f a l l 2 0 0 7 WORK’S A GAM E . PLAY TO WI N . Laundry Moving q&a with THE BOYD In YOUR Professional PERCS Clean 50 YEARS of Poker Career of Becomes and osmonds CommuniTy ill the What’s Your Story? The orleans PhoTo alBum oyd WORDS Champ Development YEAR Boyd Benefits Green UP at B Page 2 Page 3 Page 2 Page 4 Page 4 Fold out Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 4 Page 2 Employee News Company News “ Today’s groundbreaking marks an important milestone MAKE WAY FOR in one of the most exciting and ambitious developments on the Strip.” Bill Boyd - Chairman and CEO ECHELON Current Echelon Aerial Rendering WHEN IT COMES TO ECHELON, EVERYTHING IS A stEP ABOVE ORDINARY The Company also unveiled previously unseen Bill Boyd, Chairman and Chief Executive Bob added, “We are creating a destination resort renderings and re-emphasized the overall Officer, Keith Smith, President and Chief that will be seen for miles, and yet, be accessible vision for the development. Operating Officer, and Bob Boughner, within feet. With Echelon, we are making the President and Chief Executive Officer of most of our extraordinary and highly-visible Las Echelon will span 87 acres, including 22 acres Echelon Resorts, joined other top company Vegas Strip site by building five hotels with world available for future development. It will include Even its formal commencement of construction executives and executives from our strategic class amenities, in one dramatic phase.” five distinct hotels, an extensive array of ceremony in June eschewed the standing-in- partners – Morgans Hotel Group, Shangri-La dining, nightlife, shopping and entertainment the-sun, shovels-into-a-pile-of-dirt tradition. Hotels and Resorts, AEG Live and General experiences, and more than 750,000 square Instead, more than 300 guests were sheltered Growth Properties – at the special ceremony. feet of meeting and convention space. from 100-degree temperatures inside an As such, Echelon will cater to high-end “Today’s groundbreaking marks an important expansive air-conditioned tent on the Echelon vacationers and the growing market for milestone in one of the most exciting and site, while construction officials shattered a convention visitors. According to industry ambitious developments on the Strip,” Bill sheet of black glass that hid a 1,000-pound statistics, vacationers seeking luxury said at the ceremony. “As our anticipation for Echelon cornerstone. experiences are currently underserved in Echelon continues to grow, we are pleased Las Vegas, while convention to share more of our vision, which integrates visitors have increased at twice the thoughtful master planning, innovative design rate of leisure visitors since 1990. and industry leading hotels and partners, which Giovanni Angelini, CEO and Managing Director, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts - Robert Michaels, President and COO, General Growth Properties - Bob Boughner, President together will elevate the Las Vegas experience.” and CEO, Echelon Resorts - Marc Gordon, CIO and Executive VP of Capital Markets, Morgans Hotel Group Revealing of Echelon Cornerstone during Commencement of Construction Ceremony Bill Boyd - Chairman and CEO Keith Smith - President and COO Bob Boughner, President and John Meglen - President and John Lin - VP Development, Sid Vaikunta - Senior VP CEO, Echelon Resorts Co-CEO, Concerts West/AEG Live Echelon Resorts Operations and Marketing, Echelon Resorts Boyd Gaming Wins 210 “Best of Gaming” Awards Borgata “Tops Off” Water Club The Water Club at Borgata was “topped off” in July, Winning accolades from casino customers across the country, Boyd Gaming a symbolic phase of construction that marks the final properties received 210 awards in Casino Player magazine’s 2007 “Best of countdown for the project’s grand opening prior to the Gaming” edition. Nearly half were first-place awards. The company posted summer season of 2008. The event was attended by particularly strong performances in the Atlantic City, Las Vegas Locals, Las more than 400 Boyd Gaming executives, Borgata The element of water will introduce the notion of vitality Vegas Downtown and Shreveport-Bossier City markets. associates, city and state officials, construction and set the overall aesthetic tone. Intriguing design materials fuse clean, elegant lines with soothing water In Atlantic City, “Borgata continues its uninterrupted reign as the Best Overall workers, and media representatives. features. Limestone columns, Italian blown-glass Hotel Casino in town,” according to the magazine. The property received awards Conceived as an exclusive extension to the in 46 of 58 categories and finished first in chandeliers, and plush handmade rugs punctuated sophisticated, international style that already 31 categories. by rich, splashes of color are interwoven with several defines Borgata, The Water Club will offer a serene cascading water features. In Shreveport, Sam’s Town dominated cosmopolitan setting – blending high design and the market with 