CHEROKEE, N.C. — Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, located 50 miles West of Asheville, N.C., brings together flexible event space in a scenic and rich backdrop for events and conventions. Trade Show Executive joined Caesars Entertainment for a trip to the property to find out what Harrah’s Cherokee has to offer event and convention organizers.
“The Hotel Conference Center boasts over 21,000 square feet of meeting space that can be broken down into seven smaller configurations,” Stacy Pegg, Property Sales Manager at Harrah’s Cherokee, said. “The newly built Cherokee Convention Center added an additional 85,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 32,000 square foot ballroom with 22 meeting spaces, 11,100 square foot ballroom pre-function, 33,000 square foot exhibition hall plus a 6,000 square foot exhibition hall pre-function area. We also offer the 3,000-seat Cherokee Event Center equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual systems. Our sweet spot for meetings that fill our Convention Center space is 700-1,000 attendees.”
The property, which sits at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, spans 56 acres and holds more than 1,800 rooms within its four towers, making it the largest hotel in the Carolinas.
Harrah’s Cherokee is an enterprise of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, managed by Caesars Entertainment, and prides itself on making a positive impact on the Cherokee community as well as providing visitors with a place where they can be entertained and learn during their stay.
“The Cherokee Development Program at Harrah’s Cherokee was created to ensure professional career development opportunities for enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Participants train in different divisions of Harrah’s Cherokee and focus on developing leadership and critical thinking skills. The Talent Development department, as well as division leaders, work closely to develop specific training programs and objectives to prepare participants to advance and promote into leadership roles,” Pegg said.
Dining options for group bookings range from the staples, like a seafood boil and buffet style breakfast, to the complex flavors of American caviar and locally sourced produce and ingredients, which are used to make dishes featuring filet mignon, fried lobster tails, savory soups and desserts.
“We are a large venue, but our Culinary Team is open to collaboration with our customers on every level,” Pegg said. “Our catering menu is an amazing guide, but our culinary team welcomes client input and will customize menus based on the client’s needs. Our team has successfully served 3,200 guests within a 4-hour period, but we have the capacity to do more.”
Off-Site Experiences
Cherokee, N.C., has a plethora of activities that groups booking at the resort can incorporate into their event programming or for visitors to do in their own free time.
Located a short drive away, the Oconaluftee Indian Village offers guests a chance to learn about the culture of the Indigenous people of the area with guided tours and cultural dance performance. Visitors can learn about the way the clans of the area live and find out interesting facts, like using corn cobs to waterproof pottery, shaping arrowheads for hunting and war and why weaving and beading is culturally significant.
In nearby Bryson City, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad takes riders on a scenic train ride through the mountains. Once aboard, visitors can eat, drink and learn about the history of the area, including the creation of Fontana Lake, historical buildings tucked away in the mountains and environmental efforts.
The area is also a top tier trout fishing spot, with 30 miles of well-stocked trout streams ensure a plentiful fishing experience, according to the Cherokee North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. In 2011, the U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship was held in the tribal waters in Cherokee because of its bountifulness. Visitors can also get a taste of the fishing experience without leaving Harrah’s Cherokee, by fishing in the creek that runs through the property.
“We always try to provide the organizer with options of what the area has to offer. The Great Smokies are one of the most unique, magical, untouched destinations remaining on earth with over 500,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Our backyard is an outdoor adventure, and we always welcome guests to experience it,” Pegg said. “An event organizer can provide attendees with an outdoor adventure in the morning, a world class meeting in the afternoon and a Las Vegas-style experience in the evening, all set against the spectacular mountain scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains.”
Reach Stacy Pegg at stpegg@harrahs.com
