximity to the charity casino that receives up to 3,000 visitors daily.
Complicating the parking problems in the downtown area is the well-established commercial sector where major financial services companies are located. An Ontario government building and two major telephone call centres are also there.
Paul Kiiskila, a financial services representative with Sun Life Financial, says his clients usually have no problem finding metered parking in the morning.
"Since the casino has opened we have noticed our clients have difficulty in the afternoon, and we have had complaints about the availability of parking in the afternoon and evening," Kiiskila says. "It's forced us to make arrangements for off-street parking for our clients."
With the closure of the Eatons department store several years ago and the Keskus Mall that was torn down to make way for the casino, there is a limited amount of retail shopping in the downtown north core.
The group most affected by the casino appears to be the bingo operators and the charities that receive funds from them.
"Our average attendance has dropped," says Terry Cuff, president of Thunder Bay Community Bingo.
"Prior to the casino opening, our attendance averaged 160 persons per bingo. This has now dropped to 130 persons," Cuff says.
The casino has forced the five bingo halls in Thunder Bay to become more innovative.
"We try different things now, such as upgrades in technology and larger prizes," Cuff says. "There is no question we were lax. I'm actually more worried about the smoking bylaw that city council has planned for the community than about the charity casino."
Thunder Bay city council has taken measures to lessen the impact on charities. A charity meeting specified conditions regarding revenue declines was able to apply before Jan. 15, 2002 for a share of the city's slot machine revenue from the casino. The city has set aside $250,000 of its slot machine funding for this program. The municipality is also suggesting the charities apply to the province's Trillium Foundation for funding.
A large hotel in the downtown core has benefited from the casino. The Prince Arthur Hotel provided staff accommodation during the construction and start-up phase.
Stacey Ball, the Prince Arthur's director of marketing and sales, is confident the casino will benefit the hotel over the long term.
"Our room sales are up between five and 10 per cent since the casino opened. It's a significant attraction beyond sightseeing and shopping," Ball says.
"We have had casino groups from Minnesota, and we are currently involved in joint promotions with the casino to bring visitors to the downtown core," Ball says.
"The casino is a reason to come to Thunder Bay, and it is a reason to stay a little longer."
