Senecas take aloof stance to tourism

[steven]

NIAGARA FALLS - Seneca Gaming Corp. executives are not linking promotion of their casino and hotel with the larger effort to market Niagara Falls, a regional tourism official says.


It feels like management of the Seneca Niagara Casino may as well have offices on another planet, according to David Rosenwasser, president of the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp.

"There is this whole kind of persona which exudes a lack of interest about tourism in general," Rosenwasser said. "It is very difficult to get in to see someone or to get a response from someone. It seems strange to me . . . sometimes it takes months, or sometimes never."

As Buffalo mulls its future as a city with an Indian casino, Rosenwasser said Niagara Falls' experience is telling of what Buffalo may expect.
Seneca President Barry E. Snyder Sr. responds that it isn't his nation's responsibility to promote the area, or be the sole driver of tourism. "We can create certain things for Niagara. . . . We can't do it all for them," Snyder said.

Responsibility or not, Rosenwasser said the Senecas have consistently thrown away opportunities his agency offered that would benefit both the nation and local tourism.

Rosenwasser said he has yet to meet the manager of the new casino hotel, which opened five months ago in the Falls. And it can take weeks, or more, for phone calls to be returned, he added.

No one at the casino and hotel, he said, will listen to his proposals to work together on tourism promotion.

In Buffalo, the relationship between the Senecas and city leaders is off to a rocky start, fueled by a lawsuit to halt construction of the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and recent revelations that the Senecas told the federal government they envision a large "footprint" for development in the Cobblestone District.

Richard Geiger, president of the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, uses cautious tones when talking about the introduction of a casino in the city.

He's more outspoken when it comes to a Seneca-owned hotel. "We don't need an additional hotel at this time," Geiger said. "We would not be supportive of any casino amenity that has a hotel in it. We want to use the casino as an opportunity to raise hotel occupancy and hotel rates, and create a better environment for existing hotels."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial...06/1042437.asp

[WNYresident]

NIAGARA FALLS - Seneca Gaming Corp. executives are not linking promotion of their casino and hotel with the larger effort to market Niagara Falls, a regional tourism official says.


It feels like management of the Seneca Niagara Casino may as well have offices on another planet, according to David Rosenwasser, president of the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp.

"There is this whole kind of persona which exudes a lack of interest about tourism in general," Rosenwasser said. "It is very difficult to get in to see someone or to get a response from someone. It seems strange to me . . . sometimes it takes months, or sometimes never."

I have just one word. DUH.... they don't have market to get more people in when they make enough on churning basically local dollars.

[WNYresident]

Responsibility or not, Rosenwasser said the Senecas have consistently thrown away opportunities his agency offered that would benefit both the nation and local tourism.

THey don't care and what ever gave anyone the IDEA they would care. They are making millions off of the people already coming here or that are here.

[WNYresident]

Ever just want to say TOLD YOU SO They are there just to make money for themselves. That is how most people are.

[300miles]

Before, there were a lot of Unknowns... The Niagara casino was just getting started and the Buffalo casino project was not explained in detail to residents... so there was a hope that it could help Buffalo.

But now we have all the handwriting-on-the-wall that we need: The Niagara Casino has done SQUAT to help that city and the Senecas there act like they're in their own little bubble (actually they are... it's call "Sovereign Nation"

And with all the recent CRAP spewing from the senecas lately about the Buffalo casino, it's blatantly obvious that this is a Win-Lose scenario. The Seneca's Win... Buffalo Loses. Actually, it will be a Win-Lose-Lose scenario because the both Buffalo and Niagara Falls will lose.

The local "leaders" need to wake up and start doing their jobs.