By JAMES FINK
jfink@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1611

With the steel frame being erected, the Seneca Nation of Indians and Seneca Gaming Corp. kicked off construction of a 200-room, $53 million addition to the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca.

Construction began earlier this fall and the new hotel rooms will be ready next winter.

It's the latest in a series of developments taking place at the casino since it opened in 2004. The casino attracts more than 3 million annual visitors and its current 212-room hotel has been operating at more than 95 percent room occupancy rate since it opened in 2007.

The casino has a Four Diamond rating from the AAA, a distinction it has held for the past three years.

"With each phase of our development, from the initial casino opening in 2004 to our current Four Diamond full-service resort, we have raised the bar in luxury, comfort and amenities," said Karen Karsten, Seneca Gaming Corp. chairman. "I am confident that guests will be pleased when the new hotel tower opens its doors."

The demand for rooms rises during special events and major concerts at the 2,300-seat Seneca Allegany Events Center.

"People have other choices, other gaming destinations in other markets, but they choose to come here." said Robert Odawi Porter, Seneca Nation president. "This is evidence of the impact and success that our casino properties can produce for Western New York and the important role we can play as a tourism leader."

JCJ Architecture was retained to design the hotel tower; Seneca Construction Management Corp. is overseeing the construction. Approximately 300 construction jobs will be created by the project, along with 30 hotel-related positions.

The new tower will feature 191 rooms, nine end suites and nine corner suites.

When completed, the casino will have 413 rooms, making it the second-largest in the region, outside of the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls with 604 rooms and suites.

Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel has 68,000 square feet of gaming space that holds 2,000 slot machines and 30 table games. The complex also has 21,000 square feet of conference and meeting space, multiple retail outlets, four restaurants, a full-service spa and salon, and indoor swimming pool.