The merger combines corporations under a single corporation, management structure and name: Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino. The $5-million expansion is the most extensive construction project since the casino was built for $6 million in 1996. The goal is to increase room occupancy, effect greater casino spending per room night, and improve customer service.

"After considerable evaluation and market research on the potential benefits of the proposed merger, both boards of directors and the Tribal Council agreed that this move makes a lot of sense," says Olney Patt Jr., chairman of the Tribal Council of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. "With diminishing timber revenues and other issues challenging our long-term economic sustainability and self-sufficiency, we need to embrace this opportunity to better use all our resources to benefit the entire community.

"The integrated corporation provides new opportunities to repurpose and re-energize the Kah-Nee-Ta brand, assume a more competitive market posture, enhance operational efficiencies and augment sustained revenue growth."

Wholly owned and operated by The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, the resort offers a complete gaming casino with slots and table games, an 18-hole golf course, natural hot springs-fed pools, a full service spa and a variety of lodging options including the hotel, tee pee camping and RV sites. Beginning this summer and continuing over the next 24 months, the $5-million upgrade includes:

---the complete remodeling of 107 guest rooms, beginning in the fourth quarter this year and concluding in March 2002;

---an expansion and repositioning of the resort's Juniper Room as casual family dining, including an exhibition-cooking buffet, and the conversion of the Pinto Deli to fine dining. Completion scheduled for the first quarter of next year.

--A renovation and expansion of the convention and banquet facilities to 10,000 sf, and a renovation of the upper and lower hotel lobbies; and'--and expansion of the casino for the addition of more slots and a larger variety of table games.

"We have already completed development of a new logo symbolizing the earth, sun and three tribes, and will be reaching out to our target markets over the next many months,"says Rudy Clements, chairman of the Kah-Nee-Ta board of directors.