Lui Garcea was on hand for the opening of Grand Villa Casino, and now the new executive manager of marketing plans to be there as it becomes the crown jewel in the Gateway Casinos and Entertainment chain, he said.
"We truly want to make this the flagship property of the Gateway family," Garcea said. "It's a big goal, but it's one I'm sure we're going to achieve."
Garcea, who lives in Burnaby, returned to Grand Villa on Feb. 1 after working in the same role at Starlight Casino in New Westminster.
He had helped open the Grand Villa Casino back in 2008, working at the head office while the casino was under construction.
"I've seen the Villa grow from when it was in construction phase," he said. "It's kind of a coming home aspect to working here. It's very exciting."
The Grand Villa differs from the Starlight in that it is a larger property, Garcea said, but added it is the same industry and company so he's familiar with the job.
He plans to bring some of what worked at the Starlight to the Burnaby casino, such as dine-and-dance events.
"In January, we introduced Latin and salsa dancing (at the Starlight)," Garcea said. "It was crazy. It filled up very quickly."
They will also be adding new menu items to the Scala Lounge menu, he added, and hosting more tribute acts there.
The lounge recently hosted Dreams, a Fleetwood Mac tribute act.
Other changes include adding a 12table poker room this year, Garcea said.
Garcea also plans to be out on the floor more, listening to customers about what they like and don't like about the property, he added.
He will also be in charge of community giving for the casino, as the previous executive manager of marketing, Brenda Smith, was before him.
The casino recently gave nearly $2,700 to Variety the Children's Charity, Garcea said, which fits with his desire to keep giving at a local level.
In fact, Variety is so local that Garcea can see the charity from his office window, he said.
"I can see their office right across the street," he said, adding, "I really support that program, having kids myself. And the money does stay in B.C."
The casino also gave $2,500 to the Burnaby firefighters' gala, he added.
"I do get quite a few folks asking for support, and wherever we can, we're more than willing to do so," Garcea said.
Smith, who was executive manager of marketing at Grand Villa since December 2009, has taken on Garcea's former job at Starlight.
"It's great," she said. "It's a fabulous property."
But she added she loved her time at Grand Villa, as well.
As far as why Garcea and Smith are trading places, she said it is common in the casino gaming industry for companies to move staff from one property to another.
"So Lui and I did a switch, and he's going to be a Villa for awhile, and I'll be at Starlight," she said.
Smith said the company is looking at opening up some of the gaming areas, and turning the Salt and Pepper Café into a sit-down diner.
"It'll be a great venue for people to come for really good cooked meals at a reasonable price, with lots of value," she said. "We're excited about getting that underway."
The company is looking at making the Red Bar Lounge more multi-functional, she added, and bringing in more televisions, as well.
Smith will be working with community donations and initiatives in her new role at Starlight, as well.
"It's fabulous having all of those community connections across two different jurisdictions, and learning about the different organizations that make up New West," she said. "It'll be exciting and interesting to learn about those organizations."
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