The leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have approved plans to expand Harrah's Cherokee Casino.
The tribe's leaders approved plans earlier this month for a $200 million expansion to add between 600 and 800 additional hotel rooms, as well as 100,000 feet of convention space, the Asheville-Citizen Times (http://avlne.ws/2juKLQO) reported.
Officials say the 1,100 current hotel rooms have a 99 percent occupancy rate year-round.
The casino includes 170 tables with live dealers and 3,600 digital slot machines. There is only 15,000 square feet of convention space now.
Leeann Bridges, regional vice president of marketing at Harrah's, says the casino wants more convention business. Bridges says they've had to limit conventions to Monday-Thursday to make room for weekend gamblers. Harrah's would like to have room for weekend conventions, too.
