By Josh Resnek
Encore officials wishing to give a boost to local business have eliminated costly parking fees that might have been keeping prospective gamblers away from the resort.
Last Friday, Encore officials announced the suspension of parking fees that could be anywhere from $22 to $40 for a day at the resort.
Robert DeSalvio, the president of Encore Boston Harbor said free parking is “an amenity that is highly appreciated by all our guests.” DeSalvio said it was one more instance of how thankful Encore is to be “Greater Boston’s hometown casino.”
Indeed.
The action here in Everett at Encore Boston Harbor follows similar actions along the strip in Las Vegas where Wynn Resorts resorts dropped their parking fees in that tourist capital of the world.
Efforts to market the casino and hotel are intensifying as Encore officials come to terms with this new and exciting marketplace.
The Everett/Boston Harbor marketplace is unique, and so officials are making unique efforts to stimulate business during this early period of growth and experimentation.
With the MBTA planning about six weeks of Orange line transportation interruptions to make repairs, Encore jumped up to the plate to make access to the casino easier and cheaper.
The casino features 3,158 slot machines and 143 table games and 88 poker tables.
The resort features a spa, salon, fitness center and convention center, 11 restaurants and three bars.
It also features a sprawling and heavily planted and well maintained exterior of many acres with brilliant arrangements of flowers, mature trees and walking paths along the Mystic River catering to those who visit by water ferry.
The first two months gaming revenues have brought in over $100 million.
Table games have proven extremely popular while slot machine revenues have lagged.
Lagging slot revenues at Encore are an industry wide trend here in Massachusetts now being experienced at MGM in Springfield and the slot parlor in Plainridge.