The del Lago Resort & Casino in Seneca County on Thursday celebrated its 1st anniversary as a gateway to the Finger Lakes region, pledging to continue to reinvigorate the local community, boost tourism and help new and existing businesses grow.
Vice President and General Manager Jeff Babinski says it’s been a great first year, and they are not worried about competition from other casinos.
“It’s marketing; it’s meeting with our teams on a daily, weekly basis, coming up with fresh, new ideas. If you look at some of the things we’ve done, some of our competitors have actually copied what we’re doing, so I think we’re on the leading edge.”
Babinski was also asked about the recent Moody’s downgrade of the casino’s credit rating. He says they are concentrating on operating a great resort.
“We’re focused on the operation here, it’s a report, it’s an analysis of what we’re doing; at the end of the day, I’m focused on the operation, ensuring that I have 1,200 team members who love coming to work every day, and providing great service to our guests.”
Rochester area developer Tom Wilmot is co-chairman of del Lago.
The chairman of the Seneca County Board of Supervisors says that the casino has helped bring down the county’s unemployment rate as well as jump-starting economic development along the Route 414 and 318 corridors.
There are plans in the works for adding another hotel at del Lago.
