Conference runs November 5 – 7, 2014
The three-day conference and trade show highlights a roster of Tribal Leaders, and state, regional and national speakers who bring their experience and expertise to this year’s EXPO panels and presentations on current topics impacting Tribal Gaming. The EXPO will showcase AIGA signature events including the AIGA/Hensley Desert Classic Golf Tournament and the AIGA Chefs Challenge, along with the Championship Luncheon and the $1 Billion Luncheon Celebration, and introduce the AIGA/Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming (SITG) Executive Training Program.
The EXPO opens with the AIGA/Hensley Desert Classic Golf Tournament on November 5, 2014. The tournament takes place at the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s top rated Cholla Course. Golfers can win a new car in the Hole-in-One contest and other great prizes, sponsored by Hensley Beverage Company.
The evening of November 6, attendees and guests will gather for the popular AIGA Chefs Challenge Grill-Off. The Emcee for the Challenge is Tommy Duncan, owner of Whiskey Ranch BBQ company, who is featured on the Food Network show, Chopped. Eight chefs will represent their tribal casinos and resorts in competition for awards.
The AIGA EXPO 2014 Ak-Chin Indian Community trade show floor is sold out and features a new “Casino Corridor” which showcases the AIGA members’ gaming facilities.
The AIGA EXPO 2014 conference takes place November 6 and 7 and covers timely gaming issues. The popular Tribal Leadership Forum, held Friday morning during the General Session, will cover “Gaming Decisions Made for Generations to Come: Has It Turned Out As You Anticipated?” In the “Congress to the Courts” panel, four leading attorneys will report on major court cases and congressional legislation that can impact tribes.
A new “sustainability” panel will showcase how Tribes are taking farm-fresh foods from the field to the gaming and hospitality table. Representatives from the Navajo Nation will describe their success selling their brands of beef and flour to their casino. Other panels will address regulatory issues, the results of the midterm elections, and update conference attendees on the potential for expanding gaming products through mobile devices.
AIGA’s partnership with the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming will debut the Executive Training Certificate Program during this year’s EXPO. “We are thrilled this year to collaborate with Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming (SITG) at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism at San Diego State University and offer a new Executive Training Program to AIGA EXPO conference participants,” said Valerie Spicer, Executive Director AIGA. “An Integrated Resort Management curriculum emphasizes Return on Investment (ROI); the Table Games Management track focuses on new electronic games and increasing revenue retention; and the Tribal Customer Service Advancement is designed for customer service management and staff. We think this adds tremendous value to our conference.”
“We see this as a wonderful opportunity for the Institute and for AIGA member tribes,” said Katherine Spilde, SITG Endowed Chair. “It enables us to focus our resources to help build knowledge, skills, and leadership to serve the tribes in our industry.”
AIGA EXPO 2014 closes Friday, November 7, with a lunch headlined by “Jake the Snake” Plummer, veteran star quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Arizona State University. All paid attendees, exhibitors and sponsors are eligible to win a pair of Super Bowl tickets for the game February 1, 2015. Winners must be present to win the tickets.
For information about the conference, visit www.azindiangaming.org/aiga-expo2014
The Arizona Indian Gaming Association is producing AIGA EXPO with Red Note, Inc. AIGA has a membership of 18 tribes representing more than 90% of the Indian people living on reservations in Arizona. AIGA was established November 21, 1994 by Arizona tribal leaders. The Association is committed to advancing the lives of Indian peoples – economically, socially and politically – so that Indian tribes in Arizona can achieve their goal of self-reliance. Current membership includes: Ak-Chin Indian Community, Cocopah Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe, Gila River Indian Community, Havasupai Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab-Paiute Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the Yavapai Apache Nation.
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Strateg!es, Pam Hait or Martha Hunter
602-952-0040
