Seminole Tribal Council Reaffirms Commitment to Management Teams of Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The newly-elected Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida announced today its continued support and confidence in the senior management of Seminole Gaming, Seminole HR Holdings, LLC and Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Hard Rock International.  The Tribal Council further confirmed its continued support of the existing operating agreements for the companies as well as certain equity interests of senior management.  The Tribal Council is the governing body of the Seminole Tribe and the only entity authorized to speak for and legally bind the Seminole Tribe.

Senior management includes James F. Allen, Brad Buchanan and Hamish Dodds.  Allen is Chairman, President & CEO of Seminole HR Holdings, LLC, Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. (the parent company of the Hard Rock International business), and CEO of Seminole Gaming.  Brad Buchanan is Executive Vice President & CFO of Seminole HR Holdings, LLC and Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc., and Executive Vice President & CFO of Seminole Gaming.  Hamish Dodds is President & CEO of Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc.

The Tribal Council acknowledged the tremendous success of its gaming operations and Hard Rock International under the leadership of James F. Allen and his senior management team.  Seminole Gaming has posted a 463 percent increase in revenue and a 275 percent increase in EBIDA since Allen and his team took over management in late 2001.

Since the development of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Hollywood and in Tampa in 2004, Hard Rock International has grown in excess of 69 percent in Revenue and EBIDA.  This growth is attributed to the Tribe's ownership and the success of the management team led by Hamish Dodds.

In less than a decade, the Seminole Tribe has become an international force in gaming, entertainment, restaurants and lodging, which has created financial stability for members of the Tribe and allowed it to preserve its legendary culture and history.

About Seminole Gaming

In addition to its two Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., the Seminole Tribe owns and operates five more Seminole-branded Florida casinos in Coconut Creek and Hollywood on the Southeast coast, in Immokalee near Naples, on the Brighton Reservation north of Lake Okeechobee and on the Big Cypress Reservation south of Lake Okeechobee. The Seminole Tribe has long been recognized for innovation in its gaming and other businesses. It opened the first high-stakes bingo hall and casino in the United States in 1979.  That facility was the forerunner of the Indian Gaming movement throughout North America.

About Hard Rock International

With a total of 172 venues in 51 countries, including 135 cafes and 15 Hotels/Casinos, Hard Rock International is one of the world's most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Pattaya, Bali, Macau, Penang, Singapore and Punta Cana.  Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced including Panama Megapolis, scheduled to open in 2011; and Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2013.  Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc., is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For further details on Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, visit www.hardrockhotels.com.  For more information on Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc., visit www.hardrock.com.

James F. Allen

James F. Allen is Chief Executive Officer, Seminole Gaming and Chairman; Chairman and CEO of Seminole HR Holdings, LLC, and  President and Chief Executive Officer of Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc., one of the world's most recognized brands.  Allen  helped develop the Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Florida and is responsible for the operations of all of the Seminole Tribe's casino operations. Allen is an industry veteran with 31 years of experience in executive positions with the Trump Organization, Hilton Hotels and Park Place Entertainment.  Allen was senior vice president of property operations for Sun International, where he held senior executive positions at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and Atlantis on Paradise Island, Bahamas.  Allen previously was a member of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission Task Force on Gaming Regulation.  He is a Certified Hotel Administrator.

Brad Buchanan

Brad Buchanan is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Seminole Gaming and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Seminole HR Holdings LLC and Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc., the holding company created by the Seminole Tribe for its acquisition of Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc. Buchanan previously held the position of Regional Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for KSL Recreation, owner of luxury hotels, spas and golf resorts including the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami.  He previously was Assistant Chief Financial Officer at Sun International Hotels in Fort Lauderdale, the parent company of the Atlantis Resort & Casino on Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas.  He was Senior Vice President of Finance for Capital Gaming International and Vice President of Business Analysis for Trump Atlantic City properties.  He is a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Buchanan earned his Master of Business Administration in finance at Monmouth College in West Long Branch, NJ.

Hamish Dodds

As President and CEO of Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc. Hamish Dodds oversees all aspects of Hard Rock's worldwide businesses, which include both company owned and franchised cafes, bars, hotels, casinos and live music venues, all showcasing the world's greatest collection of authentic music memorabilia.  Prior to joining the Hard Rock team in 2004, Hamish worked as CEO for Cabcorp, and also held  senior positions with PepsiCo Beverages International, where he worked for 13 years gaining extensive international experience in finance, franchising, joint ventures and brand management from a number of senior roles in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.  Hamish holds a Bachelor of Arts, Business Studies from Robert Gordon's University in Scotland and is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (UK).

SOURCE Seminole Gaming