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QUAPAW, Okla. – The region’s first truly upscale hotel officially opened today, essentially completing Downstream Casino Resort’s Phase I development plan and marking a historic day for the Quapaw Tribe.

“Downstream is now a fully operating luxury destination resort,” said Chairman John Berrey at a news conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning in front of the hotel’s main entrance.

“The Quapaw Tribe is honored to be able to bring something of this scale and quality to the communities of the Tri-State Region,” Berrey said. “Our goal is to become a regional and national attraction to bring people here from all over the country, spur economic development, and benefit the citizens and cities of this area.”

Scale and quality indeed. For months, travelers and visitors along I-44 at the Missouri-Oklahoma state line have watched the handsome 12-story hotel tower go up and the dazzling exterior lights come on – it catches the eye from miles down the highway.

Saturday, the luxurious hotel interior was unveiled to the public following a brief grand-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony outside beneath its porte cochere. Classy, stylish and stunningly beautiful – those were some of the words guests used to describe the 222-room hotel after a tour.

From the polished terrazzo and marble-tiled floor of the spacious lobby, to the Egyptian cotton bed linens and towels in the guest rooms, Downstream Hotel was designed and decorated with utmost attention to detail.

“There isn’t a finer or more beautiful hotel in the country. It’s up there with the best,” said Project Manager Mickey Brown, who has built and managed some of the country’s most luxurious casino resorts, including Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., the world’s largest and most successful casino resort.

“The Quapaw Tribe started with a great location and a vision for developing a top-tier resort property. But this has turned out to be more spectacular than I even imagined,” Brown said.

Service and amenities include personal hosting, wireless check-in, a 24-hour concierge and Guest Services staff, catering and round-the-clock room service. “You just won’t find a resort experience like this anywhere in this part of the country,” said General Manager Steven Drewes.

Phase I of the Downstream Development, an investment of $301 million with one million square feet of total indoor building space, includes a state-of-the-art Vegas-style casino, five restaurants, two exquisite cocktail lounges, an outdoor concert venue and a 36-hole golf club. A unique swimming pool and deck area will open as part of the hotel next spring, and a wellness spa will be added in a later phase.

Completion of Phase I signals a special achievement in Quapaw history, Chairman Berrey said.

“As a Native American Tribe, we have always been survivors, artists and creators, and we have always been a very generous people in giving to and helping others.  I think Downstream Casino Resort captures all of that,” Berrey said. “Today is a good day for the Quapaw Tribe.”

About Downstream Casino Resort

Downstream Casino Resort is a Las Vegas-style, upscale, destination resort ideally located just off I-44 at the spot where Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma meet – a historic zone known as the Tri-State Area, about seven miles west of the city of Joplin, Mo.

The resort is owned and operated by the Downstream Development Authority of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma.  The resort’s executive management team is comprised of seasoned gaming and hospitality industry veterans from across the country.

Opening of the casino was July 5, 2008. It was the first time that a Native-American casino opened with all of its restaurants and bars operating at full capacity.

– www.downstreamcasino.com