Pechanga Upgrades Will Add $20M to Regional Economy, Tribal Reps Say

Construction of two additional restaurants and a variety of renovations at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula will give the regional economy an estimated $20 million boost, representatives of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians said today.

Just before the end of 2013, the tribe completed a 25,000-square-foot remodel of the resort lobby and opened two new dining outlets.

"We set out to renew and transform the lobby and restaurants into a focal point for guests to come into our grand entrance and say, 'Wow,"' said Pechanga Development Corp. President Patrick Murphy.

"Judging by the thousands of guests who have already come in and taken photos in the new space, we hope we have achieved that objective. We are very proud of this new elegant, timeless renovation."

The modifications were unveiled during a ceremonial ribbon-cutting this afternoon.

According to Pechanga, 350 construction jobs were created during the project, and close to 100 permanent jobs will result from it.

One economist consulted by the casino estimated the total economic impact from the work -- including workers' wages and salaries, combined with higher tourism-related spending -- will be around $20 million.

"When a company is as committed as Pechanga to giving visitors an experience they remember and come back for time and again does something on as grand a scale as a multi-million-dollar remodel, it has a nearly immediate effect on many other visitor-based businesses -- wineries, hotels, restaurants, shops and more," said Ken Westmyer, chairman of the Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The visitors bureau calculated regional tourism spending to be roughly $625 million last year, much of it generated by the resort-casino. --City News Service