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Greektown Casino Goes Upscale As Anniversary Nears

The new management team in charge of Greektown Casino wants to change the gambling hall's image.

The overhaul comes four months after the Detroit casino emerged from a bankruptcy settlement and emphasizes customer experience over bargain offers.

In a report published Monday, The Detroit News said the officials want to move beyond talk of the bankruptcy proceedings that dogged the casino for more than two years.

The officials told the newspaper they are scrutinizing every corner of the gambling property to usher in what they hope will be an era of growth for the smallest of the city's three casinos.

Plans call for tweaking promotions, working with a local architecture firm to make upgrades from carpeting to lighting and trying to capitalize on the casino's location in the Greektown entertainment district.

``The experience rests significantly on how (customers) feel when they walk through the door,'' said Freman Hendrix, vice chairman of the Greektown Casino board. ``A pleasant experience is everything in the hospitality business.''

Hendrix and other board members acknowledge Greektown isn't as flashy as its two competitors, the MotorCity Casino Hotel and the MGM Grand Detroit, but they feel good about its proximity to the city's professional sports venues.

Greektown Casino is to celebrate its 10th anniversary on Wednesday.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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