CHEROKEE, North Carolina — Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resortlocated 50 miles west of Asheville, North Carolina, brings together flexible event space in a scenic and affluent setting for events and conventions. Trade Fair Manager joined Caesars Entertainment for a trip to the property to experience what Harrah’s Cherokee has to offer event and convention planners.
“The hotel’s conference center features over 21,000 square feet of meeting space that can be divided into seven smaller configurations,” said Stacy Pegg, real estate sales manager for Harrah’s Cherokee. “The newly constructed Cherokee Convention Center has added 85,000 square feet of additional meeting space, including a 32,000-square-foot ballroom with 22 meeting spaces, an 11,100-square-foot pre-reception ballroom, a 33,000-square-foot exhibit hall and a 6,000-square-foot pre-reception exhibit hall. We also offer the 3,000-seat Cherokee Event Center equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual systems. Our sweet spot for meetings that fill our convention center space is 700 to 1,000 attendees.”
The property, which is located at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Parkspans 56 acres and houses more than 1,800 rooms in its four towers, making it the largest hotel in the Carolinas.
Harrah’s Cherokee is a company of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indiansoperated by Caesars Entertainment, and is proud to make a positive impact on the Cherokee community and provide visitors with a place where they can enjoy and learn during their stay.
“The Harrah’s Cherokee Development Program was created to provide professional career development opportunities to enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians“Participants train across different divisions within Harrah’s Cherokee and focus on developing leadership and critical thinking skills. The Talent Development department, along with division leaders, work closely to develop specific training programs and objectives to prepare participants to advance and advance into leadership positions,” Pegg said.
Catering options for group bookings range from staples, such as a seafood platter and breakfast buffet, to the complex flavors of American caviar and local produce and ingredients, which are used to prepare dishes including filet mignon, fried lobster tails, savory soups and desserts.
“We are a large restaurant, but our culinary team is open to collaborating with our guests at every level,” Pegg said. “Our catering menu is a great guide, but our culinary team welcomes guest feedback and will customize menus to fit their needs. Our team successfully served 3,200 guests in four hours, but we have the capacity to do more.”
Offsite experiences
Cherokee, North Carolina offers a multitude of activities that groups booking at the resort can incorporate into their event schedule or that visitors can do on their own time.
Located a few minutes drive away, the Oconaluftee Indian Village offers visitors the opportunity to experience the culture of the region’s indigenous peoples through guided tours and cultural dance performances. Visitors can learn about how the region’s clans live and discover interesting facts, such as the use of corn cobs to waterproof pottery, the shaping of arrowheads for hunting and warfare, and why weaving and beading are culturally important.
In the nearby town of Bryson City, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad The train takes passengers on a scenic journey through the mountains. Once aboard, visitors can eat, drink and learn about the history of the area, including the creation of Fontana Lake, historic buildings nestled in the mountains and environmental efforts.
The area is also a prime trout fishing spot, with 30 miles of well-stocked trout streams that guarantee a bountiful fishing experience, according to the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce in North Carolina. In 2011, the U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship was held in Cherokee tribal waters due to their abundance. Visitors can also get a taste of the fishing experience without leaving Harrah’s Cherokee, by fishing the stream that runs through the property.
“We always try to provide the organizer with options on what the area has to offer. The Great Smokies are one of the most unique, magical and untouched destinations on the planet with over 500,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Our backyard is an outdoor space adventure, a“We always invite our guests to experience it,” Pegg said. “An event planner can offer attendees an outdoor adventure in the morning, a world-class meeting in the afternoon and a Las Vegas-style experience in the evening, all against the spectacular backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains.”
Contact Stacy Pegg at stpegg@harrahs.com