PLAINS TOWNSHIP -- After a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new hotel and convention center at Mohegan Sun Casino, people rushed inside to get a first look at the place. Mary Kerpovich, of Shavertown, checked it out while spending the day there to do a little gambling.
"I think it's really nice. We needed something like that, get more people from out of town," said Mary Kerpovich, of Shavertown.
Nearby business owners are all for bringing more people to town. Brian McCann is the general manager of Isabella, a restaurant and bar just down the road from the casino near Wilkes-Barre.
"If there are some guests that are staying in the hotel, they might want to escape a little, and we're pretty much the closest fine dining restaurant to them," said Isabella general manager Brian McCann.
He said pepole sometimes stop to eat there on their way to or from the casino and hopes those numbers will now increase, but some believe the new hotel might steal business from other hotels nearby.
Others said any traffic to the area is good traffic.
"I think it'll bring a lot of great entertainment venues to the area that we might not see. It's another great addition to the casino. I think that will draw more people," said Joe Sabach of Swoyersville.
The new hotel at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is now open to guests.