Gun Lake Casino made another big splash this past week, filling a highly coveted position in its hospitality branch.
On Feb. 23, the Wayland-based gambling facility announced via press release the arrival of its new Director of Hotel Operations, Ronaldo Pascual. Gun Lake Casino’s latest administrative addition brings 20 years of experience in the hotel operations game to his new post.
Pascual’s diverse resume features oversights of multiple Forbes 4-Star, AAA, and 4-Diamond hotel casino resort locations. This includes seven hotel openings at land-based, riverboat, and tribal casinos.
The seasoned hospitality expert also earned a number of certifications over the course of his two-decade career. In particular, Pascual received a Certified Hotel Administrator designation from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and a General Manager Certification from Hilton Hotels.
Pascual has a strong background in tribal gaming
Pascual, who had not previously worked for any Michigan casinos, has plenty of experience in Indian Country, per the release. His work with tribal gaming properties included stops in California, Alabama, Louisiana, and most recently, Pennsylvania.
“We are very excited to welcome Ronaldo Pascual to GLC as our new director of hotel operations,” said Jose Flores, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Gun Lake Casino, in the release. “Ronaldo will be a perfect fit to help us carry on the culture and vision for this soon-to-be world-class casino resort.”
Up next? Continue the $300 million expansion
According to Gun Lake brass, the director of hotel operations position was specifically established to prepare for its highly-anticipated Phase 5 expansion project.
The $300 million endeavor slated to finish in March of 2025 will see the West Michigan venue transform into a Four-Diamond hotel resort. Following the completion of Phase 5, the new-look Gun Lake Casino will be complete with a 252-room, 15-story hotel tower. Inside, patrons will find amenities such as a spa and meeting space.
Further, the hotel resort will showcase a 32,000-square-foot entertainment dome boasting 80-degree temperatures year-round. Guests can then treat themselves to one of three separate indoor swimming pools.
The news of Pascual’s hiring comes just a few weeks after Gun Lake announced another $10 million undertaking. That project will see a new high-limit table games room, along with an Asian cuisine restaurant join Gun Lake’s laundry list of available offerings. Luckily, regulars won’t have to wait too long, as the latest additions should be operational by the end of 2024.
