BOSSIER CITY, La. – Cordish Gaming Group has appointed Jamie Williams as director of sales of the $270 million Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, a gaming, hotel, dining, and entertainment destination set to open in early 2025.
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will be the first land-based casino in the Shreveport-Bossier market and the first Live! branded property in Louisiana.
Williams is responsible for planning and managing the overall strategic sales and marketing initiatives for the 550-room hotel with a resort-style pool, fitness center, and a 25,000-square-foot event center, which is now accepting queries for meeting and event bookings. Interested planners may send an email to RFP@livech.com or visit LiveCasinoLA.com for information.
The multi-purpose Event Center will offer groups customizable event space for a spectrum of events, including entertainment, meetings, conventions, and non-profit and social gatherings. The space will include a large ballroom, two breakout rooms, an expansive pre-function area, a boardroom, a performance stage, and high-tech audiovisual systems throughout.
In her new role, Williams will lead a team with decades of sales experience in Louisiana. She will also work closely with the food and beverage team to advise on event execution and strategy, rounding out the property’s world-class team of catering and event professionals.
“Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is poised to redefine entertainment in the Ark-La-Tex region, offering a state-of-the-art casino, luxury hotel, and cutting-edge convention and meeting space. It will be a first-class destination for top-tier entertainment, business functions, and celebrations,” said John Chaszar, general manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. “Jamie’s leadership will be instrumental in welcoming the community into this brand-new venue and directing a top-notch, diverse team of industry professionals to provide the exceptional experience that has become synonymous with the Live! brand nationwide.”
Williams brings more than 25 years of experience as a leader in the hospitality field and is a well-known industry veteran in Louisiana. She has extensive knowledge in generating growth in sales revenue, leading teams, and cultivating relationships.
Before joining the Live! team, Ms. Williams held prominent leadership roles including director of sales and catering at Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel and Casino; director of sales, catering, events, and marketing at the Shreveport Convention Center and Shreveport Municipal Auditorium; director of sales at Horseshoe Bossier City Casino and Hotel and Harrah’s Louisiana Downs; sales manager at Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino; director of sales at Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel Bossier City; and director of sales at Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel, the predecessor property currently being renovated into Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana.
She is an alumna of Troy State University in Dothan, Alabama, and resides in Bossier City. She maintains affiliations with industry organizations including the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Bossier City Chamber of Commerce, Meetings Professional International, PCMA, and Executive Women’s International. Williams has served on the board of directors for the Louisiana Society of Association Executives for 13 years.
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will offer a gaming and entertainment experience featuring more than 47,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,000-plus slots and electronic table games and 40-plus live action table games; a sportsbook; and 30,000 square feet of dining and entertainment venues, including multiple new food and beverage outlets featuring nationally acclaimed concepts Sports & Social and PBR Cowboy Bar.
“I’m so excited to join the Live! team and eager to showcase all that Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana has to offer to the Ark-La-Tex region,” said Ms. Williams. “The versatile event space is just the right venue for virtually any gathering. Whether hosting a conference, arranging an executive retreat, or planning a dream wedding, the Event Center is going to be the premiere destination in the region. Throw in the nation’s best touring acts and show-stopping entertainment along with Southern hospitality, and Live! Louisiana will prove to be an unforgettable experience.”
Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is under construction at the former Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel in Bossier City. Located along the scenic Red River and directly across from Shreveport, the property has access to U.S. Highway 71 and Interstate 20 and is approximately 20 miles from the Texas border and 40 miles from the Arkansas border.
The project is expected to generate $35 million in gaming tax revenues for the City of Bossier and more than $168 million in gaming tax revenues for the State of Louisiana within the first five years of operation. Annually it will generate $34 million in salaries, wages, and tips, create approximately 750 new construction jobs, and approximately 750 permanent gaming and hospitality jobs for local and regional residents.
