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FOCUS ON… Beau Rivage
Hurricane Katrina may have ripped through the heart of the Beau Rivage leaving chips and slot machines strewn across the landscape like confetti. But just three years on the new improved casino stands as a breath-taking symbol of Mississippi’s regeneration.
Aside from the luxury spa, salon, shopping complex and golf course are the 1800+ rooms that all deliver unparalleled luxury. Just reading the hotel’s rhetoric is enough to make you glide off on a trail of Italian marble floors and come floating back down to earth on a scattering of plush furnishings. Guests at the hotel can opt to stay in one of the king size rooms or the 1,200 square feet Cypress suites. The standard rooms come fully equipped with 32 inch flat-screen TVs, panoramic views of the city (or ocean, upon request) and high end finishing. The suites are out of this world and include a marble foyer, whirlpool tub and a fully stocked bar.
HEADLINE ACTS
If you can bear to tear yourself away from the confines of your room you’ll find more than enough activities to fill the time before you can head back to the comforts of your hotel room. Recent headlining acts at the entertainment centre included The Four Tops, The Temptations and Jay Leno. Competing with the main casino in the flashing LED stakes is the complex’s arcade area which is fully equipped to fulfil all of your child-like tendencies. If an eighteen hole stroll is more your style then the Fallen Oaks golf course has been described by Golf Digest as, “one of the best new courses in America.” Basically, if you’re tired of being hunched over a poker table and grinding out a few bucks then there are plenty of other ways for you to spend your time at the Beau Rivage.
POKER ACTION
The poker room at the Beau Rivage is the host of the World Poker Tour’s Southern Poker Championships, an event that sees some of the game’s biggest names descend on the venue and put their powers of logic to the test.
The entire festival comprises of fifteen tournaments culminating in a $10,000 Championship Event. Last year’s winner, Allen Carter (see photo), took top spot in the Main Event and walked away with a life changing $1million. Satellites for the event are on offer throughout the build up to the $10K tournament so even if you’re a minnow in the poker world you’ve still got a shot at swimming with the sharks.
If you’re not quite ready to mix it up with the best in the business then the 24-hour poker room is on hand to cater for almost every poker palate. A variety of flavours including Hold’em, Omaha and 7-card stud are served up on a daily basis. For the high rollers a secluded high stakes area means the pain of losing thousands of dollars on the river isn’t a spectator sport. The venue is also smoke free and food and beverages can be brought direct to your table making the whole venue a perfect poker retreat. |
