Aliante Gaming taking over management of Aliante Station

Station Casinos LLC's four-year run as owner or manager of the Aliante hotel-casino will officially come to an end Thursday, as the resort debuts a new name and management staff for the 200-room property in North Las Vegas.

The Aliante Station name has been removed from the property and replaced with Aliante Casino and Hotel, according to the property's owner Aliante Gaming LLC.

Lori Nelson, a spokeswoman with Station Casinos, noted that it was announced a year ago that the management contract would end on Nov. 1, giving both sides "a lot of time to ensure a smooth transition."

The $662 million development opened in late 2008. It was sold to a collection of debt holders as part of the Station Casinos Inc. bankruptcy, but Station Casinos continued to manage the property.

The management contract, which paid Station Casinos $400,000 in the second quarter of the year, was terminated in November 2011, according to a regulatory filing.

The 40-acre property, which is located within the Aliante master-planned community at Aliante Parkway and Interstate 215, is a four Diamond AAA-rated resort.

"We're excited to welcome guests to the new Aliante," said Terry Downey, Aliante's general manager. "Our loyal guests will enjoy and benefit from the new offering we are bringing to the property."

Downey said changes include new live entertainment, promotions, and restaurants, and also a new loyalty card program.

The new player club loyalty program, called Aliante Players Club, honors current players' status level by matching them with a new equivalent tier status. Players can pick up their new cards beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday at the rewards center.

The first promotion will begin at noon Thursday, with an all-day 10X points for play.

In addition to 2,000 slot machines and 40 table games, Aliante will offer an all-day bingo hall with a blackout progressive starting at $10,000. Aliante's race and sports book will remain independent and offer exclusive prop bets, the company said.

Aliante is introducing three new restaurants: Bistro57, described as having a "lively and modern atmosphere inspired by the flavors of Europe;" The Salted Lime, a margarita bar and restaurant; and Medley Buffet.

"I'm familiar with many of the great team members already here at Aliante and am looking forward to building a family-style culture with them," said Downey.

Downey said in addition to the changes, the property also created an undisclosed number of new "jobs in marketing, finance, entertainment and hotel departments."

Aliante posted a modest second quarter profit, as the hotel-casino saw gains in casino, restaurant and room revenues over the same period last year. The property earned $1.2 million in the second quarter, compare with a loss of $3.7 million in the same period last year. As of Tuesday, Aliante Gaming had not reported third-quarter earnings.

The owners of the casino's parent company, Aliante Gaming, include Soohyung Kim, an executive with the investment company Standard General Gaming LLC in New York.

Station Casinos operates 17 properties in Southern Nevada.

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @sierotyfeatures on Twitter.