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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to open at Lake Tahoe

By WTOP Staff

SCOTT SONNER
Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The managers of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas have announced plans to open one at Lake Tahoe this winter after a $60 million renovation of the former Horizon Casino Resort at Stateline.

Officials for the Las Vegas-based Warner Hospitality and the Tahoe-based Park family that owns the property say Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe will include more than 500 hotel rooms and a 25,000-square-foot casino.

The resort on the lake’s south shore next to Edgewood Golf Course originally opened as Del Webb’s Sahara Tahoe in 1965.

Brothers Jon and David Park of Neva One LLC acquired the northern Nevada property earlier this year and shut it down for redesign and renovation in April. They announced at that time they were entering a partnership with Warner Hospitality, but had not previously disclosed their plans.

“We are thrilled to bring a world-class brand to South Lake Tahoe, one that is sure to bring new energy and excitement to South Lake Tahoe’s entertainment district,” David Park said Thursday.

It marks the first entry into the northern Nevada market for Warner Hospitality, which owns or manages 10 casino properties in southern Nevada, Iowa, New Mexico, California and Washington state.

The company owns the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino scheduled to open later this summer in Sioux City, Iowa, and manages the Hard Rock in Las Vegas, which is owned by Brookfield Asset Management.

The music-themed properties display an extensive collection of guitars, autographed photographs and other rare rock-and-roll memorabilia.

“The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino brand has music infused in its DNA and is known for celebrating individuality and uniqueness, which makes it a perfect fit for South Lake Tahoe,” Jon Park said.

It will be operated by Don Marrandino, a longtime casino executive who has worked for Harrah’s and Caesars Entertainment in Nevada and Atlantic City. He was president of the Hard Rock in Las Vegas from 2001-2003, and was Harrah’s northern Nevada president and general manager of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Harveys at Stateline from 2003-05.

Warner Hospitality CEO Bill Warner announced his hiring as chief of operations on Thursday in conjunction with the roll out of the plans at Tahoe.

“I have so many great memories of my time at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and in northern Nevada,” said Marrandino, who stepped down in January 2013 as Caesars Entertainment’s eastern division president overseeing its properties in Atlantic City.

“I’m looking forward to bringing the resort’s legendary atmosphere for entertainment, dining and nightlife to Lake Tahoe and creating another renowned property experience,” he said.

The hotel-casino is scheduled to open late this year or early next. Jon Park said it will feature slot machines, table games, multiple restaurant and dining options, an upscale bar, lounges and both indoor and outdoor concerts.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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