Harrah's will re-appear in New Orleans next year. They aren’t sure when next year they will reopen, or any further information on this issue. They aren’t sure how many employees will be needed for grand opening.
Anthony Sanfilippo, President of Harrah's Central Division will be in charge in answering all questions. His top priority will be to pick an opening date, and determine additional numbers to get this casino up and running again. It’s hard to tell now, since the population is considerable smaller since the storm.
In a letter to its former employees this week, Harrah's said the casino would reopen in 2006. They first plan to repair roof damage and mold the water leaks. Officials also concurred with the availability of new city and health care services.
The casino will remain the same in all senses of the word. It will be the same size with the same amount of slot machines. The casino is prepared to pay its 2,600 former employees through Nov. 26, which will conclude the 90-day commitment the company made to them after Katrina hit. Health care will still be provided for those on it before it was closed in August.
Before Katrina, Harrah's had a staff of 9,000 in all its Gulf Casinos. This includes; Harrah's New Orleans Casino, the Grand Casinos in Gulfport and Biloxi and two riverboats in Lake Charles. All have been damaged and closed because of the hurricanes.
Since the storm, 600 of those workers have since taken jobs at other Harrah's locations around the country. It seems that 68% of the New Orleans casino employees lived in the middle of the flood areas. Harrah’s may have to look for brand new employees come 2006 re-opening of their casinos. |