35 awards in 39 modern amenities within an intimate and highly- “The anticipation is certainly building,” categories, including 13 first-place nods personalized guest experience. It will feature 800 finely- appointed guestrooms and suites with five tiers of said Borgata President Larry Mullin. Other notable performances were accommodations; a two-story “spa in the sky;” 18,000 “It was great to have so many of our posted by Sam’s Town Las Vegas and square feet of meeting space; three Residences The Orleans, which dominated the Las associates turn out for the topping off modeled after chic, urban lofts; and six retail shops. Vegas Locals market, earning 30 awards ceremony and share in the excitement.” and 27 awards, respectively. Main Street Station garnered 24 awards in the The hotel’s lobby lounge, The Sunroom, will offer a Downtown Las Vegas market. central view of one of two outdoor heated pools, “Each award received in this competition is a great honor, as it represents the inspired by the design and experience of Miami’s voice of casino customers from coast to coast,” said Keith Smith, President and South Beach. A perfect setting for sunning and Chief Operating Officer of Boyd Gaming. “Our strong performance is a tribute socializing, the Brazilian Ipé wooden deck will feature not only to the quality of our properties, but also to the tireless efforts of our sand and cabanas, overlooking a 400-jet Infinity-edge employees. You are the ones who make Boyd Gaming properties the ‘Best in Jacuzzi pool. The hotel’s two indoor pools will be set Gaming,’ and these awards truly belong to you.” amidst lush live landscaping, large bamboo stalks, and natural light, evoking the feeling of an outdoor setting. Blue Chip was recognized in Northwest Indiana Business ? Quarterly’s “Best of Business” annual reader’s survey. U KNOW DID YO The property was named a runner-up for best meeting site and best convention site in Michigan City. & Laundry Facility to q a with be Clean and Green ill Construction is nearly complete for a full-service Boyd Gaming oyd laundry facility on the Boulder Strip – just south of Sam’s Town – B which will serve all of our Las Vegas properties beginning this fall. q. A major announcement This facility will not only improve operating efficiency among our properties, it will make a was made back in July of this significant environmental contribution to the community. It is a candidate for LEED Silver year stating that you will assume Certification, pending final review, and we hope it will set an example for our industry the position of Executive and others that operate similar facilities. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental ™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for Chairman and that Keith Smith Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System will become Chief Executive the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Officer on January 1, 2008. Please tell us how you view this change? The 100,000-square- Natural enzyme-based Approximately 75 percent Environmentally foot facility will employ detergents will be gentler of the water used will be a. Well, this change is approximately 70 people on the environment than recycled, saving millions positive on many levels. and will handle chemical-based products, of gallons each year. Contrary to what some may -friendly aspects approximately 50,000 emitting fewer toxins in have been led to believe, this is pounds of laundry per day waste water. not a retirement by any stretch of the new laundry initially. When Echelon of the imagination. It is merely opens, the facility will Specially-selected Local Boyd Gaming a realignment of responsibilities. facility include: reach maximum capacity detergents will allow employees are I will continue to maintain my encouraged to recycle position as Executive Chair of of about 200,000 pounds for lower-temperature wire clothes hangers by our Board of Directors and as of laundry per day. washing, conserving a member of our Management significant energy on donating them to the Committee. While I will remain water heating. facility, reducing waste intrinsically involved with the that would otherwise end strategic vision and direction of up in local landfills. the Company, I will be able to turn my attention to the most important elements of our business – our employees and our guests. This has always been the part of my job I have Career Development RESPONSIBLE GAMING: In Your Words cherished the most, but as our Two Boyd Gaming employees from Par-A-Dice were among help, they will need understanding, and without education, Company has continued to Creates Opportunity just 15 individuals whose essays were published in the there is no understanding.” grow, my ability to interact with soft-cover book In Their Own Words: Voices of Par-A-Dice Employee Relations Manager Jennifer Sharp also both groups on a consistent Responsible Gaming. The essays were selected from touched on this important concept in her essay, as well.